AN ACT Relating to powers of a joint operating agency; amending RCW 43.52.250, 43.52.260, 43.52.300, 43.52.3411, and 43.52.360; and adding a new section to chapter 43.52 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1. Section 43.52.250, chapter 8, Laws of 1965 as last amended by section 1, chapter 43, Laws of 1982 1st ex. sess. and RCW 43.52.250 are each amended to read as follows:

As used in this chapter and unless the context indicates otherwise, words and phrases shall mean:

"District" means a public utility district as created under the laws of the state of Washington authorized to engage in the business of generating and/or distributing electricity.

"City" means any city or town in the state of Washington authorized to engage in the business of generating and/or distributing electricity.

"Canada" means Canada or any province thereof.

"Operating agency" or "joint operating agency" means a municipal corporation created pursuant to RCW 43.52.360, as now or hereafter amended.

"Board of directors" means the board established under RCW 43.52.370.

"Executive board" means the board established under RCW 43.52.374.

"Board" means the board of directors of the joint operating agency unless the operating agency is constructing, operating, terminating, or decommissioning a nuclear power plant under a site certification agreement under chapter 80.50 RCW, in which case "board" means the executive board.

"Public utility" means any person, firm or corporation, political subdivision or governmental subdivision including cities, towns and public utility districts engaged in or authorized to engage in the business of generating, transmitting or distributing electric energy.

"Revenue bonds or warrants" means bonds, notes, bond anticipation notes, warrants, certificates of indebtedness, commercial paper, refunding or renewal obligations, payable from a special fund or revenues of the utility properties operated by the joint operating agency.

"Electrical resources" means both electric energy and conservation.

"Electrical energy" means electric energy produced by any means including water power, steam power, nuclear power, and conservation.

"Conservation" means any reduction in electric power consumption as a result of increases in efficiency of energy use, production, or distribution.

Sec. 2. Section 43.52.260, chapter 8, Laws of 1965 as amended by section 2, chapter 184, Laws of 1977 ex. sess. and RCW 43.52.260 are each amended to read as follows:

The authority granted in this chapter shall apply equally to the generating of electricity by water power, by steam power, by nuclear power, conservation, or by any other means whatsoever.

Sec. 3. Section 43.52.300, chapter 8, Laws of 1965 as last amended by section 4, chapter 184, Laws of 1977 ex. sess. and RCW 43.52.300 are each amended to read as follows:

An operating agency formed under RCW 43.52.360 shall have authority:

(1) To generate, produce, transmit, deliver, exchange, purchase or sell electric energy and to enter into contracts for any or all such purposes.

(2) To construct, condemn, purchase, lease, acquire, add to, extend, maintain, improve, operate, develop and regulate plants, works and facilities for the generation and/or transmission of electric energy, either within or without the state of Washington, and to take, condemn, purchase, lease and acquire any real or personal, public or private property, franchise and property rights, including but not limited to state, county and school lands and properties, for any of the purposes herein set forth and for any facilities or works necessary or convenient for use in the construction, maintenance or operation of any such works, plants and facilities; provided that an operating agency shall not be authorized to acquire by condemnation any plants, works and facilities owned and operated by any city or district, or by a privately owned public utility. An operating agency shall be authorized to contract for and to acquire by lease or purchase from the United States or any of its agencies, any plants, works or facilities for the generation and transmission of electricity and any real or personal property necessary or convenient for use in connection therewith.

(3) To negotiate and enter into contracts with the United States or any of its agencies, with any state or its agencies, with Canada or its agencies or with any district or city of this state, for the lease, purchase, construction, extension, betterment, acquisition, operation and maintenance of all or any part of any electric generating and transmission plants and reservoirs, works and facilities or rights necessary thereto, either within or without the state of Washington, and for the marketing of the energy produced therefrom. Such negotiations or contracts shall be carried on and concluded with due regard to the position and laws of the United States in respect to international agreements.

(4) To negotiate and enter into contracts for the purchase, sale, exchange, transmission or use of electric energy or falling water with any person, firm or corporation, including political subdivisions and agencies of any state of Canada, or of the United States, at fair and nondiscriminating rates.

(5) To apply to the appropriate agencies of the state of Washington, the United States or any thereof, and to Canada and/or to any other proper agency for such permits, licenses or approvals as may be necessary, and to construct, maintain and operate works, plants and facilities in accordance with such licenses or permits, and to obtain, hold and use such licenses and permits in the same manner as any other person or operating unit.

