Senator urges changes to private electrical network bill, says proposal protects ratepayers

Senator Hentgen, speaking on the floor, asked the Senate to place Senate Bill 490 in proper order and adopted six amendments designed to clarify the definition and scope of "private-use electrical networks." He said the package requires a private grid to meet contiguous ownership, primary-use and delivery-through-private-wires tests and limits use primarily to new electric load so existing utility customers are not shifted onto other ratepayers.

"They told you this bill may cause your electric bill to go up $16 a month," Hentgen said, summarizing opponents' concerns, and added: "I take that bet that without this bill, I promise you they will go up that much." He described amendments that would preserve the Public Service Commission's authority "if the commission determines it would negatively impact other rate payers," and would require private-grid applicants to pay interconnection study costs so utilities or customers would not be left holding those expenses.

The sponsor framed the changes as a balance between allowing new generation to serve large industrial and data-center loads while protecting residential ratepayers from cost shifting. Senators asked questions during the floor explanation but Hentgen stated he would return the bill to the calendar "until we do hear the debate," leaving formal floor debate and final passage for a later day.

The Senate did not hold a final passage vote on SB 490 during this session; instead the bill was returned to the calendar for further consideration and debate alongside the offered amendments.