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House rescinds certain committee amendments to HB127 and advances bill creating facility review board for utility siting disputes
Summary
After debate about fairness and local authority, the House rescinded selected committee amendments and moved forward on House Bill 127, which would create a facility review board (including the Public Service Commission and local government representatives) to resolve disputes over undergrounding transmission lines and related costs.
House Bill 127 was presented as the product of a multi‑stakeholder task force formed after protracted disputes (notably in Sandy City) over who should pay the extra costs when local jurisdictions require underground transmission lines. The sponsor said the bill would create a facility-review board composed of the Public Service Commission, representatives of cities and counties, and other panelists as needed to resolve siting and cost-allocation impasses so that service is not jeopardized.
Floor debate centered on fairness in cost allocation: some members argued property owners or cities that require undergrounding should not bear full excess costs when the transmission primarily benefits customers outside that jurisdiction. Others warned the bill could reduce local control. After discussion, the House supported rescinding certain committee amendments (saying they presented problems for public-power communities) so the bill could move forward in a form acceptable to those utilities and local governments.
Sponsors emphasized the bill is intended to provide a fair resolution process rather than remove all local authority. The motion to rescind committee amendments carried on the floor and the amended bill advanced through the legislative process.
