HB 1194 Summary

• Establishes the Mississippi Department of Public Utilities effective January 1, 2016, and abolishes the Public Service Commission and Public Utilities Staff, transferring all their powers and duties to the new department.

• Creates the position of Executive Director appointed by the Governor with Senate approval for a four-year term, requiring a bachelor's degree and extensive managerial experience in utility economics and regulation.

• Requires the Executive Director to appoint specified staff positions including a chief engineer, certified public accountant, director of economics and planning, communications engineer, general counsel, and supportive technical personnel.

• Directs the Joint Legislative Committee on Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review (PEER) to assess which positions may be combined or eliminated and determine needed personnel positions, with a report due by March 15, 2015.

• Provides the Department of Public Utilities with additional annual appropriations equal to cost savings from consolidating the two former agencies to pay "financial costs" under the Mississippi Public Utility Rate Mitigation and Reduction Act until fully paid.

• Removes the bond requirement for appealing financing orders under the Mississippi Public Utility Rate Mitigation and Reduction Act.

• Amends multiple code sections to replace references to "Public Service Commission" or "Public Utilities Staff" with "Department of Public Utilities" and repeals sections establishing the former commission and staff.