Bill Number: OK51RHB 1599 Filed: 01-19-2007
Author: Covey
STATE OF OKLAHOMA
1 1st Session of the 51st Legislature (2007)
2 HOUSE BILL 1599 By: Covey
3 AS INTRODUCED
4 An Act relating to energy; directing the Oklahoma
5 Renewable Energy Transmission Advisory Board to
6 undertake a renewable energy transmission study;
7 stating purpose of the study; listing certain issues
8 for the study; requiring the Corporation Commission
9 to assist the Advisory Board in the study; directing
10 the Commission to contract with a regional
11 transmission association; providing funding for the
12 contract; creating the Oklahoma Renewable Energy
13 Transmission Advisory Board; stating duty of the
14 Advisory Board; requiring the Advisory Board to make
15 certain recommendations; providing for meetings,
16 appointments, staffing, travel reimbursement, and
17 termination of the Advisory Board; directing the
18 Commission to assess a fee on electric utilities;
19 allowing fee to be a recoverable operating expense;
20 creating the Renewable Energy Transmission Study
21 Revolving Fund; requiring deposit of fee in the fund;
22 stating expenditure purpose; requiring expenditures
23 to be made on warrants; defining certain term;
24 providing for codification; and declaring an
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1 emergency.
2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
3 SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
4 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 190.30 of Title 17, unless there
5 is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
6 A. In order to ensure orderly and efficient development of
7 renewable energy in Oklahoma, the Legislature hereby directs the
8 Oklahoma Renewable Energy Transmission Advisory Board created in
9 Section 2 of this act to undertake a study to evaluate the
10 transmission requirements needed for the reasonable development of
11 renewable resources. The purpose of the study shall be to provide
12 transmission planning for renewable resources based on the
13 transmission needs of the state as a whole instead of on a project-
14 by-project basis. The Advisory Board shall study and make
15 recommendations on the following issues:
16 1. The level of funding needed to develop or extend the
17 existing transmission system for the development of renewable
18 energy;
19 2. The locations and types of projects needed to support the
20 reasonable development of renewable energy in the state; and
21 3. How the advance funding for transmission system
22 development and upgrades is to be reimbursed by future renewable
23 energy developers or others that might use the funded transmission
24 upgrades.
25 B. The Corporation Commission shall assist the Advisory Board
26 in the study. The Commission shall, upon the recommendation of the
27 Advisory Board, contract with a regional transmission organization
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1 to provide technical expertise and assist the Advisory Board in the
2 performance of its duties. Funding for the contract shall be from
3 the renewable energy assessment as provided for in Section 3 of this
4 act.
5 C. The Advisory Committee shall complete a final report by
6 January 31, 2007.
7 SECTION 2. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
8 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 190.31 of Title 17, unless there
9 is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
10 A. There is hereby created the Oklahoma Renewable Energy
11 Transmission Advisory Board. It shall be the duty of the Advisory
12 Board to conduct the renewable energy transmission study as provided
13 for in Section 1 of this act.
14 B. The Oklahoma Renewable Energy Transmission Advisory Board
15 shall consist of:
16 1. The Secretary of the Environment;
17 2. The Secretary of Energy;
18 3. A representative appointed by the Oklahoma Renewable
19 Energy Council;
20 4. A representative of the State Energy Office in the
21 Oklahoma Department of Commerce;
22 5. A representative of the Oklahoma Municipal Power
23 Authority;
24 6. A representative of transmission system owners or
25 operators located in Oklahoma as selected by the Chair of the
26 Corporation Commission;
27 7. A representative from each public utility contracting for
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1 electric power derived from wind resources as selected by the Chair
2 of the Corporation Commission; and
3 8. A Corporation Commissioner or designee, selected by the
4 Chair of the Commission, who shall serve as Chair of the Oklahoma
5 Renewable Energy Transmission Advisory Board.
6 C. The Advisory Board shall meet at the call of the Chair and
7 establish a schedule of meetings.
8 D. The Advisory Board shall make recommendations to the
9 Corporation Commission on contracting with a regional transmission
10 organization to provide technical expertise and assist the Advisory
11 Board in the performance of its duties.
12 E. Appointments to the Advisory Board shall be made by June
13 15, 2007, and the first meeting of the Advisory Board shall take
14 place no later than July 1, 2007. Staffing for the Committee shall
15 be provided by the staff of the Corporation Commission.
16 F. Members of the Advisory Board shall receive no
17 compensation for serving on the Committee, but may receive travel
18 reimbursement for travel expenses incurred in the performance of
19 their duties by their respective agencies or appointing authority in
20 accordance with the State Travel Reimbursement Act.
21 G. The Oklahoma Renewable Energy Transmission Advisory Board
22 shall cease to exist July 1, 2008.
23 SECTION 3. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
24 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 190.32 of Title 17, unless there
25 is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
26 A. The Corporation Commission shall assess a fee upon each
27 electric utility as defined in this section to provide adequate
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1 funding to complete the renewable energy transmission study as
2 provided for in Section 1 of this act.
3 B. The assessment levied pursuant to this section shall be
4 recoverable as an operating expense to the electric utility. The
5 Commission shall take any action necessary to ensure recovery of the
6 assessment by an electric utility during the period for which it is
7 levied.
8 C. The assessment collected by the Commission pursuant to
9 this section shall be deposited in the Renewable Energy Transmission
10 Study Revolving Fund hereby created. The fund shall be a continuing
11 fund, not subject to fiscal year limitations, and shall consist of
12 all monies received by the Commission from the assessment levied
13 pursuant to the provisions of this section. All monies accruing to
14 the credit of said fund are hereby appropriated and may be budgeted
15 and expended by the Commission for the purpose of completing the
16 renewable energy transmission study as provided for in Section 1 of
17 this act. Expenditures from said fund shall be made upon warrants
18 issued by the State Treasurer against claims filed as prescribed by
19 law with the Director of State Finance for approval and payment.
20 D. For purposes of this section, electric utility means:
21 1. A public utility as defined by Section 151 of Title 17 of
22 the Oklahoma Statutes, excluding those companies encompassed in
23 paragraphs (a), (b) and (d) of Section 151 of Title 17 of the
24 Oklahoma Statutes; and
25 2. Any association or cooperative corporation doing business
26 under the Rural Electric Cooperative Act.
27 SECTION 4. It being immediately necessary for the
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1 preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency is
2 hereby declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take
3 effect and be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
4 51-1-5902 CJB 12/29/06
5 Page 1
6 Req. No. 5902
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