SENATE BILL REPORT

                            HB 2750

                AS PASSED SENATE, MARCH 1, 1994

Brief Description:  Changing provisions relating to joint operating agencies.

SPONSORS: Representatives Long, Bray, Kessler, Johanson, Chandler, Finkbeiner, Kremen and Caver

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY & UTILITIES

SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY & UTILITIES

Majority Report:  Do pass. 

     Signed by Senators Sutherland, Chairman; Ludwig, Vice Chairman; Amondson, Hochstatter, Owen, Roach and Williams.

Staff:  Phil Moeller (786‑7445)

Hearing Dates: February 17, 1994; February 21, 1994

BACKGROUND:

Publicly owned electric utilities in the state may form a joint operating agency (JOA) to construct and operate an electric generating facility or to engage in energy efficiency projects.  A JOA that is constructing or operating a nuclear power plant may enter into a contract through competitive negotiation to replace a defaulted contract or to take into account factors in addition to price in order to achieve economical operation of the plant.

A competitively negotiated contract may only be entered after a request for proposals is issued and a pre‑proposal conference is held.  The JOA must execute the contract with the responsible offeror whose proposal is determined to be most advantageous to the JOA.

SUMMARY:

A joint operating agency constructing or operating a nuclear power plant which seeks to enter into a competitively negotiated contract shall execute a contract with the responsible offeror whose proposal is determined to be most advantageous to the joint operating agency and the state.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  none requested

TESTIMONY FOR:

This bill will allow for consideration of state impacts when large contracts are necessary.  It may help in retaining some business within the state.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  Representative Jeanine Long, prime sponsor; Jim Rowland, WA Public Power Supply System (pro)