S.B. 235

1

PUBLIC UTILITIES AMENDMENTS
2 2007 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Chief Sponsor: Gregory S. Bell
5 House Sponsor: Sheryl L. Allen
6
7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill makes changes to Title 54, Chapter 17, Energy Resource Procurement Act,
10 allowing a waiver of requirements for solicitation and approval of acquisition or
11 construction of a significant energy resource.
12 Highlighted Provisions:
13 This bill:
14 . eliminates existing language concerning a waiver of the requirement for solicitation
15 of significant energy resource acquisition;
16 . provides a process for obtaining a waiver of requirements for solicitation and
17 approval of acquisition or construction of a significant energy resource, including
18 providing for:
19 . participation by any interested person; and
20 . protection of confidential information disclosed in the waiver application; and
21 . makes technical changes.
22 Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
23 None
24 Other Special Clauses:
25 This bill provides an immediate effective date.
26 Utah Code Sections Affected:
27 AMENDS:

28 54-17-201, as enacted by Chapter 11, Laws of Utah 2005
29 54-17-302, as enacted by Chapter 11, Laws of Utah 2005
30 ENACTS:
31 54-17-501, Utah Code Annotated 1953
32
33 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
34 Section 1. Section 54-17-201 is amended to read:
35 54-17-201. Solicitation process required -- Exception.
36 (1) (a) An affected electrical utility shall comply with this chapter to acquire or
37 construct a significant energy resource after February 25, 2005.
38 (b) Notwithstanding Subsection (1)(a), this chapter does not apply to a significant
39 energy resource for which the affected electrical utility has issued a solicitation before February
40 25, 2005.
41 (2) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (3), to acquire or construct a significant
42 energy resource, an affected electrical utility shall conduct a solicitation process that is
43 approved by the commission.
44 (b) To obtain the approval of the commission of a solicitation process, the affected
45 electrical utility shall file with the commission a request for approval that includes:
46 (i) a description of the solicitation process the affected electrical utility will use;
47 (ii) a complete proposed solicitation; and
48 (iii) any other information the commission requires by rule made in accordance with
49 Title 63, Chapter 46a, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act.
50 (c) In ruling on the request for approval of a solicitation process, the commission shall
51 determine whether the solicitation process:
52 (i) complies with this chapter and rules made in accordance with Title 63, Chapter 46a,
53 Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act; and
54 (ii) is in the public interest taking into consideration:
55 (A) whether it will most likely result in the acquisition, production, and delivery of
56 electricity at the lowest reasonable cost to the retail customers of an affected electrical utility
57 located in this state;
58 (B) long-term and short-term impacts;

59 (C) risk;
60 (D) reliability;
61 (E) financial impacts on the affected electrical utility; and
62 (F) other factors determined by the commission to be relevant.
63 (d) Before approving a solicitation process under this section the commission:
64 (i) may hold a public hearing; and
65 (ii) shall provide an opportunity for public comment.
66 (e) As part of its review of a solicitation process, the commission may provide the
67 affected electrical utility guidance on any additions or changes to its proposed solicitation
68 process.
69 (f) Unless the commission determines that additional time to analyze a solicitation
70 process is warranted and is in the public interest, within 90 days of the day on which the
71 affected electrical utility files a request for approval of the solicitation process, the commission
72 shall:
73 (i) approve a proposed solicitation process;
74 (ii) suggest modifications to a proposed solicitation process; or
75 (iii) reject a proposed solicitation process.
76 (3) [(a)] Notwithstanding Subsection (2), an affected electrical utility may acquire or
77 construct a significant energy resource without conducting a solicitation process if [the
78 commission finds that waiving the requirement of a solicitation process is in the public interest
79 because:] it obtains a waiver of the solicitation requirement in accordance with Section
80 54-17-501 .
81 [(i) there exists:]
82 [(A) a clear emergency; or]
83 [(B) a time-limited commercial or technical opportunity that provides value to the
84 customers of the affected electrical utility; or]
85 [(ii) there exists a factor not described in Subsection (3)(a)(i) that makes waiving the
86 requirement of conducting a solicitation in the public interest.]
87 [(b) To obtain a finding from the commission under Subsection (3)(a), the affected
88 electrical utility shall file with the commission the information required by the commission by
89 rule made in accordance with Title 63, Chapter 46a, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act.]

