Assembly Bill 25 aims to modify the rights and responsibilities of incumbent transmission facility owners regarding the construction, ownership, and maintenance of regionally cost-shared transmission lines approved by the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO). The bill establishes that an incumbent transmission facility owner, which includes transmission companies or utilities regardless of their principal place of business, has the right to construct and maintain these transmission lines that connect to their existing facilities. It also stipulates that if multiple owners are involved, the rights to the transmission line are shared proportionally unless otherwise agreed upon. The bill requires these owners to notify the Public Service Commission (PSC) of their intent to construct within 90 days of MISO's approval and to provide detailed cost estimates and quarterly updates during construction.

Additionally, the bill mandates that if an incumbent owner decides not to proceed with construction, they must explain their reasoning to the PSC, which may then determine if another entity should take on the project. The bill includes provisions for cost control and requires competitive bidding for construction contracts. It also requires reporting on costs charged to energy consumers outside the state. Notably, the rights and responsibilities established by this bill will sunset after ten years, and the specific legal language related to these provisions will be repealed at that time.