| 1 | A bill to be entitled |
| 2 | An act relating to electric utility transmission; creating |
| 3 | the Electric Utility Task Force; providing duties and |
| 4 | membership of the task force; requiring that the task |
| 5 | force submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature; |
| 6 | providing that the task force be dissolved on a specified |
| 7 | date; providing an effective date. |
| 8 |
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| 9 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
| 10 |
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| 11 | Section 1. Electric Utility Task Force.-- |
| 12 | (1) The Electric Utility Task Force is established for the |
| 13 | purpose of evaluating the current electric utility transmission |
| 14 | system, determining the feasibility of upgrading and protecting |
| 15 | the current electric transmission system, evaluating the current |
| 16 | and future anticipated needs caused by an increased population |
| 17 | and changing climate conditions, analyzing electrical |
| 18 | transformers and the best methods by which to protect them, |
| 19 | determining the cost-effectiveness of requiring underground |
| 20 | installation of electric utility distribution and transmission |
| 21 | facilities for all new construction, and determining the cost of |
| 22 | converting overhead electric distribution and transmission |
| 23 | facilities to underground distribution and transmission |
| 24 | facilities when these facilities are replaced or relocated. |
| 25 | (2)(a) The task force shall consist of nine members. The |
| 26 | members may include, but are not limited to, representatives |
| 27 | from power utility companies, electrical contractors, scientists |
| 28 | who specialize in the transmission of power, engineers, and |
| 29 | consumer representatives. Three persons shall be appointed by |
| 30 | the Governor, three persons shall be appointed by the President |
| 31 | of the Senate, and three persons shall be appointed by the |
| 32 | Speaker of the House of Representatives. The members of the task |
| 33 | force shall appoint a chairperson. |
| 34 | (b) Each member appointed to the task force shall serve at |
| 35 | the pleasure of the appointing official. Any vacancy on the task |
| 36 | force shall be filled in the same manner as the original |
| 37 | appointment. Any task force member may, upon notification to the |
| 38 | chairperson before the beginning of any scheduled meeting, |
| 39 | appoint an alternate to represent the member on the task force |
| 40 | and vote on task force business in his or her absence. |
| 41 | (c) Each member of the task force is entitled to receive |
| 42 | per diem and travel expenses as provided under section 112.061, |
| 43 | Florida Statutes. |
| 44 | (d) All meetings and proceedings of the task force shall |
| 45 | be staffed by the Public Service Commission and are subject to |
| 46 | sections 119.07 and 286.011, Florida Statutes. |
| 47 | (3) The task force shall: |
| 48 | (a) Evaluate and analyze current electric utility |
| 49 | transmission systems and determine whether the utility equipment |
| 50 | being used is appropriate for use in this state. |
| 51 | (b) Consider the feasibility and costs of continuing |
| 52 | maintenance, upgrading, and protecting the current electric |
| 53 | utility transmission system. |
| 54 | (c) Determine whether the current electric utility |
| 55 | transmission system can be improved to withstand the severe |
| 56 | natural forces that buffet the state. |
| 57 | (d) Evaluate the current and future anticipated needs |
| 58 | caused by an increased population and changing climate |
| 59 | conditions. |
| 60 | (e) Analyze electrical transformers and the best methods |
| 61 | by which to protect them. |
| 62 | (f) Evaluate the current electrical needs of facilities |
| 63 | providing critical services, such as nursing homes and assisted |
| 64 | living facilities, and determine whether on-site emergency |
| 65 | systems should be required for these facilities. |
| 66 | (g) Determine the cost-effectiveness of requiring that |
| 67 | electric utility distribution and transmission facilities be |
| 68 | installed underground for all new construction and the cost- |
| 69 | effectiveness of converting overhead distribution and |
| 70 | transmission facilities to underground distribution and |
| 71 | transmission facilities when these facilities are replaced or |
| 72 | relocated. When considering the practical feasibility of |
| 73 | underground electric utility transmission systems, the task |
| 74 | force shall: |
| 75 | 1. Consider the cost of placing some or all electric |
| 76 | utility transmission systems underground. |
| 77 | 2. Determine the advantages to the public and to utility |
| 78 | company employees which are expected, including, but not limited |
| 79 | to, the expected reduction in accidental electrocutions, |
| 80 | temporary and permanent disabilities, and vehicular accidents |
| 81 | involving distribution and transmission facilities, and the |
| 82 | expected reduction in the ascertainable and measurable costs of |
| 83 | adverse health effects. |
| 84 | 3. Determine the cost differential between underground |
| 85 | transmission systems and overhead electric utility systems for |
| 86 | right-of-way acquisition, tree-trimming requirements, and |
| 87 | repairs arising from storm damage. |
| 88 | 4. Estimate the loss incurred by the private and public |
| 89 | sectors as a result of electric outages due to storm damage. |
| 90 | (4) The task force shall present a report of its findings |
| 91 | and recommendations to the Governor, the President of the |
| 92 | Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives on |
| 93 | September 1, 2005. The task force is dissolved after submitting |
| 94 | its report. |
| 95 | Section 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law. |