90 [(c) Unless the commission determines that additional time to analyze a request for
91 waiver of a solicitation process is warranted and is in the public interest, within 30 days of the
92 day on which the affected electrical utility files a request for waiver of the solicitation process,
93 the commission shall:]
94 [(i) approve the waiver;]
95 [(ii) approve the waiver subject to conditions imposed by the commission; or]
96 [(iii) reject the waiver.]
97 [(d) In accordance with Title 63, Chapter 46a, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act,
98 the commission may define what constitutes:]
99 [(i) a clear emergency; or]
100 [(ii) a time-limited commercial or technical opportunity.]
101 (4) In accordance with the commission's authority under Subsection 54-12-2 (2), the
102 commission shall determine:
103 (a) whether this chapter or another competitive bidding procedure shall apply to a
104 purchase of a significant energy resource by an affected electrical utility from a small power
105 producer or cogenerator; and
106 (b) if this chapter applies as provided in Subsection (4)(a), the manner in which this
107 chapter applies to a purchase of a significant energy resource by an affected electrical utility
108 from a small power producer or cogenerator.
109 Section 2. Section 54-17-302 is amended to read:
110 54-17-302. Approval of a significant energy resource decision required.
111 (1) If pursuant to Part 2, Solicitation Process, an affected electrical utility is required to
112 conduct a solicitation for a significant energy resource or [is exempt from conducting a
113 solicitation under Subsection 54-17-201 (3)] obtains a waiver of the requirement to conduct a
114 solicitation under Section 54-17-501 , but does not obtain a waiver of the requirement to obtain
115 approval of the significant energy resource decision under Section 54-17-501 , the affected
116 electrical utility shall obtain approval of its significant energy resource decision:
117 (a) after the completion of the solicitation process, if the affected electrical utility is
118 required to conduct a solicitation; and
119 (b) before an affected electrical utility may construct or enter into a binding agreement
120 to acquire the significant energy resource.

121 (2) (a) To obtain the approval required by Subsection (1), the affected electrical utility
122 shall file a request for approval with the commission.
123 (b) The request for approval required by this section shall include any information
124 required by the commission by rule made in accordance with Title 63, Chapter 46a, Utah
125 Administrative Rulemaking Act.
126 (3) In ruling on a request for approval of a significant energy resource decision, the
127 commission shall determine whether the significant energy resource decision:
128 (a) is reached in compliance with this chapter and rules made in accordance with Title
129 63, Chapter 46a, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act;
130 (b) (i) is reached in compliance with the solicitation process approved by the
131 commission in accordance with Part 2, Solicitation Process; or
132 (ii) is reached after the waiver of the solicitation process as provided in Subsection
133 54-17-201 (3); and
134 (c) is in the public interest, taking into consideration:
135 (i) whether it will most likely result in the acquisition, production, and delivery of
136 electricity at the lowest reasonable cost to the retail customers of an affected electrical utility
137 located in this state;
138 (ii) long-term and short-term impacts;
139 (iii) risk;
140 (iv) reliability;
141 (v) financial impacts on the affected electrical utility; and
142 (vi) other factors determined by the commission to be relevant.
143 (4) The commission may not approve a significant energy resource decision under this
144 section before holding a public hearing.
145 (5) Unless the commission determines that additional time to analyze a significant
146 energy resource decision is warranted and is in the public interest, within 180 days of the day
147 on which the affected electrical utility files a request for approval, the commission shall:
148 (a) approve the significant energy resource decision;
149 (b) approve the significant energy resource decision subject to conditions imposed by
150 the commission; or
151 (c) disapprove the significant energy resource decision.

152 (6) The commission shall include in its order under this section:
153 (a) findings as to the total projected costs for construction or acquisition of an
154 approved significant energy resource; and
155 (b) the basis upon which the findings described in Subsection (6)(a) are made.
156 (7) Notwithstanding any other provision of this part, an affected electrical utility may
157 acquire a significant energy resource without obtaining approval pursuant to this section if it
158 obtains a waiver of the requirement for approval in accordance with Section 54-17-501 .
159 [(7)] (8) In accordance with Title 63, Chapter 46a, Utah Administrative Rulemaking
160 Act, the commission shall make rules regarding the process for approval of a significant energy
161 resource decision under this section.
162 Section 3. Section 54-17-501 is enacted to read:
163 Part 5. Waiver of Energy Resource Procurement Requirements
164 54-17-501. Waiver of requirement for solicitation or approval.
165 (1) An affected electrical utility may obtain a waiver of the requirement that it conduct
166 a solicitation process under Part 2, Solicitation Process, or the requirement that it obtain
167 approval of a significant energy resource decision under Part 3, Resource Plans and Significant
168 Energy Resource Approval, if the commission determines that waiving the requirement is in
169 the public interest because there exists:
170 (a) a clear emergency;
171 (b) a time-limited commercial or technical opportunity that provides value to the
172 customers of the affected electrical utility; or
173 (c) any other factor that makes waiving the requirement in the public interest.
174 (2) To obtain a finding from the commission under Subsection (1), the affected
175 electrical utility shall, as soon as practicable after learning of the existence of a circumstance
176 specified in Subsection (1):
177 (a) file a verified application with the commission; and
178 (b) serve an electronic and paper copy of the verified application, including all
179 associated exhibits and attachments, on each person reflected on a list to be maintained and
180 published by the commission on its Internet website that has requested service of waiver
181 requests and has signed a generic protective order issued by the commission limiting the use of
182 information contained in or attached to a waiver request.

