H.B. 244

1

MODIFYING THE ELECTRIC DEREGULATION
2 AND CUSTOMER CHOICE TASK FORCE
3 2001 GENERAL SESSION
4 STATE OF UTAH
5 Sponsor: Thomas V. Hatch
6 This act modifies the Public Utilities Code to make modifications to the Electric Deregulation
7 and Customer Choice Task Force. The act modifies the name and duties of the task force.
8 The act modifies the relationship between the task force and the Public Service Commission.
9 This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
10 AMENDS:
11 54-7-12.5, as last amended by Chapter 196, Laws of Utah 2000
12 54-7-12.7, as enacted by Chapter 62, Laws of Utah 1999
13 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
14 Section 1. Section 54-7-12.5 is amended to read:
15 54-7-12.5. Energy Task Force.
16 (1) (a) There is [reauthorized] created the [Electric Deregulation and Customer Choice]
17 Energy Policy Task Force [created by Chapter 176, Laws of Utah 1997,] consisting of the
18 following members:
19 (i) five members of the Senate appointed by the president of the Senate, no more than three
20 of whom may be from the same political party; and
21 (ii) seven members of the House of Representatives appointed by the speaker of the House
22 of Representatives, no more than five of whom may be from the same political party.
23 (b) (i) The president of the Senate shall designate a member of the Senate appointed under
24 Subsection (1)(a)(i) as a cochair of the task force.
25 (ii) The speaker of the House of Representatives shall designate a member of the House
26 of Representatives appointed under Subsection (1)(a)(ii) as a cochair of the task force.
27 (c) In conducting its business, the task force shall comply with the rules of legislative

28 interim committees.
29 (d) The task force may meet as often as twice a month, if the chairs determine that the
30 meetings are needed.
31 (e) Salaries and expenses of the members of the task force shall be paid in accordance with
32 Section 36-2-2 and Legislative Joint Rule 15.03.
33 (f) The Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel shall provide staff support to
34 the task force.
35 (2) The task force shall:
36 [(a) prepare legislation that intends to implement an electrical restructuring plan to be
37 presented to the Legislature for consideration during the 2001 Annual General Session, unless it
38 is not in Utah's best interest;]
39 [(b) monitor the implementation of the legislation described in Subsection (2)(a), if passed
40 by the Legislature;]
41 [(c) study electrical restructuring in and its effects on Utah;]
42 [(d) remain informed about developments in electrical restructuring on the federal level
43 and in other states; and]
44 [(e) monitor states that have implemented an electrical restructuring plan to learn from the
45 experiences of those states.]
46 (a) study energy needs of the state;
47 (b) monitor federal and other states' efforts to address energy needs;
48 (c) study potential Utah, federal, and other states:
49 (i) conservation efforts; or
50 (ii) demand side management activities;
51 (d) study potential ways the state could develop, facilitate, or promote generation,
52 exploration, or transportation of new energy to serve the needs of the state; and
53 (e) make recommendations to the Legislature regarding what legislation, if any, is needed
54 to ensure that the energy needs of the state are met.
55 (3) In addition to the assistance of the Public Service Commission under Section
56 54-7-12.7 , the task force may request assistance from public and private resources as part of its
57 [study] activities.
58 (4) The task force shall report at least annually to the Public Utilities and Technology

59 Interim Committee.
60 Section 2. Section 54-7-12.7 is amended to read:
61 54-7-12.7. Commission work with task force.
62 To assist the [Electric Deregulation and Customer Choice] Energy Policy Task Force in
63 [its study] the Energy Policy Task Force's duties under Section 54-7-12.5 , the Public Service
64 Commission shall[: (1) study electrical restructuring, including developments on the federal level
65 and in other states; and (2)], as directed by the [Electric Deregulation and Customer Choice]
66 Energy Policy Task Force, work with that task force including providing the task force with
67 reports.




Legislative Review Note
as of 1-16-01 4:52 PM

A limited legal review of this legislation raises no obvious constitutional or statutory concerns.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel