ND HB1382

Rural electric cooperatives have the right to construct and operate electric transmission lines that interconnect with existing lines owned by transmission providers, if they notify the provider within 180 days of receiving written notice of the provider's intention to build the line.

Municipal utilities and municipal power agencies have the same right to construct electric transmission lines that interconnect with existing lines owned by transmission providers, subject to the same 180-day notification requirement.

When an electric transmission line would interconnect facilities of a rural electric cooperative with those of a municipal utility, municipal power agency, or electric public utility, the parties must attempt to agree on all terms including design, construction, ownership, and operation.

If parties cannot agree on interconnection terms, no party is compelled to participate in the project, and parties retain the right to establish and enforce their own interconnection requirements.

The bill applies to any electric transmission line scheduled to begin construction after December 31, 2015.