Public Utilities - Digest of Bills

Digest of Bills - 1997

PUBLIC UTILITIES

H.B. 97-1024 College-provided telecommunications services. Includes colleges that provide telecommunications service to their students, faculty, and staff within the definition of a "private telecommunications network", thus exempting such colleges from regulation as a public utility.

APPROVED by Governor March 24, 1997
EFFECTIVE March 24, 1997

H.B. 97-1071 Public utilities commission - oversight agency for safety of rail fixed guideway systems within the state - appropriation. Designates the public utilities commission as the state agency to establish and carry out a system safety oversight program for rail fixed guideway systems in the state. Directs the commission to adopt rules, investigate safety problems, and order corrective action by transit agencies. Makes investigative reports confidential and nondisclosable. Funds the administration of the program through fee assessments upon transit agencies.

Appropriates out of the public utilities commission fixed utility fund to the public utilities commission the sum of $55,604 and 0.7 FTE.

APPROVED by Governor May 21, 1997
EFFECTIVE August 6, 1997
NOTE: This act was passed without a safety clause. It shall take effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly that is allowed for submitting a referendum petition pursuant to article V, section 1 (3) of the state constitution; except that, if a referendum petition is filed against this act or an item, section, or part of this act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part, if approved by the people, shall take effect on the date of the official declaration of the vote thereon by proclamation of the governor.

H.B. 97-1350 Public utilities commission - approval of rates and expenditures for new construction - factors - environmental costs and benefits - limitations. Prohibits the public utilities commission, when exercising its regulatory authority in connection with evaluating potential utility resources for purposes of rate making, approval of construction of new facilities, or otherwise, from considering environmental costs unless such costs are recognized under generally accepted accounting principles and are incurred or proposed either:

For the purpose of complying with existing environmental laws or rules or with settlements approved by a state or federal court or administrative agency; or
Under a voluntary plan to reduce emissions or accomplish other environmental mitigation beyond the levels required by existing environmental law or rules.

Prohibits the commission from establishing or enforcing environmental standards except to the extent of considering the prudence of expenditures made to comply with existing environmental laws or rules. Requires the commission to consider the effects on the state's economy and employment that may result from the acquisition of potential utility resources. Specifically allows the commission to take into account emission-trading credits and the lowest-cost available alternatives when considering the costs and benefits of potential utility resources for purposes of prudency review and integrated resource planning.

VETOED by Governor June 3, 1997