Senate Bill No. 1293 mandates the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection to conduct a comprehensive study on the operations, reliability, rates, and regulatory oversight of electric utilities within the state. The bill stipulates that the commissioner must submit a report detailing the findings of this study to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly that oversees energy and technology matters by January 1, 2026. This new requirement is established under the newly inserted legal language in Section 1, which is effective upon passage.

The bill does not anticipate any fiscal impact on the state or municipalities, as the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is expected to have the necessary staff and expertise to carry out the study without incurring additional costs. The bill was reported favorably by the Energy and Technology Committee, with a vote of 18 in favor and 7 against. The insertion of the new section and the absence of any deletions from current law indicate a straightforward addition to the legislative framework regarding electric utilities.