SB0245 - Natural gas and electric utility infrastructure.

1 Co-Sponsor

Natural gas and electric utility infrastructure. Provides that an applicant that seeks: (1) the installation or extension of electric or natural gas utility infrastructure; (2) electric or natural gas utility service; or (3) both; in connection with certain development projects is entitled to request and convene, before commencing construction on the project, at least one technical advisory meeting with each utility whose service area includes the project site. Defines a "technical advisory meeting" as a meeting that: (1) includes as participants the applicant and one or more utilities: (A) whose service area includes the project site; and (B) from whom utility infrastructure, utility service, or both, will be required for the project; and (2) is held: (A) in preparation for, or in connection with, certain advance planning activities related to the project; and (B) for the purpose of: (I) sharing planning documents and drawings; (ii) determining the utility infrastructure, utility service, or both, required to serve the project; and (iii) discussing the terms of a potential extension agreement between the utility and the applicant. Sets forth the procedures and time frame for requesting and holding a technical advisory meeting. Requires an applicant and a utility to enter into an extension agreement before construction commences on a project, regardless of whether a technical advisory meeting is requested or held. Defines an "extension agreement" as an agreement that: (1) is entered into between an applicant and a utility whose service area includes the project site of the applicant's project; and (2) sets forth the obligations and commitments of: (A) the utility and the applicant with respect to the extension of utility infrastructure to the project site; and (B) the utility and the customers to be initially served by the extension upon its installation. Sets forth the required elements of an extension agreement. Provides that before agreeing to extend utility infrastructure to a project site in connection with the project, a natural gas utility must provide the applicant with a written summary that explains the obligations and commitments that apply to: (1) the utility; (2) the applicant; and (3) the customers to be initially served by the extension of the utility infrastructure upon its installation; under the Indiana utility regulatory commission's (IURC) rule on the extension of gas distribution mains. Sets forth the information required to be included in the summary. Provides that an applicant or a utility may submit an informal complaint to the IURC's consumer affairs division in connection with the bill's provisions concerning technical advisory meetings and extension agreements. Provides that if the IURC determines that it requires additional staff to handle the volume of informal complaints submitted, the IURC may impose a fee on a party against whom a decision is rendered. Provides that the fee may not exceed the lesser of: (1) the IURC's actual costs in handling the informal complaint; or (2) $750. Authorizes the IURC to adopt rules to implement the bill's provisions.