Electric utility regulation; solar generation facilities. (SB813)

Introduced By

Sen. Dave Marsden (D-Burke)

Description

Electric utility regulation; solar generation facilities. Exempts investor-owned electric utilities from the requirement that in a proceeding for approval to construct a generating facility they demonstrate that they have considered and weighed alternative options, including third-party market alternatives, in their selection process, if the proposed generating facility is located in the Commonwealth, uses energy derived from sunlight, and has been declared by statute to be in the public interest. The measure also directs that (i) any cost incurred or projected to be incurred by a utility in connection with such a generation facility is reasonable and prudent if the costs of the generation facility do not exceed by more than 10 percent the cost that would be incurred in the construction and operation of a combined-cycle combustion turbine generation facility with the same capacity and (ii) any increase in rates paid by customers as a result of the construction and operation of such a generation facility is reasonable if the projected increase in rates resulting from the construction and operation of such facility does not exceed by more than two percent the projected increase in rates that would occur if the utility constructed and operated a combined-cycle combustion turbine generation facility with the same capacity. Read the Bill »

Outcome

History