SENATE BILL REPORT

                                    SB 5877

         AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON ENERGY & UTILITIES, MARCH 5, 1991

Brief Description:  Requiring electric utilities to provide information on the effects of electric and magnetic fields.

SPONSORS:Senators Thorsness, Talmadge and A. Smith.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY & UTILITIES

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5877 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Thorsness, Chairman; Saling, Vice Chairman; Nelson, Patterson, Roach, and Williams. 

Staff:  Phil Moeller (786‑7445)

Hearing Dates:March 1, 1991; March 5, 1991

BACKGROUND:

Potential effects of electric and magnetic fields have received increased attention the past several years.  Several major research projects are in progress throughout the nation.  A great deal of uncertainty exists as to the effects of these fields.

SUMMARY:

Cities distributing electricity, public utility districts, and investor-owned electric utilities are directed to develop public information programs to inform customers of the nature and presence of electric and magnetic fields.  Programs must include the opportunity for a residential inspection to determine the exposure to electric and magnetic fields or information about obtaining a residential inspection.  Costs for these programs may be deducted from a utility's gross revenue for the purpose of paying the public utility tax.  The Utilities and Transportation Commission is directed to provide a mechanism for cost recovery of these programs for investor-owned electric utilities.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

Clarifications are added to eliminate the requirement that investor-owned electric utilities use billing inserts to carry out a public information program.

The section allowing the public utility tax deduction for utility expenses related to this legislation is deleted.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  requested March 1, 1991

TESTIMONY FOR:

This type of information program should help to inform citizens in a non-emotional manner.  Several utilities already conduct similar programs.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  Tom Manley, Virginia Wilhelmi, CAOPL (pro); Ron Newbry, Pacific Power (pro); Henry Yates, Seattle City Light; Mike Tracy, Puget Power