SB 638 - This act creates provisions for gas corporation customers to be considered for a discounted gas rate. Under the act, a new or an existing gas corporation account meeting the criteria under the act shall qualify for the following discounts:
(1) When the customer is a new customer and the new load is reasonably projected to be at least 270,000 CCF annually, the discount shall equal 25% and shall apply for four years; or
(2) When the customer is an existing customer and the new load is reasonably projected to be at least 135,000 CCF annually, the discount shall equal 25% and shall apply for four years.
To obtain one of the discounts under the act, the customer's load shall be incremental, net of any offsetting load reductions due to the termination of other accounts of the customer or an affiliate of the customer within twelve months prior to the commencement of service to the new load. The customer shall receive an economic development incentive from a governmental entity, as described in the act, in conjunction with the incremental load. The customer shall meet the criteria set forth in the electrical corporation's economic development rider tariff sheet, as approved by the Public Service Commission, that are not inconsistent with the act. The gas corporation, as defined in the act, shall verify the customer's consumption annually to determine continued qualification for the applicable discount.
In each general rate proceeding concluded after August 28, 2023, the difference in revenues with the discounts under the act and the revenues without such discounts shall not be imputed into the gas corporation's revenue requirement. Instead, such revenue requirement shall be set as described in the act. A gas corporation's authority to offer discounted rates shall terminate on the date that such natural gas corporation’s authority to make deferrals expires.
This act is identical to HCS/HB 1143 (2023) and substantially similar to a provision in HCS/SB 275 (2023).
JULIA SHEVELEVA