(6) To establish rates for electric energy sold or transmitted by the operating agency. When any revenue bonds or warrants are outstanding the operating agency shall have the power and shall be required to establish and maintain and collect rates or charges for electric energy, falling water and other services sold, furnished or supplied by the operating agency which shall be fair and nondiscriminatory and adequate to provide revenues sufficient for the payment of the principal and interest on such bonds or warrants and all payments which the operating agency is obligated to set aside in any special fund or funds created for such purposes, and for the proper operation and maintenance of the public utility owned by the operating agency and all necessary repairs, replacements and renewals thereof.

(7) To act as agent for the purchase and sale at wholesale of electricity for any city or district whenever requested so to do by such city or district.

(8) To contract for and to construct, operate and maintain fishways, fish protective devices and facilities and hatcheries as necessary to preserve or compensate for projects operated by the operating agency.

(9) To construct, operate and maintain channels, locks, canals and other navigational, reclamation, flood control and fisheries facilities as may be necessary or incidental to the construction of any electric generating project, and to enter into agreements and contracts with any person, firm or corporation, including political subdivisions of any state, of Canada or the United States for such construction, operation and maintenance, and for the distribution and payment of the costs thereof.

(10) To employ legal, engineering and other professional services and fix the compensation of a managing director and such other employees as the operating agency may deem necessary to carry on its business, and to delegate to such manager or other employees such authority as the operating agency shall determine. Such manager and employees shall be appointed for an indefinite time and be removable at the will of the operating agency.

(11) To study, analyze and make reports concerning the development, utilization and integration of electric generating facilities and requirements within the state and without the state in that region which affects the electric resources of the state.

(12) To acquire any land bearing coal, uranium, geothermal, or other energy resources, within or without the state, or any rights therein, for the purpose of assuring a long-term, adequate supply of coal, uranium, geothermal, or other energy resources to supply its needs, both actual and prospective, for the generation of power and may make such contracts with respect to the extraction, sale, or disposal of such energy resources that it deems proper.

(13) To represent member utilities' interests in matters related to the federal nuclear waste policy act of 1982, (P.L. 97-425, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 10101 et seq.) in interaction with the nuclear waste board established in chapter 43.200 RCW, the legislature, with congress, and with other groups that may be involved in policy formulation or may participate in implementation of the federal nuclear waste policy act.

Sec. 4. Section 43.52.3411, chapter 8, Laws of 1965 as last amended by section 116, chapter 167, Laws of 1983 and RCW 43.52.3411 are each amended to read as follows:

For the purposes provided for in this chapter, an operating agency shall have power to issue revenue bonds or warrants payable from the revenues of the utility properties operated by it. Whenever the board of a joint operating agency shall deem it advisable to issue bonds or warrants to engage in conservation activities or to construct or acquire any public utility or any works, plants or facilities or any additions or betterments thereto or extensions thereof it shall provide therefor by resolution, which shall specify and adopt the system or plan proposed and declare the estimated cost thereof as near as may be. Such cost may include funds for working capital, for payment of expenses incurred in the conservation activities or the acquisition or construction of the utility and for the repayment of advances made to the operating agency by any public utility district or city. Except as otherwise provided in RCW 43.52.343, all the provisions of law as now or hereafter in effect relating to revenue bonds or warrants of public utility districts shall apply to revenue bonds or warrants issued by the joint operating agency including, without limitation, provisions relating to: The creation of special funds and the pledging of revenues thereto; the time and place of payment of such bonds or warrants and the interest rate or rates thereon; the covenants that may be contained therein and the effect thereof; the execution, issuance, sale, funding, or refunding, redemption and registration of such bonds or warrants; and the status thereof as negotiable instruments, as legal securities for deposits of public moneys and as legal investments for trustees and other fiduciaries and for savings and loan associations, banks and insurance companies doing business in this state. However, for revenue bonds or warrants issued by an operating agency, the provisions under RCW 54.24.030 relating to additional or alternate methods for payment may be made a part of the contract with the owners of any revenue bonds or warrants of an operating agency. The board may authorize the managing director or the treasurer of the operating agency to sell revenue bonds or warrants maturing one year or less from the date of issuance, and to fix the interest rate or rates on such revenue bonds or warrants with such restrictions as the board shall prescribe. Such bonds and warrants may be in any form, including bearer bonds or bearer warrants, or registered bonds or registered warrants as provided in RCW 39.46.030. Such bonds and warrants may also be issued and sold in accordance with chapter 39.46 RCW.

