BILL AS INTRODUCED H.573
2020 Page 1 of 2
1 H.573
2 Introduced by Representative Patt of Worcester
3 Referred to Committee on
4 Date:
5 Subject: Public service; general powers; alternative regulation of electric and
6 natural gas companies
7 Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to allow
8 municipal and cooperative utilities to offer innovative rates and services to
9 their customers.
10 An act relating to allowing municipal and cooperative utilities to offer
11 innovative rates and services
12 It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
13 Sec. 1. 30 V.S.A. § 218d(n) is added to read:
14 (n) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section and section 229 of this
15 title, municipal companies formed under local charter or under chapter 79 of
16 this title and cooperatives formed under chapter 81 of this title shall be
17 authorized to offer innovative rates and services to their customers as limited
18 pilot program initiatives without obtaining prior approval from the Public
19 Utility Commission (Commission) if the innovative rate or service is designed
20 to satisfy the requirements of subdivision 8005(a)(3) of this title or advance the VT LEG #344961 v.1
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1 goals of the Department of Public Service’s (Department) Comprehensive
2 Energy Plan.
3 (1) Any innovative rate or service shall:
4 (A) have a duration of not more than 18 months; and
5 (B) not result in plant additions exceeding two percent of the
6 municipal company or cooperative’s net plant capacity or in costs that increase
7 the municipal company or cooperative’s overall cost-of-service by more than
8 two percent.
9 (2) The municipal company or cooperative shall provide written notice
10 of an innovative rate or service to the Department and Commission at least
11 30 days prior to offering the innovative rate or service to its customers. Unless
12 an objection to the innovative rate or service is filed with the Commission
13 within 30 days of this notice or the Commission orders an investigation on its
14 own motion, the municipal company or cooperative shall be able to commence
15 offering the innovative rate or service to its customers.
16 (3) The Commission may establish, by rule or order, standards and
17 procedures for implementing and interpreting this section.
18 Sec. 2. EFFECTIVE DATE
19 This act shall take effect on July 1, 2020.
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