Utilities would be barred from charging for retired plant returns

An electric public utility could not include a return on investment for a retired electric generating facility in customer rates. This would apply to electric public utilities and retired electric generating facilities.

A person could build a large electric generating facility without a state certificate if the person meets the listed conditions. This would apply to a person building a large electric generating facility. At the start of construction, the person would have to reasonably expect to use at least 70 percent of the facility’s output each day it operates for nonresidential manufacturing at the site, or for qualifying ferrous mineral mining and processing there. If the facility is expected to connect to a public utility’s electric system, the person would have to agree to pay all connection costs.

The Public Service Commission would have to keep a web page showing the status of certificate applications and needed permits or approvals. The page would cover applications for certificates to build large electric generating facilities. The page would cover needed permits and approvals from the federal government, state agencies, and local governments. This requirement would first apply to applications submitted on the provision’s effective date.