S-1966.1 _______________________________________________
SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5877
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State of Washington 52nd Legislature 1991 Regular Session
By Senate Committee on Energy & Utilities (originally sponsored by Senators Thorsness, Talmadge and A. Smith).
Read first time March 6, 1991.
AN ACT Relating to the effects of electric and magnetic fields; adding a new section to chapter 35.21 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 54.16 RCW; adding new sections to chapter 80.28 RCW; and creating a new section.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that electricity is an indispensable part of modern living and contributes to the health, safety, and happiness of our society. The legislature further finds that a great amount of information is needed before the effects of electric and magnetic fields can be definitively determined, and that customers of electric utilities need additional information on the characteristics and prevalence of this form of nonionizing radiation.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 35.21 RCW to read as follows:
By January 1, 1992, any city or town distributing electric energy shall by general ordinance enact a program to inform customers of the nature and presence of electric and magnetic fields. The program shall include, but not be limited to, the following elements:
(1) Public information, including the distribution of billing inserts that describe the characteristics of electric and magnetic fields, the extent to which information is known and unknown about effects from electric and magnetic fields, a brief explanation of ongoing research into electric and magnetic fields, and ways customers may obtain additional information on electric and magnetic fields.
(2) A one-time inspection of residential units, if requested by a customer, provided on a waiting list basis, for the purpose of determining the amount of residential exposure to electric and magnetic fields; or information about how a customer may obtain residential electric and magnetic field measurements through entities providing such services or measuring devices.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 54.16 RCW to read as follows:
By January 1, 1992, any district distributing electric energy shall by resolution enact a program to inform customers of the nature and presence of electric and magnetic fields. The program shall include, but not be limited to, the following elements:
(1) Public information, including the distribution of billing inserts that describe the characteristics of electric and magnetic fields, the extent to which information is known and unknown about effects from electric and magnetic fields, a brief explanation of ongoing research into electric and magnetic fields, and ways customers may obtain additional information on electric and magnetic fields.
(2) A one-time inspection of residential units, if requested by a customer, provided on a waiting list basis, for the purpose of determining the amount of residential exposure to electric and magnetic fields; or information about how a customer may obtain residential electric and magnetic field measurements through entities providing such services or measuring devices.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 80.28 RCW to read as follows:
By January 1, 1992, each electrical company shall institute a program to inform customers of the nature and presence of electric and magnetic fields. The program shall include, but not be limited to, the following elements:
(1) Public information, including the distribution of information that describes the characteristics of electric and magnetic fields, the extent to which information is known and unknown about effects from electric and magnetic fields, a brief explanation of ongoing research into electric and magnetic fields, and ways customers may obtain additional information on electric and magnetic fields.
(2) A one-time inspection of residential units, if requested by a customer, provided on a waiting list basis, for the purpose of determining the amount of residential exposure to electric and magnetic fields; or information about how a customer may obtain residential electric and magnetic field measurements through entities providing such services or measuring devices.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. A new section is added to chapter 80.28 RCW to read as follows:
The commission shall provide an appropriate regulatory mechanism that allows an electrical company regulated by the commission to recover expenses incurred by the company under section 4 of this act.