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Introduced Version Senate Bill 656 History

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Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted
Senate Bill No. 656

(By Senators McCabe, Hall, Kessler, Deem, Jenkins, Green, Stollings and Boley)

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[Introduced February 22, 2010; referred to the Committee on the Judiciary; and then to the Committee on Finance.]

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A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §24-2-1j, relating to special rates for energy-intensive industrial consumers of electric power; setting forth legislative findings on energy- intensive industrial consumers of electric power; defining certain terms; enabling the Public Service Commission to establish special rates for energy-intensive industrial consumers of electric power; setting forth factors that the Public Service Commission may take into consideration in establishing special rates for energy-intensive industrial consumers of electric power, in addition to factors that may already be considered by the Public Service Commission in its rate-setting process; authorizing the Public Service Commission to adopt mechanisms reasonably designed to assure appropriate flexibility and predictability of special rates; establishing procedures for application to the Public Service Commission for a special rate; setting forth data and information to be included in an application for a special rate; and establishing qualifications for eligibility for a special rate.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended by adding thereto a new section, designated §24-2-1j, to read as follows:
ARTICLE 2. POWERS AND DUTIES OF PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION.
§24-2-1j. Special rates for energy intensive industrial consumers of electric power.

(a) The Legislature hereby finds that:
(1) West Virginia enjoys relatively low cost electric power rates for residential customers, business and industry and these relatively low rates constitute a competitive economic advantage for West Virginia;
(2) West Virginia has many energy intensive industrial consumer of electric power, and has ability to retain its existing energy intensive industrial consumers of electric power and attract additional energy intensive industrial consumers of electric power in the future, through the adoption of policies and the establishment of rates that enhance and preserve the attractiveness of West Virginia as a place for energy intensive industries enterprises to do business;
(3) Energy intensive industrial consumers of electric power create jobs, provide a substantial tax base and enhance the productive capacity, competitiveness and economic opportunities of West Virginia and all of its citizens;
(4) Energy intensive industrial consumers of electric power help keep power rates low for all consumers of electric power, including residential customers, by providing a large consumption base over which the cost of producing electric power may be spread from time to time;
(5) It is in the best interests of West Virginia, the citizens of West Virginia and all consumers of electric power in West Virginia, including residential customers, to encourage the continued development, construction, operation, maintenance and expansion in West Virginia of industrial plants and facilities which are energy intensive consumers of electric power, thereby increasing the creation, preservation and retention of jobs, expanding the tax base, helping keep power rates low for all consumers of electric power, and enhancing the productive capacity, competitiveness and economic opportunities of all citizens of West Virginia; and
(6) To encourage the continued development, construction, operation, maintenance and expansion in West Virginia of industrial plants and facilities which are energy intensive consumers of electric power, the commission may establish special rates under this section that in its judgment are necessary or appropriate for the continued, new or expanded operation of energy intensive industrial consumers and that can reasonably be expected to support the long-term operation of energy intensive industrial consumers.
(b) As used in this section:
(1) "Energy intensive industrial consumer" means an industrial facility, plant or enterprise that has a contact demand of at least fifty thousand kilowatts of electric power at its West Virginia facilities under normal operating conditions.
(2) "Special rate" means a rate set for an energy intensive industrial consumer pursuant to this section.
(c) In addition to all other factors which the commission may consider in setting rates for consumers of electric power, and notwithstanding any other provisions of this code to the contrary, in setting a special rate the commission may take into consideration fluctuations in market prices for the goods or products produced by the energy intensive industrial consumer of electric power, or other variables or factors which may be relevant to or affect the continuing vitality of the energy intensive industrial consumer of electric power in dynamic markets. In setting a special rate by reference to fluctuations in market prices for the goods and products produced by an energy intensive industrial consumer of electric power, the commission may establish variable rates including, but not limited to, ceilings and floors on the special rate, banking or crediting mechanisms, caps, limits or other similar types of safeguards that are intended by the commission, in its reasonable judgment, to provide appropriate flexibility and predictability in the special rate over time, to permit the energy intensive industrial customer the ability to make the capital investments and other commitments necessary to support the continued operation of the facility.
(d) An energy intensive industrial consumer wishing to apply for a special rate shall first enter into negotiations with the utility that provides it with electric power, regarding the terms and conditions of a mutually agreeable special rate. If the negotiations result in an agreement between the energy intensive industrial consumer and the utility, the energy intensive industrial consumer and the utility shall make a joint filing with the commission seeking approval of the proposed special rate. If the negotiations are unsuccessful, the energy intensive industrial consumer may file a petition with the commission to establish the special rate. The commission shall have the authority to establish a special rate upon the filing of either a joint filing or a petition pursuant to this section.
(e) In order to qualify for a special rate, an energy intensive industrial consumer shall:
(1) Have a contact demand of at least fifty thousand kilowatts of electric power at its West Virginia facilities under normal operating conditions;
(2) Create or retain at least twenty-five full time jobs in West Virginia;
(3) Have invested not less than $500,000 in fixed assets, including machinery and equipment, in West Virginia;
(4) Provide reasonable evidence that due to market conditions in the industry in which the energy intensive industrial consumer operates, or other factors bearing on investment in and operation of the industrial facility or facilities, without the special rate the operation or continued operation of the industrial facility or facilities is threatened or not economically viable under reasonable assumptions and projections regarding the market and the operation of the industrial facility or facilities;
(5) Provide reasonable evidence that with the special rate, it intends to operate the industrial facility or facilities in West Virginia for an extended period of time, and that the operation or continued operation of the industrial facility or facilities for an extended period of time appears economically viable, under reasonable assumptions and projections regarding the market in which the energy intensive industrial consumer operates and regarding the operation of the industrial facility or facilities; and
(6) Provide information and data setting forth how the energy intensive industrial consumer meets the qualifications of this section, and how the special rate advances the policy goals set forth in subsection (a) of this section.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to provide for special rates for energy intensive industrial consumers of electric power. The bill sets forth legislative findings on energy intensive industrial consumers of electric power and defines certain terms. The bill authorizes the Public Service Commission to establish special rates for energy intensive industrial consumers of electric power. The bill sets forth factors that the Public Service Commission may take into consideration in establishing special rates for energy intensive industrial consumers of electric power, in addition to factors that may already be considered by the Public Service Commission in its rate setting process and authorizes the commission to adopt mechanisms reasonably designed to assure appropriate flexibility and predictability of special rates. The bill establishes procedures for application to the Public Service Commission for a special rate, sets forth data and information to be included in an application for a special rate and establishes qualifications for eligibility for a special rate.

This section is new; therefore, strike-throughs and underscoring have been omitted.
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