1     
NATURAL GAS AMENDMENTS

2     
2020 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Christine F. Watkins

5     
Senate Sponsor: David P. Hinkins

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill modifies the Energy Resource Procurement Act by amending provisions
10     relating to natural gas infrastructure.
11     Highlighted Provisions:
12          This bill:
13          ▸     amends the definition of rural gas infrastructure development to include the
14     acquisition, extension, or expansion of natural gas utility facilities to serve
15     previously unserved rural areas of the state; and
16          ▸     makes technical changes.
17     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
18          None
19     Other Special Clauses:
20          This bill provides a special effective date.
21     Utah Code Sections Affected:
22     AMENDS:
23          54-17-401, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2018, Chapter 449
24     

25     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
26          Section 1. Section 54-17-401 is amended to read:
27          54-17-401. Definitions -- Rules.
28          (1) As used in this part:
29          (a) "Energy utility" means one of the following with 200,000 retail customers in the
30     state:
31          (i) an electrical corporation; or
32          (ii) a gas corporation.
33          (b) "Resource decision" means a decision, other than a decision to construct or acquire
34     a significant energy resource, involving:
35          (i) an energy utility's acquisition, management, or operation of energy production,
36     processing, transmission, or distribution facilities or processes including:
37          (A) a facility or process for the efficient, reliable, or safe provision of energy to retail
38     customers;
39          (B) an energy efficiency and conservation program; or
40          (C) rural gas infrastructure development; or
41          (ii) a decision determined by the commission to be appropriate for review under this
42     part.
43          (c) "Rural gas infrastructure development" means the acquisition, planning,
44     development, extension, expansion, and construction of [an extension or expansion of] natural
45     gas [main lines] utility facilities to serve previously unserved rural areas of the state.
46          (2) The commission may adopt rules in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah
47     Administrative Rulemaking Act, to specify the nature of resource decisions subject to approval
48     under Section 54-17-402.
49          Section 2. Effective date.
50          If approved by two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, this bill takes effect
51     upon approval by the governor, or the day following the constitutional time limit of Utah
52     Constitution, Article VII, Section 8, without the governor's signature, or in the case of a veto,
53     the date of veto override.