183 (3) A verified application filed pursuant to Subsection (2) shall:
184 (a) identify any waiver requested;
185 (b) explain the basis for each waiver requested;
186 (c) specify any time sensitivity associated with the verified application;
187 (d) explain why the waiver requested is in the public interest; and
188 (e) contain other information required by the commission by rule made in accordance
189 with Title 63, Chapter 46a, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act.
190 (4) Upon receipt of a verified application filed under Subsection (2), the commission
191 shall, before the end of the next business day, provide public notice of a technical conference to
192 be held no sooner than three business days and no later than seven calendar days following the
193 day on which the verified application is filed and served.
194 (5) (a) At the technical conference held under Subsection (4), the affected electrical
195 utility shall provide adequate support for its verified application and shall respond to questions
196 of the commission, an independent evaluator if one is participating, and any other interested
197 person.
198 (b) The commission shall prepare and retain a transcript of the technical conference.
199 (6) No less than three business days and no more than seven calendar days following
200 the technical conference, the independent evaluator and any interested person may file and
201 serve comments concerning the verified application.
202 (7) The commission shall issue a written decision either granting, granting with
203 conditions, or denying each waiver requested no later than seven calendar days following the
204 deadline for the independent evaluator and any interested person to file comments under
205 Subsection (6).
206 (8) (a) If confidential or trade secret information is provided or used in the verified
207 application, in the technical conference, in comments filed on the verified application or
208 otherwise in the process, that information shall be clearly identified by the providing person as
209 confidential and shall be provided on a confidential basis subject to the terms of a protective
210 order issued by the commission.
211 (b) (i) The commission shall issue a generic protective order to govern access to and
212 use of confidential information in connection with a request for waiver under this part.
213 (ii) Upon request by the affected electrical utility or any interested person, the

214 commission may issue a supplemental protective order in connection with any verified
215 application.
216 (c) (i) The generic protective order and any supplemental protective order restrict use
217 of confidential information to the proceeding on the verified application.
218 (ii) The generic protective order and any supplemental protective order shall forbid the
219 use of confidential information for competitive purposes.
220 (d) An interested person may gain access to and use confidential information in
221 accordance with the terms of a protective order issued by the commission.
222 (9) Notwithstanding the time frames in Subsections (4), (6), and (7), the commission:
223 (a) shall take action or schedule proceedings as soon as reasonably practicable in light
224 of the circumstances and urgency demonstrated by the verified application and any subsequent
225 information provided during the process; and
226 (b) may shorten or lengthen the time frames if the commission determines that
227 changing them is warranted and in the public interest, except that a time frame may not be
228 lengthened solely because an independent evaluator is not available to participate or to
229 complete a recommendation.
230 (10) If an affected electrical utility is granted a waiver to acquire or construct a
231 significant energy resource in accordance with this section, the provisions of Sections
232 54-17-303 and 54-17-304 do not apply to the significant energy resource decision and any cost
233 recovery that an affected electrical utility seeks in connection with that significant energy
234 resource is subject to a future prudence review by the commission under Subsection 54-4-4 (4).
235 (11) (a) Subject to Subsection (11)(b), the commission shall use reasonable efforts to
236 have an independent evaluator available to participate in any application for a waiver under this
237 part.
238 (b) The commission may decline to use an independent evaluator in the consideration
239 of a waiver application if the commission determines the use of an independent evaluator is:
240 (i) not appropriate under the circumstances;
241 (ii) not available under terms or conditions the commission considers reasonable; or
242 (iii) not available to participate or complete a recommendation within any time frame
243 established under Subsection (4), (6), (7), or (9).
244 (c) The validity of an order entered under this part is not affected by:

245 (i) the unavailability of an independent evaluator; or
246 (ii) the failure of an independent evaluator to participate or complete a
247 recommendation within any time frame established under Subsection (4), (6), (7), or (9).
248 (12) By June 1, 2007, the commission shall issue a generic protective order as provided
249 in Subsections (2)(b) and (8)(b).
250 Section 4. Effective date.
251 If approved by two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, this bill takes effect
252 upon approval by the governor, or the day following the constitutional time limit of Utah
253 Constitution Article VII, Section 8, without the governor's signature, or in the case of a veto,
254 the date of veto override.




Legislative Review Note
as of 2-5-07 4:58 PM

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel