Senate Bill No. 505
(By Senators Tomblin (Mr. President) and Caruth,
By Request of the Executive)
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[Introduced March 9, 2009; referred to the Committee on Finance.]
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A BILL to amend and reenact §11-13-2 of the Code of West Virginia,
1931, as amended; to amend said code by adding thereto a new
section, designated §11-13-2q; and to amend and reenact §24-2-
11a of said code, all relating to a business and occupation
tax on the business of the transmission of electricity through
certain electric transmission lines; imposing a business and
occupation tax; setting forth legislative findings; defining
certain terms; providing for the rate and measure of tax;
prohibiting certain credits against tax; providing for the
dedication of tax proceeds; establishing the Electric Retail
Ratepayer Relief Fund and the Crossed County Transmission Line
Fund; providing for the distribution of tax proceeds;
specifying counties' expenditure of funds; authorizing the Tax
Commissioner to promulgate rules; providing for severability;
and requiring the Public Service Commission to make certain findings before approving an application for a certificate of
public convenience and necessity for the construction of
certain high-voltage transmission lines.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That §11-13-2 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended,
be amended and reenacted; that said code be amended by adding
thereto a new section, designated §11-13-2q; and that §24-2-11a of
said code be amended and reenacted, all to read as follows:
CHAPTER ELEVEN. TAXATION.
ARTICLE 13. BUSINESS AND OCCUPATION TAX.
§11-13-2. Imposition of privilege tax.
(a)
Imposition of tax. -- There is hereby levied and shall be
collected annual privilege taxes against the persons, on account of
their business and other activities, and in the amount to be
determined by the application of rates against the measures of tax
as set forth in sections two-d, two-e, two-f, two-m, two-n,
and
two-o,
and two-q of this article.
(b) If any person liable for any tax under section two-m shall
ship or transport his products or any part thereof out of the state
without making sale of such products, the value of the products in
the condition or form in which they exist immediately before
transportation out of the state shall be the basis for the
assessment of the tax imposed in the applicable section, except in those instances in which another measure of the tax is expressly
provided. The Tax Commissioner shall prescribe equitable and
uniform rules for ascertaining the value.
(c) In determining value, however, as regards sales from one
to another of affiliated companies or persons, or under other
circumstances where the relation between the buyer and seller is
such that the gross proceeds from the sale are not indicative of
the true value of the subject matter of the sale, the Tax
Commissioner shall prescribe uniform and equitable rules for
determining the value upon which the applicable privilege tax shall
be levied, corresponding as nearly as possible to the gross
proceeds from the sale of similar products of like quality or
character where no common interest exists between the buyer and
seller but the circumstances and conditions are otherwise similar.
§11-13-2q. Legislative findings; business of transmission of
electricity through certain electric transmission
lines; rate and measure of tax; definitions;
credits not allowed against tax; emergency rule
authorized; severability.
(a)
Legislative findings. --
(1) The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has authorized
the formation of Regional Transmission Organizations and
Independent System Operators for the purposes of promoting competition in wholesale electricity markets and exercising
independent functional control of the interconnected regional
electric transmission systems necessary to deliver electricity from
electric generating plants to the distribution systems of electric
load serving entities.
(2) Pursuant to authorization by the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission, Regional Transmission Organizations and Independent
System Operators operate competitive wholesale electricity markets
and functionally control the transmission of electricity across
wide geographic regions, matching generation to the load
instantaneously to keep supply and demand of electricity in balance
and to assure that sufficient generation is available in case
demand rises or a power plant or transmission line is out of
service.
(3) Regional Transmission Organizations and Independent System
Operators also provide nondiscriminatory transmission access, which
facilitates competition among wholesale suppliers.
(4) Regional Transmission Organizations and Independent System
Operators are authorized by the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission to require the construction or modification of electric
transmission lines and other transmission facilities to assure the
reliability of the interconnected regional transmission systems and
to reduce economic congestion in the transmission of electricity.
(5) While the construction of long distance, extra-high
voltage electric transmission lines as required by Regional
Transmission Organizations and Independent System Operators
promotes the purposes for which such entities were created and
serves a public purpose, the siting, construction, operation and
maintenance of long distance, extra-high voltage electric
transmission lines places significant additional burdens on the
state, local governments and their citizens, affects public and
private land use, increases electric rates and impacts aesthetic
and recreational values important to the state, local governments
and their citizens.
(6) Accordingly, the imposition of a privilege tax on the
transmission of electricity through an electric transmission line
that: (A) Was constructed by a public utility, person or
corporation in West Virginia at the direction of a Regional
Transmission Organization or Independent System Operator pursuant
to authority granted by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission;
(B) has a voltage carrying capacity of at least four hundred fifty
kilovolts; and (C) Was designed and constructed to transmit
electricity over a total distance of at least fifty miles within
this state whether interconnected with one or more electric
substations located either within this state or outside of this
state, serves a legitimate public purpose.
(b)
Definitions. -- For purposes of this section:
(1) "County infrastructure project" means any project of a
public nature that is intended to foster and enhance the basic
physical and organizational structures needed for the operation of
a county including, but not limited to, roads, bridges, buildings,
curbs, sidewalks, water supply, sewers, electric lines and
telecommunications.
(2) "Kilovolt" means one thousand volts;
(3) "Long distance, extra-high voltage electric transmission
line" means a series of towers, wires, electrical substations and
other transmission-related equipment that: (A) Was constructed by
a public utility, person or corporation in West Virginia at the
direction of a Regional Transmission Organization or Independent
System Operator pursuant to authority granted by the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission; (B) has a voltage carrying capacity of at
least four hundred fifty kilovolts; and (C) was designed and
constructed to transmit electricity over a total distance of at
least fifty miles within this state whether interconnected with one
or more electric substations located either within this state or
outside of this state;
(4) "Transmission of electricity" means the act or process of
causing electricity to pass or be conveyed from one place or
geographical location to another place or geographical location through an electric transmission line; and
(5) "Voltage carrying capacity" means the rated voltage
capacity of an electric transmission line expressed in kilovolts.
For the purpose of computing the tax imposed by subsection (C) of
this section, the voltage carrying capacity of any long distance,
extra-high voltage electric transmission line shall be set an
amount equal to five hundred kilovolts.
(c)
Imposition of tax. -- For the privilege of engaging or
continuing within this state in the business of the transmission of
electricity through one or more long distance, extra-high voltage
electric transmission lines, for sale, profit or commercial use,
there is hereby levied and shall be collected from every public
utility, person or corporation exercising such privilege an annual
tax.
(d)
Rate and measure of tax. -- The tax imposed in subsection
(c) of this section shall be computed by multiplying the number of
miles of long distance, extra-high voltage electric transmission
lines in service in West Virginia during the tax year by an amount
equal to the product of the tax rate of $750 per mile multiplied by
the voltage carrying capacity of the long distance, extra-high
voltage electric transmission line.
(e)
Credits not allowed against tax. -- When determining the
amount of tax due under this section, no credit shall be allowed under any provision of this code unless it is expressly provided
that the credit applies to the tax on the privilege of operating a
long distance, extra-high voltage electric transmission line.
(f)
Dedication of taxes collected. -- Effective July 1, 2009:
(1) One-third of the net proceeds of the tax imposed in
subsection (c) of this section shall be dedicated for the use and
benefit of electric ratepayers impacted by the construction of long
distance, extra-high voltage electric transmission lines. The
proceeds of this dedicated tax shall be distributed without
appropriation by the State Treasurer in the manner specified in
this section for the purpose of proportionately reducing the rates
of all electric retail customers in the state;
(2) One-third of the net proceeds of the tax imposed in
subsection (c) of this section is hereby dedicated for the use and
benefit of counties crossed or containing long distance, extra-high
voltage electric transmission lines. The proceeds of this
dedicated tax shall be distributed without appropriation by the
State Treasurer in the manner specified in this section to the
various counties crossed or containing long distance, extra-high
voltage electric transmission lines; and
(3) The remaining one-third of the net proceeds of the tax
imposed in subsection (c) of this section shall be dedicated for
the use and benefit of the West Virginia Infrastructure and Jobs Development Council. The proceeds of this dedicated tax shall be
deposited in the West Virginia Infrastructure Fund, as established
in section nine, article fifteen-a, chapter thirty-one of this
code, for the purpose of funding infrastructure projects, as that
term is defined in section two, article fifteen-a, chapter thirty-
one of this code.
(g)
Creation of funds. --
(1) There is hereby created in the State Treasury a special
unappropriated revolving fund entitled the "Electric Retail
Ratepayer Relief Fund." The fund shall consist of the portion of
the tax proceeds collected by the Tax Commissioner that is
dedicated for the use and benefit of electric ratepayers. The Tax
Commissioner shall deposit moneys into the fund, from time to time,
as such proceeds are received.
