HB839:

Electric utilities; recovery of costs, rate adjustment clause proceedings, etc.

Bill Summary:

Electric utilities; recovery of costs; rate
adjustment clause proceedings; construction or acquisition of certain
facilities. Provides that in any proceeding regarding petitions
for a rate adjustment clause, the State Corporation Commission may,
as an alternative to a rate adjustment clause, authorize recovery
of any proposed cost through the utility's rates for generation and
distribution services, if the Commission, in its discretion, determines
that such cost recovery better serves ratepayers while still providing
the utility the opportunity to recover its costs and earn a fair
rate of return. Additionally, the bill prohibits the Commission from
approving the recovery of costs related to the construction or acquisition
of generation facilities powered by sunlight or onshore or offshore
wind, or energy storage facilities, that are constructed or acquired
by a Phase I or Phase II Utility after July 1, 2022, unless the Commission
determines that the construction or acquisition of such facilities
is (i) necessary to maintain the reliability or security of electric
service to customers or meet the renewable energy portfolio standard
(RPS) program requirements established in this section and (ii) is
the lowest-cost option to maintain the reliability or security of
electric service to customers or meet the RPS program requirements.