Sec. 5. Section 43.52.360, chapter 8, Laws of 1965 as amended by section 6, chapter 184, Laws of 1977 ex. sess. and RCW 43.52.360 are each amended to read as follows:

Any two or more cities or public utility districts or combinations thereof may form an operating agency (herein sometimes called a joint operating agency) for the purpose of acquiring, constructing, operating and owning plants, systems and other facilities and extensions thereof, for the generation and/or transmission of electric energy and power. Each such agency shall be a municipal corporation of the state of Washington with the right to sue and be sued in its own name.

Application for the formation of an operating agency shall be made to the director of the department of ecology (herein sometimes referred to as the director) after the adoption of a resolution by the legislative body of each city or public utility district to be initial members thereof authorizing said city or district to participate. Such application shall set forth (1) the name and address of each participant, together with a certified copy of the resolution authorizing its participation; (2) a general description of the project and the principal project works, including dams, reservoirs, power houses and transmission lines; (3) the general location of the project and, if a hydroelectric project, the name of the stream on which such proposed project is to be located; (4) if the project is for the generation of electricity, the proposed use or market for the power to be developed; (5) a general statement of the electric loads and resources of each of the participants; (6) a statement of the proposed method of financing the preliminary engineering and other studies and the participation therein by each of the participants.

Within ten days after such application is filed with the director of the department of ecology notice thereof shall be published by the director once a week for four consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the county or counties in which such project is to be located, setting forth the names of the participants and the general nature, extent and location of the project. Any public utility wishing to do so may object to such application by filing an objection, setting forth the reasons therefor, with the director of the department of ecology not later than ten days after the date of last publication of such notice.

Within ninety days after the date of last publication the director shall either make findings thereon or have instituted a hearing thereon. In event the director has neither made findings nor instituted a hearing within ninety days of the date of last publication, or if such hearing is instituted within such time but no findings are made within one hundred and twenty days of the date of such last publication, the application shall be deemed to have been approved and the operating agency established. If it shall appear (a) that the statements set forth in said application are substantially correct; (b) that the contemplated project is such as is adaptable to the needs, both actual and prospective, of the participants and such other public utilities as indicate a good faith intention by contract or by letter of intent to participate in the use of such project; (c) that no objection to the formation of such operating agency has been filed by any other public utility which prior to and at the time of the filing of the application for such operating agency had on file a permit or license from an agency of the state or an agency of the United States, whichever has primary jurisdiction, for the construction of such project; (d) that adequate provision will be made for financing the preliminary engineering, legal and other costs necessary thereto; the director shall make findings to that effect and enter an order creating such operating agency, establishing the name thereof and the specific project for the construction and operation for which such operating agency is formed. Such order shall not be construed to constitute a bar to any other public utility proceeding according to law to procure any required governmental permits, licenses or authority, but such order shall establish the competency of the operating agency to proceed according to law to procure such permits, licenses or authority.

No operating agency shall undertake projects or conservation activities in addition to those for which it was formed without the approval of the legislative bodies of a majority of the members thereof. In the event that an operating agency desires to undertake such a hydroelectric project at a site or sites upon which any publicly or privately owned public utility has a license or permit or has a prior application for a license or permit pending with any commission or agency, state or federal, having jurisdiction thereof, application to construct such additional project shall be made to the director of the department of ecology in the same manner, subject to the same requirements and with the same notice as required for an initial agency and project and shall not be constructed until an order authorizing the same shall have been made by the director in the manner provided for such original application.

Any party who has joined in filing the application for, or objections against, the creation of such operating agency and/or the construction of an additional project, and who feels aggrieved by any order or finding of the director shall have the right to appeal to the superior court in the manner set forth in RCW 43.52.430.

After the formation of an operating agency, any other city or district may become a member thereof upon application to such agency after the adoption of a resolution of its legislative body authorizing said city or district to participate, and with the consent of the operating agency by the affirmative vote of the majority of its members. Any member may withdraw from an operating agency, and thereupon such member shall forfeit any and all rights or interest which it may have in such operating agency or in any of the assets thereof: PROVIDED, That all contractual obligations incurred while a member shall remain in full force and effect. An operating agency may be dissolved by the unanimous agreement of the members, and the members, after making provisions for the payment of all debts and obligations, shall thereupon hold the assets thereof as tenants in common.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. A new section is added to chapter 43.52 RCW to read as follows:

A joint operating agency formed for the purpose of constructing, operating, terminating, or decommissioning of a nuclear power plant shall prepare an annual mission plan which details a least-cost approach for investment in energy resources. The mission plan shall include an analysis of the costs of developing conservation compared with the costs of developing other energy resources and a strategy for implementation of the mission plan. The mission plan shall be presented to the energy and utilities committees of the house of representatives and senate in January of each year for their review and comment.