(2) There is hereby created in the State Treasury a special
unappropriated revolving fund entitled the "Crossed County
Transmission Line Fund." The fund shall consist of the portion of
the tax proceeds collected by the Tax Commissioner that is
dedicated for the use and benefit of counties containing or crossed
by long distance, extra-high voltage electric transmission lines.
The Tax Commissioner shall deposit moneys into the fund, from time
to time, as such proceeds are received.
(h)
Distribution of moneys in the Electric Retail Ratepayer Relief Fund and Crossed County Transmission Line Fund; use of funds
by counties; special budgets required. --
(1) Moneys in the Electric Retail Ratepayer Relief Fund shall
be distributed without appropriation by the State Treasurer
semiannually to the Public Service Commission. The distribution
shall be paid separate from any other payment of moneys to the
Public Service Commission by the State Treasurer, and shall be held
in a separate account by the Public Service Commission until used
for the purpose of proportionately reducing the rates of all
electric retail customers in West Virginia. The Public Service
Commission shall use the funds available in any appropriate manner
to achieve the purposes of this section.
(2) Moneys in the Crossed County Transmission Line Fund shall
be distributed without appropriation by the State Treasurer
annually to counties containing or crossed by long distance, extra-
high voltage electric transmission lines. The distribution to each
county shall be based on the proportion of the total miles of long
distance, extra-high voltage electric transmission lines located
within each county to the total miles of long distance, extra-high
voltage electric transmission lines located within the state.
Moneys distributed to a county pursuant to this section shall be
deposited in the county general fund or a special fund established
by the county for the receipt of such moneys and may be expended as follows:
(A) On or before March 28, 2010, and each March 28 thereafter,
each county commission or other governing body receiving moneys
pursuant to this section shall submit to the Tax Commissioner, on
a form provided by the Tax Commissioner, a special budget
detailing how the moneys are to be spent by the county in a fiscal
year.
(B) The Tax Commissioner shall approve or disapprove, in whole
or in part, a special budget within thirty days of his or her
receipt thereof. The Tax Commissioner shall approve of a special
budget if he or she determines that any expenditures set forth
therein are for county infrastructure projects. Any portion of a
special budget not approved by the Tax Commissioner may be
resubmitted for approval.
(C) A county may not expend moneys received pursuant to this
section for any purpose that was not approved by the Tax
Commissioner in accordance with this section.
(D) A county may, on its own initiative, submit amendments to
its special budget for a fiscal year. The Tax Commissioner shall
approve of an amendment to a county's special budget if he or she
determines that any expenditures set forth therein are for county
infrastructure projects.
(E) Any moneys distributed to a county pursuant to this section that remain in a county's general fund or special fund
established in accordance with this subsection at the close of a
fiscal year shall remain in the General Fund or special fund and
may not be appropriated for any purpose that was not approved by
the Tax Commissioner in accordance with this section.
(F) The balance of any unexpended moneys distributed to a
county pursuant to this section may be included within a county's
special budget for a subsequent fiscal year.
(3) On or before December 15, 2010, and each December 15
thereafter, the Tax Commissioner shall deliver to the Clerk of the
Senate and the Clerk of the House of Delegates a consolidated
report of the special budgets submitted to the Tax Commissioner in
accordance with this subsection for all county commissions or other
governing bodies as of July 15 of the current year.
(4) The Office of Chief Inspector shall annually determine
whether the distributions of funds from the Electric Retail
Ratepayer Relief Fund and the Crossed County Transmission Line Fund
are in compliance with the requirements of this section.
(i)
Emergency rule authorized, proration, allocation. -- The
Tax Commissioner may promulgate an emergency rule as provided in
article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code that clarifies,
explains or implements the provisions of this section and that
equitably prorates taxes for a taxable year in which a long distance, extra-high voltage electric transmission line is first
placed in service or retired, or in which a taxpayer acquires or
transfers an interest in a long distance, extra-high voltage
electric transmission line, or that equitably allocates taxes among
multiple taxpayers with interests in a long distance, extra-high
voltage electric transmission line, it being the intent of the
Legislature to prohibit multiple taxation of the same taxable
transmission capacity.
(j)
Severability. -- If any provision of this section or the
application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid,
such invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications
of the section which can be given effect without the invalid
provision or its application, and to this end the provisions of
this section are declared to be severable.
CHAPTER 24. PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION.
ARTICLE 2. POWERS AND DUTIES OF PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION.
