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House OKs bill encouraging utilities to use advanced grid technologies; PRC cost‑recovery criteria included
Summary
Lawmakers passed a bill asking utilities to report on plans to deploy advanced grid technologies in their integrated resource plans and allowing the Public Regulation Commission to consider cost recovery under enumerated criteria.
The House passed legislation designed to encourage utilities to use “advanced grid technologies” — equipment and monitoring tools that increase the carrying capacity and efficiency of existing transmission and distribution lines — and to allow the Public Regulation Commission to consider cost recovery for such investments under specified conditions.
Sponsor testimony said the technologies can increase a line’s usable capacity and reduce the need for costly new transmission construction. “These technologies allow our existing grid to have more capacity and reduce congestion, making it more able to carry more of our state's abundant electricity,” the sponsor said.
Under the bill utilities would report whether they plan to deploy advanced grid technologies as part of their three‑year integrated resource planning process (IRP). The measure directs the PRC to consider cost‑benefit analyses and other criteria when a utility asks for cost recovery for such projects; the PRC retains authority to evaluate economic justification in rate hearings.
Floor questions focused on the potential costs to utilities and whether those costs would be passed on to ratepayers, and on whether the PRC has the budget and staff to review the analyses. The sponsor and supporters pointed to out‑of‑state examples where similar approaches reduced congestion costs and yielded net savings compared with large transmission projects. The sponsor noted the PRC has economists who perform detailed reviews in rate cases and that cost‑benefit analysis will be part of any utility filing.
The House adopted the Government, Elections and Indian Affairs Committee substitute for House Bill 93 on final passage by a vote of 52 in favor and 8 opposed.
Supporters said the bill offers a lower‑cost pathway to carry more renewable generation on existing lines; opponents asked for careful oversight to protect ratepayers and for adequate PRC resources to evaluate filings.
