PUBLIC UTILITIES, ENERGY, AND TECHNOLOGY INTERIM COMMITTEE
Wednesday, November 20, 2024 | 1:15 PM | 220 Senate Building

1.    Committee Business

·         Call to order

·         Approval of the minutes of the October 16, 2024, meeting

 

2.    Introduction: Public Service Commission Chair 1:15 – 1:25PM

This year, the Public Service Commission received a new chair. The committee will hear an introduction and can ask questions of the new Public Service Commission chair.

·         Jerry Fenn, Chair, Public Service Commission

 

3.    Statutorily Required: Electrical Power Delivery 1:25 – 1:35PM

Section 54-25-201 requires the Public Service Commission to report to the PUET committee annually regarding a qualified utility’s compliance with the qualified utility’s electrical power delivery plan. 

·         Jerry Fenn, Chair, Public Service Commission

 

4.      Statutorily Required Report: Forced Retirement of Electrical Generation Facilities 1:35 – 1:45PM Section 79-6-303 requires the Public Service Commission to report to the PUET committee annually regarding the number of requests they’ve received to retire electric generating units in the state and the associated impacts of those requests.

·         Jerry Fenn, Chair, Public Service Commission

 

5.    Report: Rocky Mountain Power’s Preliminary Plan to Separate from PacifiCorp 1:45 – 2:15PM

During the August 2024 PUET interim committee, the committee heard from Rocky Mountain Power on several issues, including the potential to separate from PacifiCorp. The chairs asked Rocky Mountain Power to return in November with a preliminary plan for what that may entail. The committee will hear the preliminary plan and have an opportunity to ask questions.

·         Thom Carter, Vice President of Government Affairs, Rocky Mountain Power

·         Dick Garlish, President, Rocky Mountain Power

 

6.    Statutorily Required Report: OED Director Report 2:15PM – 2:25PM

Section 79-6-405 requires the director of the Office of Energy Development (OED) to report annually to the committee addressing several items including the state’s energy resources, the office’s accomplishments, and any recommended executive or legislative action. On October 22, 2024, Gov. Cox appointed a new energy advisor and director of the Office of Energy Development. The committee will hear an introduction and can ask questions of the new director.

·         Emy Faulkner Lesofski, Director, Office of Energy Development

 

 

 

7.    Statutorily Required Report: Fuel Storage Reserve Study 2:25 – 2:35PM

Section 79-6-406 requires the OED to conduct a study analyzing the potential benefits, risks, feasibility, and requirements of establishing a Utah transportation, heating, and electricity-generating fuel storage reserve. OED is required to report on the progress of the study.

·         Dusty Monks, Deputy Director, Policy & Research, Office of Energy Development

 

8.    Statutorily Required Report: Project Entity Asset Intended for Decommissioning Study 2:35 – 2:55PM

Section 79-6-408 requires the Decommissioned Asset Disposition Authority to conduct a study, in consultation with OED, to evaluate issues associated with the state’s air quality implementation plan as it relates to continued operation of assets intended for decommissioning, establishing a fair market value, and evaluate potential sale of the facilities to new owners. The authority is required to report the progress and results of the study to the PUET committee.

·         Cody Stewart, Chair, Decommissioned Asset Disposition Authority (DADA)

·         Michael Nasi, Partner, Jackson Walker LLP

 

9.     Presentation: DCPC-Design & Construction 2:55PM – 3:05PM

DCPC design develops power generation for data center sites and resolves development needs associated with feasibility challenges.

·         Jon Jensen, Chief Executive Officer, DCPC- Design & Construction Performance Collaboration

·         Clint Ashmead, Project Executive, DCPC- Design & Construction Performance Collaboration

 

10. Statutorily Required Report: Cybersecurity Commission Assessment 3:05 – 3:10PM

Section 63C-27-205 requires the Cybersecurity Commission to report to the PUET committee annually, including an assessment of cyber threats to Utah and recommendations for best practices and potential legislation to reduce the state’s risk.

·         Katherine McNeil, Supervisor Cyber Threat Intelligence Analyst, Utah Department of Public Safety, Statewide Information & Analysis Center

 

11. Statutorily Required Report: Cybersecurity Infrastructure Modifications 3:10 – 3:15PM

Section 63A-16-214 requires the Chief Information Officer to report on the progress of implementing zero trust architecture and multi-factor authentication to the PUET committee annually.

·         Alan Fuller, Chief Information Officer, Division of Technology Services

 

12. Statutorily Required Report: Single Sign-on Expendable Special Revenue Fund 3:15 – 3:20PM

Section 13-1-2 requires the Department of Commerce to report on the fund revenues and expenditures to the PUET committee. The fund is used to pay for costs to create and maintain the single sign-on business portal and costs incurred by the Division of Technology Services.

·         Alan Fuller, Chief Information Officer, Division of Technology Services

·         Adam Watson, Director of Corporations and Commercial Code, Utah Department of Commerce

 

 

 

13. Presentation: MCi Carbon 3:20 – 3:25PM

MCi Carbon is a company specializing in carbon capture technology.

·         Martin Murphy, Chief Commercial Officer, MCi Carbon

 

14. Draft Legislation: Decommissioned Asset Disposition Amendments 3:25 – 3:30PM

·         Rep. Jack

 

15. Draft Legislation: Electricity Rate Amendments 3:30 – 3:40PM

·         Rep. Albrecht

 

16. Draft Legislation: Committee of Consumer Services Sunset Amendments 3:40 – 3:45PM

·         Rep. Owens

 

17. Adjourn