Senate Bill No. 2322 Summary

• Electric transmission providers must obtain a certificate of public convenience and necessity from the commission before constructing or operating transmission lines that interconnect with existing electric utility transmission lines.

• The commission may deny a certificate to an electric transmission provider if the affected electric public utility is willing and able to construct and operate a similar transmission line.

• Electric transmission providers are subject to the same enforcement provisions, complaint procedures, and regulatory oversight as electric public utilities under North Dakota Century Code Chapter 49-03.

• The commission may impose application fees up to $125,000 for certificate applications, with emergency commission approval allowing additional fees, with costs paid from applicant fees.

• The Act is declared an emergency measure and received overwhelming bipartisan support with 47-0 Senate passage and 91-0 House passage.