Electric transmission-consideration of regional issues.

WORKING DRAFT

ORIGINAL HOUSE

BILL

NO.
0111

ENROLLED ACT NO. 53, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SIXTIETH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF
WYOMING
2010 BUDGET SESSION

AN ACT relating to
public
utilities
; providing for regional considerations in the regulation of electric transmission;

specifying legislative findings;
and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of
Wyoming
:

Section 1.

W.S. 37
‑
2
‑
114 and 37
‑
2
‑
122(a)
are amended to read:

37
‑
2
‑
114.

Authority to confer with other state and federal commissions; expenses.

(a)

The commission may confer in person, by attending conventions or otherwise, with the members of railroad or other public utility commissions of other states and with the interstate commerce commission on any matters relating to public utilities, and shall be allowed actual traveling expenses when engaged in such work.

(b)

In regulating the transmission of electricity:

(i)

The commission may meet in conjunction with public utility commissions of other states as it determines necessary or convenient to
develop common sets of
fact finding
for regulation of the transmission of electricity in the region
. Any common set of facts developed under this paragraph shall only be developed under a docketed commission proceeding with opportunity for participation by the public in compliance with the Wyoming
A
dministrative
P
rocedure
A
ct and commission rules
;

(ii)

The commission may meet jointly with public utility commissions of other states to conduct hearings on the regulation of the trans
mission of electricity. The commission shall act independently in entering any order as a result of such hearings;

(iii)

Subject to W.S. 37
‑
2
‑
122, the commission may consider regional effects of its orders upon the utility and may consider requirements imposed upon the utility by the laws of other states within the region or the orders of other commissions within the region.

(c)

As used in subsection (b) of t
his section, "region" includes any state with a border contiguous to
Wyoming
and the states of
Arizona
,
California
,

Nevada
,
New Mexico
,

North Dakota
,

Oregon

and
Washington
.

37
‑
2
‑
122.

Matters considered in fixing rates; order changing services or facilities.

(a)

In determining what are just and reasonable rates the commission may take into consideration availability or reliability of service, depreciation of plant, technological obsolescence of equipment, expense of operation, physical and other values of the plant, system, business and properties of the public utility whose rates are under consideration.
In determining just and reasonable rates for electricity the commission shall consider common sets of facts developed pursuant to W.S. 37
‑
2
‑
114(b)(i) and regional benefits
provided by the utility.

Section 2.
The legislature finds that in the regulation of electric transmission
,
regional
factors
should be
considered by the public utility regulatory authorities of the various affected states to best promote the interests of the citizens of the region. The development and use of a common set of facts and other cooperation and coordination between the regulatory authorities in the regulation of electric transmission will help establish market certainty and facilitate business decision making, ultimately resulting in more affordable, reliable and environmentally responsible energy.

Section 3.

This act is effective immediately upon co
m
pletion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constit
u
tion.

(END)

Speaker of the House

President of the Senate

Governor

TIME APPROVED: _________

DATE APPROVED: _________

I hereby certify that this act originated in the House.

Chief Clerk

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