S.B. 217 Enrolled

             1     

PUBLIC UTILITIES AMENDMENTS

             2     
2014 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Kevin T. Van Tassell

             5     
House Sponsor: John G. Mathis

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill amends provisions related to electrical service.
             10      Highlighted Provisions:
             11          This bill:
             12          .    amends provisions related to an electrical corporation or a municipality providing
             13      electrical service; and
             14          .    makes technical and conforming changes.
             15      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             16          None
             17      Other Special Clauses:
             18          None
             19      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             20      AMENDS:
             21           10-8-14 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2013, Chapter 242
             22           54-3-30 , as enacted by Laws of Utah 2013, Chapter 242
             23           54-3-31 , as enacted by Laws of Utah 2013, Chapter 242
             24     
             25      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             26          Section 1. Section 10-8-14 is amended to read:
             27           10-8-14. Water, sewer, gas, electricity, and public transportation -- Service
             28      beyond municipal limits -- Retainage -- Notice of service and agreement -- Cable
             29      television and public telecommunications services.


             30          (1) A municipality may:
             31          (a) construct, maintain, and operate waterworks, sewer collection, sewer treatment
             32      systems, gas works, electric light works, telecommunications lines, cable television lines, or
             33      public transportation systems;
             34          (b) authorize the construction, maintenance and operation of the works or systems
             35      listed in Subsection (1)(a) by others;
             36          (c) purchase or lease the works or systems listed in Subsection (1)(a) from any person
             37      or corporation; and
             38          (d) sell and deliver the surplus product or service capacity of any works or system
             39      listed in Subsection (1)(a), not required by the municipality or the municipality's inhabitants, to
             40      others beyond the limits of the municipality, except the sale and delivery of:
             41          (i) retail electricity beyond the municipal boundary is governed by Subsections (3)
             42      through (8); and
             43          (ii) cable television services or public telecommunications services is governed by
             44      Subsection (11).
             45          (2) If any payment on a contract with a private person, firm, or corporation to construct
             46      waterworks, sewer collection, sewer treatment systems, gas works, electric works,
             47      telecommunications lines, cable television lines, or public transportation systems is retained or
             48      withheld, it shall be retained or withheld and released as provided in Section 13-8-5 .
             49          (3) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (3)(b), (5), or (9), a municipality may not sell
             50      or deliver the electricity produced or distributed by its electric works constructed, maintained,
             51      or operated in accordance with Subsection (1) to a retail customer located beyond its municipal
             52      boundary.
             53          (b) A municipality that provides retail electric service to a customer beyond its
             54      municipal boundary on or before June 15, 2013, may continue to serve that customer if:
             55          (i) on or before December 15, 2013, the municipality provides the electrical
             56      corporation, as defined in Section 54-2-1 , that is obligated by its certificate of public
             57      convenience and necessity to serve the customer with an accurate and complete verified written


             58      notice described in Subsection (3)(c) that identifies each customer served by the municipality
             59      beyond its municipal boundary;
             60          (ii) no later than June 15, 2014, the municipality enters into a written filing agreement
             61      for the provision of electric service with the electrical corporation; and
             62          (iii) the Public Service Commission approves the written filing agreement in
             63      accordance with Section 54-4-40 .
             64          (c) The municipality shall include in the written notice required in Subsection (3)(b)(i)
             65      for each customer:
             66          (i) the customer's meter number;
             67          (ii) the location of the customer's meter by street address, global positioning system
             68      coordinates, metes and bounds description, or other similar method of meter location;
             69          (iii) the customer's class of service; and
             70          (iv) a representation that the customer was receiving service from the municipality on
             71      or before June 15, 2013.
             72          (4) The written filing agreement entered into in accordance with Subsection (3)(b)(ii)
             73      shall require the following:
             74          (a) The municipality shall provide electric service to a customer identified in
             75      accordance with Subsection (3)(b)(i) unless the municipality and the electrical corporation
             76      subsequently agree in writing that the electrical corporation will provide electric service to the
             77      customer.
             78          (b) If a customer who is located outside the municipal boundary and who is not
             79      identified in accordance with Subsection (3)(b)(i) requests service from the municipality after
             80      June 15, 2013, the municipality may not provide that customer electric service unless the
             81      municipality submits a request to and enters into a written agreement with the electric
             82      corporation in accordance with Subsection (5).
             83          (5) (a) A municipality may submit to the electrical corporation a request to provide
             84      electric service to an electric customer described in Subsection (4)(b).
             85          (b) If a municipality submits a request, the electrical corporation shall respond to the


