This amendment clarifies that storm response and restoration costs above the costs set forth in the Infrastructure, Safety, and Reliability Plan filed by the electric distribution company with the Public Service Commission for the year the costs are incurred may be recoverable as costs incurred under emergency or extraordinary circumstances.

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details on whether or how the Public Service Commission reviews and approves additional storm response and restoration costs beyond what is planned. The candidate explanation included claims about review requirements that are not supported by the provided official text.

Clarifying Storm Response Costs

This amendment allows electric companies to charge customers extra money if storm response and restoration costs go above what was planned in their yearly safety plan, when those extra costs are due to emergencies or unusual situations.

What This Bill Does

• Allows electric distribution companies to recover more than the planned costs for storm response and restoration if these additional costs happen because of an emergency or extraordinary situation.

Who It Names or Affects

• Electric distribution companies
• Customers of these electric companies

Terms To Know

Public Service Commission

A government agency that oversees and regulates utilities like electricity providers to ensure fair practices.

Infrastructure, Safety, and Reliability Plan

A yearly plan filed by electric companies with the Public Service Commission detailing expected costs for maintaining safety and reliability of their systems.

Limits and Unknowns

• The amendment was stricken in the House on June 25, 2025, so it did not become law.
• It only applies to storm response and restoration costs above what is planned for in the yearly safety plan.

Official Summary Text

This amendment clarifies that storm response and restoration costs above the costs set forth in the Infrastructure, Safety, and Reliability Plan filed by the electric distribution company with the Public Service Commission for the year the costs are incurred may be recoverable as costs incurred under emergency or extraordinary circumstances.

Current Bill Text

Legislation Document

SPONSOR:

Rep. Heffernan

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE AMENDMENT NO. 1

TO

SENATE BILL NO. 60

AMEND Senate Bill No. 60, as amended by Senate Amendment No. 2, by deleting lines 8 through 14 of Senate Amendment No. 2 and inserting in lieu thereof the following:

“

(c) (1) For the years 2026 through and including 2028, the Public Service Commission shall not allow an electric distribution company to recover in rates annual capital expenses in excess of $125 million dollars to maintain system reliability, absent emergency or extraordinary circumstances, including an inability to meet, but not exceed, Public Service Commission reliability standards, that require greater capital expenditures by the electric distribution company.

(2) The recovery of any capital expenses in excess of the $125 million dollar cap, arising from emergency or extraordinary circumstances, are subject to review and approval by the Public Service Commission, and the application to the Commission must be filed within six months of the incurring of the initial capital expenses sought to be recovered.

Storm response and restoration costs above the costs set forth in the Infrastructure, Safety, and Reliability Plan filed by the electric distribution company with the Public Service Commission for the year the costs are incurred may be recoverable as costs incurred under emergency or extraordinary circumstances.

”

SYNOPSIS

This amendment clarifies that storm response and restoration costs above the costs set forth in the Infrastructure, Safety, and Reliability Plan filed by the electric distribution company with the Public Service Commission for the year the costs are incurred may be recoverable as costs incurred under emergency or extraordinary circumstances.