Senate Bill sb0794

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    Florida Senate - 2006                                   SB 794

    By Senator Klein





    30-652A-06

  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to electric utility

  3         transmission; creating the Utility Preparedness

  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.

10  

11  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

12  

13         Section 1.  Utility Preparedness Task Force.--

14         (1)  The Utility Preparedness Task Force is established

15  for the purpose of evaluating the current electric utility

16  transmission system, determining the feasibility of upgrading

17  and protecting the current electric and telecommunications

18  transmission systems, evaluating the current and future

19  anticipated needs caused by an increased population and

20  changing climate conditions, analyzing electrical transformers

21  and the best methods by which to protect them, determining the

22  cost-effectiveness of requiring underground installation of

23  electric utility distribution and transmission facilities for

24  all new construction, and determining the cost of converting

25  overhead 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,

31  telecommunications companies, electrical contractors,

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    Florida Senate - 2006                                   SB 794
    30-652A-06




 1  scientists who specialize in the transmission of power,

 2  engineers, and consumer representatives. Three persons shall

 3  be appointed by the Governor, three persons shall be appointed

 4  by the President of the Senate, and three persons shall be

 5  appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The

 6  members of the task force shall appoint a 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 s.

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 ss. 119.07 and 286.011, Florida Statutes. The task

21  force shall conduct its first meeting no later than 60 days

22  after the effective date of the act.

23         (3)  The task force shall:

24         (a)  Evaluate and analyze current electric utility

25  transmission systems and determine whether the utility

26  equipment being used is appropriate for use in this state.

27         (b)  Consider the feasibility and costs of continuing

28  maintenance, upgrading, and protecting the current electric

29  utility transmission system.

30  

31  

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    Florida Senate - 2006                                   SB 794
    30-652A-06




 1         (c)  Determine whether the current electric utility

 2  transmission system can be improved to withstand the severe

 3  natural forces that buffet the state.

 4         (d)  Evaluate the current and future anticipated needs

 5  caused by an increased population and changing climate

 6  conditions.

 7         (e)  Analyze electrical transformers and the best

 8  methods by which to protect them.

 9         (f)  Evaluate the current electrical needs of

10  facilities providing critical services, such as nursing homes

11  and assisted living facilities and determine whether on-site

12  emergency systems should be required for these facilities.

13         (g)  Determine the cost-effectiveness of requiring that

14  electric utility distribution and transmission facilities be

15  installed underground for all new construction and the

16  cost-effectiveness of converting overhead distribution and

17  transmission facilities to underground distribution and

18  transmission facilities when these facilities are replaced or

19  relocated. When considering the practical feasibility of

20  underground electric utility transmission systems, the task

21  force shall:

22         1.  Consider the cost of placing some or all electric

23  utility transmission systems underground.

24         2.  Determine the advantages to the public and to

25  utility company employees which are expected, including, but

26  not limited to, the expected reduction in accidental

27  electrocutions, temporary and permanent disabilities, and

28  vehicular accidents involving distribution and transmission

29  facilities, and the expected reduction in the ascertainable

30  and measurable costs of adverse health effects.

31  

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    Florida Senate - 2006                                   SB 794
    30-652A-06




 1         3.  Determine the cost differential between underground

 2  transmission systems and overhead electric utility systems for

 3  right-of-way acquisition, tree-trimming requirements, and

 4  repairs arising from storm damage.

 5         4.  Estimate the loss incurred by the private and

 6  public sectors as a result of electric outages due to storm

 7  damage.

 8         (h)  Evaluate and analyze the feasibility, including

 9  the estimated cost, of providing generators to retail outlets

10  selling motor fuel following a natural disaster.

11         (i)  Evaluate and analyze the feasibility, including

12  the estimated cost, of providing generators to facilities that

13  provide kidney dialysis to patients following a natural

14  disaster.

15         (j)  Consider the feasibility and costs of continuing

16  maintenance, upgrading, and protecting the current

17  telecommunications transmission system.

18         (4)  The task force shall present a report of its

19  findings and recommendations to the Governor, the President of

20  the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives no

21  later than 120 days after the first meeting of the task force.

22  The task force is dissolved after submitting its report.

23         Section 2.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a

24  law.

25  

26            *****************************************

27                          SENATE SUMMARY

28    Creates the Utility Preparedness Task Force. Provides
      duties and membership of the task force. Requires that
29    the task force submit a report to the Governor and the
      Legislature. Provides for the task force to be dissolved
30    on a specified date upon submission of its report.

31  

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