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Committee adopts SB 132 substitute to let new large power customers pursue alternative suppliers; transmission-cost split left to PSC review
Summary
The committee unanimously adopted and favorably recommended SB 132 (third substitute), an electricity bill creating a competitive path for very large new loads (roughly 50 MW) to secure generation outside the regulated utility, with disputed transmission-cost allocation subject to review by the Public Service Commission.
Senator Sand, presenting SB 132 (third substitute) to the House Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment Standing Committee on March 4, said the bill creates a competitive option for very large new electrical loads — data centers, industrial consumers or large manufacturers — to contract with alternate generators instead of being served only under the incumbent regulated utility’s framework. Senator Sand called the bill “a break from our traditional regulated monopoly” intended to attract large customers to Utah.
The substitute sets a threshold in the bill (the sponsor said 50 megawatts) for what the bill considers a large load and contemplates that prospective customers may first approach Rocky Mountain Power or seek alternative generators. If the proposed generation requires transmission across the grid, that element would go to the Utah Public Service Commission (PSC) to determine how much transmission cost should be socialized across the…
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