Kansas committee hears wide debate on HB 24‑83, TRUE Act, over transmission costs and third‑party PPAs

The House Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications Committee heard nearly four hours of testimony Feb. 19 on House Bill 24‑83, the Transparency and Reform of Utility Expenditures (TRUE) Act, a broad package of changes that would impose new reporting requirements on the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC), require competitive bidding for many Southwest Power Pool (SPP) transmission projects and allow third‑party power purchase agreements (PPAs).

The bill’s reviser, Mr. Myers, told the committee the measure would require an annual KCC report on the SPP Integrated Transmission Plan, include a provision that treats transmission delivery charges as subject to general rate proceedings, and add new limits such as a prohibition on participation by utilities with more than 5,000 retail customers in SPP‑directed projects above 300 kilovolts unless those projects are competitively bid. He also summarized provisions that would ban local land‑use restrictions that forbid nuclear development (except for reactors buried more than 500 feet), and a 365‑day post‑employment restriction for KCC employees and commissioners.

Proponents said the bill is aimed at…