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Senate adopts substitute on electric restructuring task force amid debate over mandate to draft legislation
Summary
The Senate adopted a substitute to SSB250 creating a task force to prepare electric restructuring legislation for the 2001 session; senators debated whether mandating draft legislation oversteps an interim study committee and raised concerns about impacts on residential rates and municipal utilities.
On Feb. 17 the Utah Senate adopted a substitute to SSB250 establishing an interim task force to prepare legislation on electric restructuring and customer choice for consideration in the 2001 session. The substitute requires the interim group to produce a bill and to monitor implementation if a restructuring package is enacted.
Supporters said the change provides impetus for a coordinated, transparent process involving utilities, industrial users, labor and consumer advocates. Senator Blackcomb said the substitute clarified timelines and urged the committee to prepare legislation for next year. He described the measure as a way to move stalled negotiations forward.
Opponents, including Senator Peterson and Senator Maine, argued the chamber should not obligate an interim committee to draft legislation that could commit future legislatures to a course of action. They warned that restructuring could shift costs to residential and rural customers and said the study committee had not voted to take such a mandate.
The substitute was adopted on the floor; members later circled the bill for additional interim work and discussion. Senators emphasized the need to protect residential ratepayers, municipal power systems and small businesses while engaging stakeholders. The Senate recognized the contentious nature of the issue and deferred final decisions to the next session and interim work.
