The bill amends Montana's public utility resource planning laws by instituting new timelines and procedures for public utilities to submit their integrated least-cost plans every three years. These plans must outline cost-effective strategies to meet customer needs, including energy forecasts and resource assessments. A significant addition is the introduction of an independent evaluator to oversee the competitive solicitation process for electricity supply resources, ensuring fairness and transparency. The commission is responsible for establishing rules regarding the evaluator's selection and duties, which include monitoring the solicitation process and providing public reports. The bill also increases the number of public meetings utilities must conduct from two to four to enhance community engagement.

Additionally, the bill removes the provision for a special revenue account and updates various sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA). It mandates that any coal-fueled electricity generation facility constructed after January 1, 2007, must capture and sequester at least 50% of its carbon dioxide emissions unless statewide carbon capture standards are adopted. The bill appropriates $200,000 from the general fund to the public service commission for the biennium starting July 1, 2025, to support the act's implementation. It also includes a contingent voidness clause, indicating that certain sections will become void if the appropriation is not included, and is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 69-1-114, 69-3-1204, 69-3-1205, 69-3-1207, 69-3-1208, 69-8-421
HB0055_1(1): 69-1-114, 69-3-1204, 69-3-1205, 69-3-1207, 69-3-1208, 69-8-421
HB0055_1(2): 69-1-114, 69-3-1204, 69-3-1205, 69-3-1207, 69-3-1208, 69-8-421
HB0055_1(3): 69-1-114, 69-3-1204, 69-3-1205, 69-3-1207, 69-3-1208, 69-8-421
HB0055_1(4): 69-1-114, 69-3-1204, 69-3-1205, 69-3-1207, 69-3-1208, 69-8-421
HB0055_1(5): 69-1-114, 69-3-1204, 69-3-1205, 69-3-1207, 69-3-1208, 69-8-421
HB0055_1(6): 69-1-114, 69-3-1204, 69-3-1205, 69-3-1207, 69-3-1208, 69-8-421
HB0055_1(7): 69-1-114, 69-3-1204, 69-3-1205, 69-3-1207, 69-3-1208, 69-8-421
HB0055_1(8): 69-1-114, 69-3-1204, 69-3-1205, 69-3-1207, 69-3-1208, 69-8-421
HB0055_1: 69-1-114, 69-3-1204, 69-3-1205, 69-3-1207, 69-3-1208, 69-8-421
HB0055_2(1): 69-1-114, 69-3-1204, 69-3-1205, 69-3-1207, 69-3-1208, 69-8-421
HB0055_2(10): 69-1-114, 69-3-1204, 69-3-1205, 69-3-1207, 69-3-1208, 69-8-421
HB0055_2(11): 69-1-114, 69-3-1204, 69-3-1205, 69-3-1207, 69-3-1208, 69-8-421
HB0055_2(12): 69-1-114, 69-3-1204, 69-3-1205, 69-3-1207, 69-3-1208, 69-8-421
HB0055_2(13): 69-1-114, 69-3-1204, 69-3-1205, 69-3-1207, 69-3-1208, 69-8-421
HB0055_2(14): 69-1-114, 69-3-1204, 69-3-1205, 69-3-1207, 69-3-1208, 69-8-421
HB0055_2(15): 69-1-114, 69-3-1204, 69-3-1205, 69-3-1207, 69-3-1208, 69-8-421
HB0055_2(16): 69-1-114, 69-3-1204, 69-3-1205, 69-3-1207, 69-3-1208, 69-8-421
HB0055_2(17): 69-1-114, 69-3-1204, 69-3-1205, 69-3-1207, 69-3-1208, 69-8-421
HB0055_2(18): 69-1-114, 69-3-1204, 69-3-1205, 69-3-1207, 69-3-1208, 69-8-421
HB0055_2(19): 69-1-114, 69-3-1204, 69-3-1205, 69-3-1207, 69-3-1208, 69-8-421
HB0055_2(2): 69-1-114, 69-3-1204, 69-3-1205, 69-3-1207, 69-3-1208, 69-8-421
HB0055_2(20): 69-1-114, 69-3-1204, 69-3-1205, 69-3-1207, 69-3-1208, 69-8-421