             86      request within 60 days.
             87          (c) If the electrical corporation agrees to allow the municipality to provide electric
             88      service to the customer:
             89          (i) the electrical corporation and the municipality shall enter into a written agreement;
             90          (ii) the municipality shall agree in the written agreement to subsequently transfer
             91      service to the customer described in Subsection (4)(b) if the electrical corporation notifies, in
             92      writing, the municipality that the electrical corporation has installed a facility capable of
             93      providing electric service to the customer; and
             94          (iii) the municipality may provide the service if:
             95          (A) except as provided in Subsection (5)(c)(iii)(B), the Public Service Commission
             96      approves the agreement in accordance with Section 54-4-40 [.]; or
             97          (B) for an electrical cooperative that meets the requirements of Subsection 54-7-12 (7),
             98      the governing board of the electrical cooperative approves the agreement.
             99          (d) The municipality or the electrical corporation may terminate the agreement for the
             100      provision of electric service if the Public Service Commission imposes a condition authorized
             101      in Section 54-4-40 that is a material change to the agreement.
             102          (6) If the municipality and electrical corporation make a transfer described in
             103      Subsection (5)(c)(ii):
             104          (a) (i) the municipality shall transfer the electric service customer to the electrical
             105      corporation; and
             106          (ii) the electrical corporation shall provide electric service to the customer; and
             107          (b) the municipality shall transfer a facility in accordance with and for the value as
             108      provided in Section 10-2-421 .
             109          (7) (a) In accordance with Subsection (7)(b), the municipality shall establish a
             110      reasonable mechanism for resolving potential future complaints by an electric customer located
             111      outside its municipal boundary.
             112          (b) The mechanism shall require:
             113          (i) that the rates and conditions of service for a customer outside the municipality's


             114      boundary are at least as favorable as the rates and conditions of service for a similarly situated
             115      customer within the municipality's boundary; and
             116          (ii) if the municipality provides a general rebate, refund, or other payment to a
             117      customer located within the municipality's boundary, that the municipality also provide the
             118      same general rebate, refund, or other payment to a similarly situated customer located outside
             119      the municipality's boundary.
             120          (8) The municipality is relieved of any obligation to transfer a customer described in
             121      Subsection (4)(b) or facility used to serve the customer in accordance with Subsection (5)(c)(ii)
             122      if the municipality annexes the property on which the customer is being served.
             123          (9) (a) A municipality may provide electric service outside of its municipal boundary to
             124      a facility that is solely owned and operated by the municipality for municipal service.
             125          (b) A municipality's provision of electric service to a facility that is solely owned and
             126      operated by the municipality does not expand the municipality's electric service area.
             127          (10) Nothing in this section expands or diminishes the ability of a municipality to enter
             128      into a wholesale electrical sales contract with another municipality that serves electric
             129      customers to sell and deliver wholesale electricity to the other municipality.
             130          (11) A municipality's actions under this section related to works or systems involving
             131      public telecommunications services or cable television services are subject to the requirements
             132      of Chapter 18, Municipal Cable Television and Public Telecommunications Services Act.
             133          Section 2. Section 54-3-30 is amended to read:
             134           54-3-30. Electric utility service within a provider municipality -- Electrical
             135      corporation prohibited as provider -- Exceptions -- Notice and agreement -- Transfer of
             136      customer.
             137          (1) This section applies to an electrical corporation that intends to provide electric
             138      service to a customer:
             139          (a) who is located within the municipal boundary of a municipality that provides
             140      electric service; and
             141          (b) who is not described in Subsection 54-3-31 (2).


             142          (2) (a) If an electrical corporation is authorized by the commission to provide electric
             143      service to a customer in an area adjacent to a municipality, and the municipality provides
             144      electric service to a customer located within its municipal boundary, the electrical corporation
             145      may not provide electric service to a customer within the municipal boundary unless:
             146          (i) the electrical corporation has entered into a written agreement with the municipality
             147      authorizing the electrical corporation to provide electric service:
             148          (A) to a specified customer or to customers located within a specified area
             149      within the municipal boundary; and
             150          (B) in accordance with the terms and conditions of the electrical corporation's tariffs
             151      and regulations approved by the commission, or approved by the governing board for an
             152      electrical cooperative that meets the requirements of Subsection 54-7-12 (7); and
             153          (ii) (A) except as provided in Subsection (2)(a)(ii)(B), the commission approves the
             154      agreement in accordance with Section 54-4-40 [.]; or
             155          (B) for an electrical cooperative that meets the requirements of Subsection 54-7-12 (7),
             156      the governing board of the electrical cooperative approves the agreement.
             157          (b) The municipality or the electrical corporation may terminate the agreement for the
             158      provision of electric service if the commission imposes a condition authorized in Section
             159      54-4-40 that is a material change to the agreement.
             160          (3) An electrical corporation that enters into an agreement described in Subsection
             161      (2)(a) shall transfer service to a customer described in Subsection (2):
             162          (a) at the conclusion of a term specified in the agreement; or
             163          (b) upon termination of the agreement by the electrical corporation in accordance with
             164      Subsection (4).
             165          (4) Unless otherwise agreed in writing by the electrical corporation and the
             166      municipality, the electrical corporation may terminate an agreement entered into in accordance
             167      with Subsection (2)(a) by giving written notice of termination to the municipality:
             168          (a) no earlier than two years before the day of termination; or
             169          (b) within a period of time shorter than two years if otherwise agreed to with the


