Senate Bill 919 Summary

• Lowers the threshold for electric utilities to seek a certificate of necessity from $500 million to $100 million for construction, significant investment, purchase of existing generation facilities, or long-term power purchase agreements.

• Requires electric utilities to submit an integrated resource plan demonstrating need through various scenarios including load forecasts, generation technology analysis, renewable portfolio standards, energy efficiency programs, and alternative resource options.

• Establishes a 270-day review process for the Public Service Commission to grant, modify, or deny certificate of necessity applications, with hearings conducted as contested cases allowing intervention by interested parties.

• Requires competitive bidding for engineering, procurement, and construction contracts or competitive solicitation for power purchase agreements to ensure reasonable costs; costs exceeding 110% of approved amounts are presumed imprudent unless the utility proves otherwise.

• Mandates the commission accept and consider alternative proposals from any person during the review process and may modify certificates of necessity to include alternative proposals that best represent the most reasonable and prudent means of meeting power needs.