SB 17-271

Senate Bill 17-271, which has been signed into law, requires the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to review how investor-owned electric utilities handle extending service to new customers. This includes looking at how costs are shared and what factors affect the time it takes to extend services. The bill does not apply to gas-only utilities. After reviewing these policies, the PUC can suggest improvements for utilities to follow when expanding their service areas. Since the bill is signed, the PUC will now begin this review process as required by law.

Official Summary

The bill requires the public utilities commission (commission) to open a nonadjudicatory proceeding to evaluate investor-owned gas or electric utilities' policies and procedures for load extension of service,including allocation of costs and identification of variables that affect construction and implementation time lines for extension of service. Gas-only investor-owned utilities are not subject to the commission's nonadjudicatory proceeding. Upon completion of its evaluation, the commission shall issue a decision containing recommendations for investor-owned utilities' implementation of service extension. Within 90 days after the conclusion of the commission's nonadjudicatory proceeding, the commission may promulgate rules consistent with its findings. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

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