Senate Bill sb0526
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Florida Senate - 2005 SB 526
By Senator Klein
30-208C-05
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to electric utility
3 transmission; creating the Electric Utility
4 Task Force; providing duties and membership of
5 the task force; requiring that the task force
6 submit a report to the Governor and the
7 Legislature; providing that the task force be
8 dissolved on a specified date; providing an
9 effective date.
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11 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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13 Section 1. Electric Utility Task Force.--
14 (1) The Electric Utility Task Force is established for
15 the purpose of evaluating the current electric utility
16 transmission system, determining the feasibility of upgrading
17 and protecting the current electric transmission system,
18 evaluating the current and future anticipated needs caused by
19 an increased population and changing climate conditions,
20 analyzing electrical transformers and the best methods by
21 which to protect them, determining the cost-effectiveness of
22 requiring underground installation of electric utility
23 distribution and transmission facilities for all new
24 construction, and determining the cost of converting overhead
25 electric distribution and transmission facilities to
26 underground distribution and transmission facilities when
27 these facilities are replaced or relocated.
28 (2)(a) The task force shall consist of nine members.
29 The members may include, but are not limited to,
30 representatives from power utility companies, electrical
31 contractors, scientists who specialize in the transmission of
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Florida Senate - 2005 SB 526
30-208C-05
1 power, engineers, and consumer representatives. Three persons
2 shall be appointed by the Governor, three persons shall be
3 appointed by the President of the Senate, and three persons
4 shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of
5 Representatives. The members of the task force shall appoint a
6 chairperson.
7 (b) Each member appointed to the task force shall
8 serve at the pleasure of the appointing official. Any vacancy
9 on the task force shall be filled in the same manner as the
10 original appointment. Any task force member may, upon
11 notification to the chairperson before the beginning of any
12 scheduled meeting, appoint an alternative to represent the
13 member on the task force and vote on task force business in
14 his or her absence.
15 (c) Each member of the task force is entitled to
16 receive per diem and travel expenses as provided under section
17 112.061, Florida Statutes.
18 (d) All meetings and proceedings of the task force
19 shall be staffed by the Public Service Commission and are
20 subject to sections 119.07 and 286.011, Florida Statutes.
21 (3) The task force shall:
22 (a) Evaluate and analyze current electric utility
23 transmission systems and determine whether the utility
24 equipment being used is appropriate for use in this state.
25 (b) Consider the feasibility and costs of continuing
26 maintenance, upgrading, and protecting the current electric
27 utility transmission system.
28 (c) Determine whether the current electric utility
29 transmission system can be improved to withstand the severe
30 natural forces that buffet the state.
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Florida Senate - 2005 SB 526
30-208C-05
1 (d) Evaluate the current and future anticipated needs
2 caused by an increased population and changing climate
3 conditions.
4 (e) Analyze electrical transformers and the best
5 methods by which to protect them.
6 (f) Evaluate the current electrical needs of
7 facilities providing critical services, such as nursing homes
8 and assisted living facilities and determine whether on-site
9 emergency systems should be required for these facilities.
10 (g) Determine the cost-effectiveness of requiring that
11 electric utility distribution and transmission facilities be
12 installed underground for all new construction and the
13 cost-effectiveness of converting overhead distribution and
14 transmission facilities to underground distribution and
15 transmission facilities when these facilities are replaced or
16 relocated. When considering the practical feasibility of
17 underground electric utility transmission systems, the task
18 force shall:
19 1. Consider the cost of placing some or all electric
20 utility transmission systems underground.
21 2. Determine the advantages to the public and to
22 utility company employees which are expected, including, but
23 not limited to, the expected reduction in accidental
24 electrocutions, temporary and permanent disabilities, and
25 vehicular accidents involving distribution and transmission
26 facilities, and the expected reduction in the ascertainable
27 and measurable costs of adverse health effects.
28 3. Determine the cost differential between underground
29 transmission systems and overhead electric utility systems for
30 right-of-way acquisition, tree-trimming requirements, and
31 repairs arising from storm damage.
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Florida Senate - 2005 SB 526
30-208C-05
1 4. Estimate the loss incurred by the private and
2 public sectors as a result of electric outages due to storm
3 damage.
4 (4) The task force shall present a report of its
5 findings and recommendations to the Governor, the President of
6 the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives on
7 March 1, 2005. The task force is dissolved after submitting
8 its report.
9 Section 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a
10 law.
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13 SENATE SUMMARY
14 Creates the Electric Utility Task Force. Provides duties
and membership of the task force. Requires that the task
15 force submit a report to the Governor and the
Legislature. Provides for the task force to be dissolved
16 on a specified date upon submission of its report.
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