SB 501 - The act creates new provisions relating to the regulation of certain utility infrastructure.DISPOSAL OF COAL POWER PLANTS (Section 393.403)
Under the act, if a public utility intends to decommission or dispose of a coal power plant, as defined in the act, the public utility shall provide notice to the Public Service Commission of such intent. Notice of decommissioning or disposal is described in the act.
The Commission shall conduct a contested case hearing and issue an order whether the coal power plant shall be decommissioned or disposed of. A public utility shall not prevent the operation of the coal power plant before the order of the Commission is issued.
FORCED RETIREMENT OF ELECTRIC GENERATION FACILITIES (Section 393.405)
A public utility that receives a notice of any federal regulation that may result in the forced retirement, as defined in the act, of the public utility's electric generation facility shall inform the Attorney General of the regulation within 30 days after the receipt of the notice.
After receiving the notice, the Attorney General may take any action necessary to defend the interest of the state with respect to any federal regulation that may cause forced retirement of the electric generation facility including filing an action or participating in any relevant administrative proceeding.
STUDY BY THE DIVISION OF ENERGY (Section 640.690)
The Division of Energy of the Department of Economic Development shall conduct a study to assess the viability of a coal power plant. Specifics of the study are described in the act.
A public utility shall provide timely assistance and information in response to any inquiry by the Division during the course of the study. The Division shall report its findings to the committees of the General Assembly that hear utility related legislation on or before December 31, 2025. Specifics of the report are described in the act.
These provisions shall expire on or before December 31, 2025, or upon submission of the report to the committees of the General Assembly.
JULIA SHEVELEVA