Brief Description: Reducing the duplication of electric facilities.

Sponsors: Representatives Morris, Delvin, Sullivan, Chandler, Wallace and Anderson.

Hearing Date: 3/3/03

Staff: Pam Madson (786-7166).

Background:

Cities, towns, and counties may grant authority to place electric transmission lines along public streets. The local government can prescribe the terms and conditions of the construction, maintenance, and operation of the transmission lines within the public right of way. The location of the transmission lines must be placed so as to cause the least interference with other uses of the street or road.

Electric utility service is provided to electricity users by private investor-owned utilities, public utility districts, municipal utilities, rural electric cooperatives, mutual corporations, irrigation districts, and port districts. Washington, unlike most other states, does not have certified electric distribution service territories. Areas of service for utilities can overlap.

Given the lack of state certified defined distribution service territories, the Legislature has addressed the issue of potential duplication of lines and facilities. Utilities are authorized to enter into service area agreements that divide adjoining territory. These agreements may cover a period up to 25 years. If the agreement involves an investor-owned utility, the agreement must be approved by the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission. The policy for these agreements declares that the duplication of the electric lines and service is "uneconomical, may create unnecessary hazards to the public safety, discourages investment in permanent underground facilities, and is unattractive." It further declares it is in the public interest for utilities to enter into agreements to avoid or eliminate this type of duplication.

Summary of Bill:

A city, town, or county may require two or more electric utilities operating in contiguous or overlapping areas to enter into an agreement to discourage and reduce duplication of transmission lines.

Electric utility is a consumer-owned or investor-owned utility that services more than one retail customer in the state.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not Requested.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.