Bill > HB1246

This bill establishes a new category of electric providers called "consumer-regulated electric utilities," which are defined as systems built specifically to supply electricity to new industrial, commercial, data center, or other nonresidential customers that haven't been served by a retail electric provider before. These consumer-regulated electric utilities are explicitly stated to not be "public utilities," meaning they are generally exempt from oversight by the public utilities commission (commission), which is the state agency that regulates traditional utility companies. However, this exemption changes if a consumer-regulated electric utility chooses to connect to the main electric grid within the service area of a commission-regulated public utility; in that case, it would then be subject to commission regulation. The bill also allows these new utilities to build and operate facilities within public rights-of-way, such as streets and sidewalks, provided they meet all necessary permitting, restoration, and public safety requirements.