UtahUtah regulators join regional grid groups and track customer impacts
Utah's Public Service Commission participates in regional grid groups, gets data, and reports to lawmakers on costs and effects for Utah customers.
What it does
Utah's Public Service Commission participates in regional electricity grid groups when a provider serving Utah customers is a member or market participant.
The commission obtains grid operations, market, and reliability data, and may hire an expert to review analyses affecting Utah power facilities.
Each year, the commission reports on regional grid costs, rules, access, and how Utah's participation may affect customers.
If the commission is denied access or cannot get information needed for its work, it must alert legislative committees within 30 days.
After local and commission approval, utilities notify customers about community clean energy programs and show them how to opt out; the community pays for this notice.
Argument forAccess to regional grid data and decision forums may help regulators identify costs or reliability issues that affect Utah customers.
Argument againstSome customers may pay higher rates for program notices, and customers who leave after the initial opt-out period may face a charge.
More detail
The Public Service Commission actively participates in regional electricity grid groups where a provider serving Utah customers is a member or market participant. This applies to regional transmission organizations and independent system operators connected to providers serving Utah customers. The law took effect May 6, 2026.
The commission obtains operational, market, and reliability data from regional grid groups and may hire an independent expert or market monitor to review certain analyses. The data come from a regional transmission organization or independent system operator. The review may cover modeling, analyses, or cost allocations affecting a Utah generation or transmission facility.
The commission reports each year to the Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Interim Committee on regional grid costs and requirements, use of Utah power facilities, regulators' access, and effects on customers. The report goes to the Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Interim Committee. The report includes the commission's finding on possible positive or negative effects of Utah's participation on customers. The report is due by November 30 each year.
The commission notifies two legislative committees within 30 days if it is denied access or participation available to another state regulator, or cannot obtain information needed for its duties. The notice goes to the Legislative Management Committee and the Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Interim Committee. The notice identifies what data, process, or participation was unavailable and may recommend a remedy. The 30-day period starts when access is denied or the commission cannot obtain needed information.
Utilities notify customers in an approved community clean energy program and provide a simple way and instructions to opt out. This applies after the commission approves a community clean energy program and the participating community adopts the required ordinance. Residential customers in the net metering program cannot participate. The participating community pays for the initial notice. Utilities send it at least twice in the 60 days before the opt-out deadline, separately from monthly bills. Customers with an electric load of at least one megawatt at a single meter receive the information in person. The notice must be sent at least twice in the 60 days before the opt-out deadline.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 25Governor Spencer Cox SignedBecame Law
- Mar 11House/ to GovernorTo Governor
- Mar 11House/ received enrolled bill from PrintingMinor
- Mar 6House/ enrolled bill to Printing
- Mar 6Enrolled Bill Returned to House or SenateMinor
- Feb 25Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
- Feb 25Bill Received from House for EnrollingMinor
- Feb 20House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrollingMajor
- Vote recorded House/ concurs with Senate amendment. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 20House/ received from SenateMinor
- Feb 20Senate/ to House
- Feb 20Senate/ signed by President/ returned to HouseMajor
- Feb 20Senate/ received from HouseMinor
- Feb 20House/ to Senate
- Feb 20House/ concurs with Senate amendmentMajor
- Feb 19House/ placed on Concurrence Calendar
- Vote recorded Senate/ passed 3rd reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 19House/ received from SenateMinor
- Feb 19Senate/ to House with amendments
- Feb 19Senate/ passed 3rd readingPassed Senate
- Feb 19Senate/ 3rd readingMinor
- Feb 18Senate/ passed 2nd readingMinor
- Vote recorded Senate/ passed 2nd reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 18Senate/ 2nd readingMinor
- Feb 17Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
- Feb 17Senate/ comm rpt/ substituted [Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee]
- Feb 13LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0238S03
- Feb 13LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0238S03
- Feb 12Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation [Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee]Minor
- Feb 12Senate Comm - Substitute Recommendation [Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee]Major
- Feb 12LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0238S03
- Feb 12LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0238S03
- Feb 11LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0238S02
- Feb 11LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0238S02
- Feb 11LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0238S01
- Feb 11LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0238S01
- Feb 11LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0238S02
- Feb 11LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0238S02
- Feb 10LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0238S01
- Feb 10LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0238S01
- Feb 9Senate/ to standing committee [Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee]Minor
- Feb 6Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)Minor
- Feb 6Senate/ received from HouseMinor
- Feb 5House/ to Senate
- Vote recorded House/ passed 3rd reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 5House/ passed 3rd readingPassed House
- Feb 5House/ 3rd readingMinor
- Jan 27House/ 2nd readingMinor
- Jan 27House/ committee report favorable [House Public Utilities and Energy Committee]Minor
- Jan 26House Comm - Favorable Recommendation [House Public Utilities and Energy Committee]Minor
- Jan 23House/ to standing committee [House Public Utilities and Energy Committee]Minor
- Jan 20House/ 1st reading (Introduced)Minor
- Jan 20House/ received fiscal note from Fiscal AnalystMinor
- Jan 20LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0238
- Jan 18LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0238
- Jan 14House/ received bill from Legislative ResearchMinor
- Jan 13LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0238
- Jan 13LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0238
- Jan 13Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed
- Jan 13Bill Numbered but not DistributedIntroduced
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