HB0055_2(21): 69-1-114, 69-3-1204, 69-3-1205, 69-3-1207, 69-3-1208, 69-8-421
HB0055_2(22): 69-1-114, 69-3-1204, 69-3-1205, 69-3-1207, 69-3-1208, 69-8-421
HB0055_2(23): 69-1-114, 69-3-1204, 69-3-1205, 69-3-1207, 69-3-1208, 69-8-421
HB0055_2(24): 69-1-114, 69-3-1204, 69-3-1205, 69-3-1207, 69-3-1208, 69-8-421
HB0055_2(25): 69-1-114, 69-3-1204, 69-3-1205, 69-3-1207, 69-3-1208, 69-8-421
HB0055_2(3): 69-1-114, 69-3-1204, 69-3-1205, 69-3-1207, 69-3-1208, 69-8-421
HB0055_2(4): 69-1-114, 69-3-1204, 69-3-1205, 69-3-1207, 69-3-1208, 69-8-421
HB0055_2(5): 69-1-114, 69-3-1204, 69-3-1205, 69-3-1207, 69-3-1208, 69-8-421
HB0055_2(6): 69-1-114, 69-3-1204, 69-3-1205, 69-3-1207, 69-3-1208, 69-8-421
HB0055_2(7): 69-1-114, 69-3-1204, 69-3-1205, 69-3-1207, 69-3-1208, 69-8-421
HB0055_2(8): 69-1-114, 69-3-1204, 69-3-1205, 69-3-1207, 69-3-1208, 69-8-421
HB0055_2(9): 69-1-114, 69-3-1204, 69-3-1205, 69-3-1207, 69-3-1208, 69-8-421
HB0055_2: 69-1-114, 69-3-1204, 69-3-1205, 69-3-1207, 69-3-1208, 69-8-421
HB0055_3(1): 69-1-114, 69-3-1204, 69-3-1205, 69-3-1207, 69-3-1208, 69-8-421
HB0055_3(10): 69-1-114, 69-3-1204, 69-3-1205, 69-3-1207, 69-3-1208, 69-8-421
HB0055_3(11): 69-1-114, 69-3-1204, 69-3-1205, 69-3-1207, 69-3-1208, 69-8-421
HB0055_3(12): 69-1-114, 69-3-1204, 69-3-1205, 69-3-1207, 69-3-1208, 69-8-421
HB0055_3(13): 69-1-114, 69-3-1204, 69-3-1205, 69-3-1207, 69-3-1208, 69-8-421
HB0055_3(14): 69-1-114, 69-3-1204, 69-3-1205, 69-3-1207, 69-3-1208, 69-8-421
HB0055_3(15): 69-1-114, 69-3-1204, 69-3-1205, 69-3-1207, 69-3-1208, 69-8-421
HB0055_3(16): 69-1-114, 69-3-1204, 69-3-1205, 69-3-1207, 69-3-1208, 69-8-421
HB0055_3(17): 69-1-114, 69-3-1204, 69-3-1205, 69-3-1207, 69-3-1208, 69-8-421
HB0055_3(18): 69-1-114, 69-3-1204, 69-3-1205, 69-3-1207, 69-3-1208, 69-8-421
HB0055_3(2): 69-1-114, 69-3-1204, 69-3-1205, 69-3-1207, 69-3-1208, 69-8-421
HB0055_3(3): 69-1-114, 69-3-1204, 69-3-1205, 69-3-1207, 69-3-1208, 69-8-421
HB0055_3(4): 69-1-114, 69-3-1204, 69-3-1205, 69-3-1207, 69-3-1208, 69-8-421
HB0055_3(5): 69-1-114, 69-3-1204, 69-3-1205, 69-3-1207, 69-3-1208, 69-8-421
HB0055_3(6): 69-1-114, 69-3-1204, 69-3-1205, 69-3-1207, 69-3-1208, 69-8-421
HB0055_3(7): 69-1-114, 69-3-1204, 69-3-1205, 69-3-1207, 69-3-1208, 69-8-421
HB0055_3(8): 69-1-114, 69-3-1204, 69-3-1205, 69-3-1207, 69-3-1208, 69-8-421
HB0055_3(9): 69-1-114, 69-3-1204, 69-3-1205, 69-3-1207, 69-3-1208, 69-8-421
HB0055_3: 69-1-114, 69-3-1204, 69-3-1205, 69-3-1207, 69-3-1208, 69-8-421
HB0055_X(1): 69-1-114, 69-3-1204, 69-3-1205, 69-3-1207, 69-3-1208, 69-8-421
HB0055_X(10): 69-1-114, 69-3-1204, 69-3-1205, 69-3-1207, 69-3-1208, 69-8-421
HB0055_X(2): 69-1-114, 69-3-1204, 69-3-1205, 69-3-1207, 69-3-1208, 69-8-421
HB0055_X(3): 69-1-114, 69-3-1204, 69-3-1205, 69-3-1207, 69-3-1208, 69-8-421
HB0055_X(4): 69-1-114, 69-3-1204, 69-3-1205, 69-3-1207, 69-3-1208, 69-8-421
HB0055_X(5): 69-1-114, 69-3-1204, 69-3-1205, 69-3-1207, 69-3-1208, 69-8-421
HB0055_X(6): 69-1-114, 69-3-1204, 69-3-1205, 69-3-1207, 69-3-1208, 69-8-421
HB0055_X(7): 69-1-114, 69-3-1204, 69-3-1205, 69-3-1207, 69-3-1208, 69-8-421
HB0055_X(8): 69-1-114, 69-3-1204, 69-3-1205, 69-3-1207, 69-3-1208, 69-8-421
HB0055_X(9): 69-1-114, 69-3-1204, 69-3-1205, 69-3-1207, 69-3-1208, 69-8-421
HB0055_X: 69-1-114, 69-3-1204, 69-3-1205, 69-3-1207, 69-3-1208, 69-8-421