House Bill No. [insert bill number] seeks to enhance public utility resource planning in Montana by introducing new requirements and timelines for public utilities. The bill mandates that utilities prepare and file an integrated least-cost plan every three years, which must include a thorough evaluation of cost-effective methods to meet customer service needs. It also requires a competitive solicitation process for acquiring electricity supply resources, overseen by an independent evaluator to ensure transparency and fairness. Notably, the number of public meetings that utilities must conduct to gather public input is increased from two to four, and a special revenue account is established to cover the costs associated with the independent evaluator.

In addition to these provisions, the bill establishes a broad-based advisory committee for public utilities to review and recommend on technical, economic, and policy issues related to electricity systems. The utility is required to publish the committee's membership, and meetings must be open to the public unless a majority votes to close them. The bill also modifies the timeline for the public utility commission's approval of electricity supply resources, ensuring timely processing of applications. To support these initiatives, the bill appropriates funds from the general fund, including $75,000 for the Department of Environmental Quality and $200,000 for the Public Service Commission for the biennium starting July 1, 2025. The act is set to take effect on that same date.

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(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