Committee hears competing views on SB 355 to narrow utility right of first refusal for transmission projects

The House Energy Committee on (hearing date not specified) heard testimony on Senate Bill 355, which would remove right-of-first-refusal (ROFR) protections for public utilities regulated by the Montana Public Service Commission while preserving those protections for electric cooperatives and creating a competitive-bid process for large transmission projects.

Sponsor Wiley Galt, a senator from Central Montana, described SB 355 as a compromise intended to preserve ROFR for cooperatives while opening competition on other transmission projects. He said the bill arose from prior debate over a broader repeal and aimed to address concerns from co-ops by retaining some building and ownership protections for them.

The bill would require incumbent electric utilities to conduct a competitive bidding process for transmission projects valued at $8,000,000 or more; awarded bids would have to meet incumbent utility standards for design, construction and materials, and the incumbent utility would assume ownership and maintenance responsibilities upon completion,…