H.B. 244 Enrolled

MODIFYING THE ELECTRIC DEREGULATION
AND CUSTOMER CHOICE TASK FORCE
2001 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Sponsor: Thomas V. Hatch
This act modifies the Public Utilities Code to make modifications to the Electric Deregulation
and Customer Choice Task Force. The act modifies the name and duties of the task force.
The act modifies the relationship between the task force and the Public Service Commission.
This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
AMENDS:
54-7-12.5, as last amended by Chapter 196, Laws of Utah 2000
54-7-12.7, as enacted by Chapter 62, Laws of Utah 1999
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 54-7-12.5 is amended to read:
54-7-12.5. Energy Policy Task Force.
(1) (a) There is [reauthorized] created the [Electric Deregulation and Customer Choice]
Energy Policy Task Force [created by Chapter 176, Laws of Utah 1997,] consisting of the
following members:
(i) five members of the Senate appointed by the president of the Senate, no more than three
of whom may be from the same political party; and
(ii) seven members of the House of Representatives appointed by the speaker of the House
of Representatives, no more than five of whom may be from the same political party.
(b) (i) The president of the Senate shall designate a member of the Senate appointed under
Subsection (1)(a)(i) as a cochair of the task force.
(ii) The speaker of the House of Representatives shall designate a member of the House
of Representatives appointed under Subsection (1)(a)(ii) as a cochair of the task force.
(c) In conducting its business, the task force shall comply with the rules of legislative
interim committees.
(d) The task force may meet as often as twice a month, if the chairs determine that the

meetings are needed.
(e) Salaries and expenses of the members of the task force shall be paid in accordance with
Section 36-2-2 and Legislative Joint Rule 15.03.
(f) The Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel shall provide staff support to
the task force.
(2) The task force shall:
[(a) prepare legislation that intends to implement an electrical restructuring plan to be
presented to the Legislature for consideration during the 2001 Annual General Session, unless it is
not in Utah's best interest;]
[(b) monitor the implementation of the legislation described in Subsection (2)(a), if passed
by the Legislature;]
[(c) study electrical restructuring in and its effects on Utah;]
[(d) remain informed about developments in electrical restructuring on the federal level and
in other states; and]
[(e) monitor states that have implemented an electrical restructuring plan to learn from the
experiences of those states.]
(a) study energy needs of the state;
(b) monitor federal and other states' efforts to address energy needs;
(c) study potential Utah, federal, and other states:
(i) conservation efforts; or
(ii) demand side management activities;
(d) study potential ways the state could develop, facilitate, or promote generation,
exploration, or transportation of new energy to serve the needs of the state; and
(e) make recommendations to the Legislature regarding what legislation, if any, is needed
to ensure that the energy needs of the state are met.
(3) In addition to the assistance of the Public Service Commission under Section 54-7-12.7 ,
the task force may request assistance from public and private resources as part of its [study]
activities.

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(4) The task force shall report at least annually to the Public Utilities and Technology Interim
Committee.
Section 2. Section 54-7-12.7 is amended to read:
54-7-12.7. Commission work with task force.
To assist the [Electric Deregulation and Customer Choice] Energy Policy Task Force in [its
study] the Energy Policy Task Force's duties under Section 54-7-12.5 , the Public Service
Commission shall[: (1) study electrical restructuring, including developments on the federal level
and in other states; and (2)], as directed by the [Electric Deregulation and Customer Choice] Energy
Policy Task Force, work with that task force including providing the task force with reports.

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