§24-2-11a. Requirement for certificate of public convenience and
necessity before beginning construction of high
voltage transmission lines; contents of application;
notice; hearing; criteria for granting or denying
certificate; regulations.
(a) No public utility, person or corporation shall begin
construction of a high voltage transmission line of two hundred thousand volts or over, which line is not an ordinary extension of
an existing system in the usual course of business as defined by
the Public Service Commission, unless and until it or he
or she
shall have obtained from the Public Service Commission a
certificate of public convenience and necessity approving the
construction and proposed location of such transmission line.
(b) The application for such certificate shall be in such form
as the commission may prescribe and shall contain:
(1) A description, in such detail as the commission may
prescribe, of the location and type of line facilities which the
applicant proposes to construct;
(2) A statement justifying the need for such facilities.
If
the applicant seeks a certificate of public convenience and
necessity for a high voltage transmission line of four hundred
fifty thousand volts or over, the applicant must demonstrate that
it has studied the economic and technical feasibility of
retensioning, double-circuiting or reconductoring existing
transmission lines and, in light of that study, has determined that
the proposed transmission line is required;
(3) A statement of the environmental impact of such line
facilities; and
(4) Such other information as the applicant may deem relevant
or the commission may require.
(c) Upon the filing of such application, the applicant shall
publish, in such form as the commission shall direct, as a Class II
legal advertisement in compliance with the provisions of article
three, chapter fifty-nine of this code, the publication area for
such publication to be each county in which any portion of the
proposed transmission line is to be constructed, a notice of the
filing of such application and that the commission may approve the
same unless within fifteen days after completion of publication a
written request for a hearing thereon has been received by the
commission from a person or persons alleging that the proposed
transmission line or its location is against the public interest.
If such request be timely received, the commission shall set the
matter for hearing on a date within sixty days from completion of
said publication, and shall require the applicant to publish notice
of the time and place of hearing in the same manner as is herein
required for the publication of notice of the filing of the
application.
(d) Within sixty days after the filing of said application, or
if hearing shall be held thereon, within ninety days after final
submission on oral argument or brief, the commission may approve
the application if it shall find and determine that:
the proposed
transmission line
(1)
The proposed transmission line will economically, adequately and reliably contribute to meeting the present and
anticipated requirements for electric power of the customers served
by the applicant or is necessary and desirable for present and
anticipated reliability of service for electric power for its
service area or region;
and
(2) Retensioning, double-circuiting or reconductoring existing
transmission lines is not technically or economically feasible to
meet the present and anticipated requirements for electric power of
the customers served by the applicant or to provide present and
anticipated reliability of service for electric power for its
service area or region; and
(2) (3) The proposed transmission line will result in an
acceptable balance between reasonable power needs and reasonable
environmental factors.
(e) The commission may impose conditions upon its approval of
the application, or modify the applicant's proposal, to achieve an
acceptable balance between reasonable power needs and reasonable
environmental factors.
(f) The provisions of this section shall not apply to the
construction of line facilities which will be part of a
transmission line for which any right-of-way has been acquired
prior to January 1, 1973.
(g) The commission shall prescribe such rules and regulations as it may deem proper for the administration and enforcement of the
provisions of this section, which rules and regulations shall be
promulgated in accordance with the applicable provisions of chapter
twenty-nine-a of this code as if the same were set forth herein in
extenso.
(h) Notwithstanding any other provision of the law to the
contrary, the commission shall determine, in its discretion, which
transmission line or lines crossing above the Ohio River must be
marked to be made visible to airborne traffic flying in any area
where such lines exist, and shall, within one hundred twenty days
of the effective date of this section, promulgate rules requiring
that all public utilities or persons who install or maintain such
lines make the necessary markings.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to enact a business and
occupation tax on the activity of transmitting electricity through
certain long distance, extra-high voltage electric transmission
lines; to dedicate the proceeds of the tax to relief for electric
retail ratepayers, counties containing or crossed by long distance,
extra-high voltage electric transmission lines and the West
Virginia Infrastructure and Jobs Development Council; to provide
for the distribution of tax proceeds; and to require applicants
seeking to construct a high voltage transmission line over four
hundred fifty kilovolts to study the feasibility of retensioning,
double-circuiting or reconductoring existing transmission lines so
as to maximize their transmission capacity without substantially
impairing the reliability of the existing system.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from
the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would
be added.
§11-13-2q is new; therefore, strike-throughs and underscoring
have been omitted.