             170      municipality.
             171          (5) Upon termination of an agreement in accordance with Subsection (3)(a), (3)(b), or
             172      (4):
             173          (a) (i) the electrical corporation shall transfer the electric service customer to the
             174      municipality; and
             175          (ii) the municipality shall provide electric service to the customer; and
             176          (b) the electrical corporation shall transfer a facility in accordance with and for the
             177      value as provided in Section 10-2-421 .
             178          (6) This section may not be construed to modify or terminate any written franchise
             179      agreement or other agreement that expressly provides for electric service by an electrical
             180      corporation to a customer within a municipality that was entered into between an electrical
             181      corporation and a municipality on or before June 15, 2013.
             182          Section 3. Section 54-3-31 is amended to read:
             183           54-3-31. Electric utility service within a provider municipality -- Electrical
             184      corporation authorized as continuing provider for service provided on or before June 15,
             185      2013 -- Notice of service and agreement -- Transfer of customer.
             186          (1) This section applies to an electrical corporation that:
             187          (a) (i) provides electric service to a customer on or before June 15, 2013, within the
             188      municipal boundary of a municipality that provides electric service; [and] or
             189          (ii) provides electric service to a customer within an area:
             190          (A) established by an agreement dated on or before June 15, 2013, with a municipality;
             191      and
             192          (B) within the municipal boundary of a municipality that provides electric service; and
             193          (b) intends to continue providing service to that customer.
             194          (2) Notwithstanding Section 54-3-30 , if an electrical corporation provides electric
             195      service to a customer [within the municipal boundary of a municipality on or before June 15,
             196      2013] as described in Subsection (1), and the municipality provides electric service to another
             197      customer within its municipal boundary, the electrical corporation may continue to provide


             198      electric service to the customer within the municipality's boundary after the termination of, or
             199      in the absence of, a written agreement, if:
             200          (a) the electrical corporation provides, on or before December 15, 2013, the
             201      municipality with an accurate and complete verified written notice, in accordance with
             202      Subsection (3), identifying each customer within the municipality served by the electrical
             203      corporation on or before June 15, 2013;
             204          (b) the electrical corporation enters into a written agreement with the municipality:
             205          (i) (A) prior to the termination of any prior written agreement; or
             206          (B) in the absence of a written agreement; and
             207          (ii) no later than June 15, 2014; and
             208          (c) (i) except as provided in Subsection (2)(c)(ii), the commission approves the
             209      agreement in accordance with Section 54-4-40 [.]; or
             210          (ii) for an electrical cooperative that meets the requirements of Subsection 54-7-12 (7),
             211      the governing board of the electrical cooperative approves the agreement.
             212          (3) The written notice provided in accordance with Subsection (2)(a) shall include for
             213      each customer:
             214          (a) the customer's meter number;
             215          (b) the location of the customer's meter by street address, global positioning system
             216      coordinates, metes and bounds description, or other similar method of meter location;
             217          (c) the customer's class of service; and
             218          (d) a representation that the customer was receiving service from the electrical
             219      corporation on or before June 15, 2013.
             220          (4) The agreement entered into in accordance with Subsection (2) shall require the
             221      following:
             222          (a) The electrical corporation is the exclusive electric service provider to a customer
             223      identified in the notice described in Subsection (2)(a) unless the municipality and electrical
             224      corporation subsequently agree, in writing, that the municipality may provide electric service to
             225      the identified customer.


             226          (b) If a customer who is located within the municipal boundary and who is not
             227      identified in Subsection (2)(a) requests service after June 15, 2013, from the electrical
             228      corporation, the electrical corporation may not provide that customer electric service unless the
             229      electrical corporation subsequently submits a request to and enters into a written agreement
             230      with the municipality in accordance with Section 54-4-30 .
             231          (5) (a) Unless otherwise agreed in writing by the electrical corporation and the
             232      municipality, the electrical corporation may terminate an agreement entered into in accordance
             233      with Subsection (2)(b) by giving written notice of termination to the municipality:
             234          (i) no earlier than two years before the day of termination; or
             235          (ii) within a period of time shorter than two years if otherwise agreed to with the
             236      municipality.
             237          (b) Upon termination of an agreement in accordance with Subsection (5)(a):
             238          (i) (A) the electrical corporation shall transfer an electric service customer located
             239      within the municipality to the municipality; and
             240          (B) the municipality shall provide electric service to the customer; and
             241          (ii) the electrical corporation shall transfer a facility in accordance with and for the
             242      value as provided in Section 10-2-421 .
             243          (6) This section may not be construed to modify or terminate any written franchise
             244      agreement or other agreement that expressly provides for electric service by an electrical
             245      corporation to a customer within a municipality that was entered into between an electrical
             246      corporation and a municipality on or before June 15, 2013.


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