Date: 02/23/2006

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB06-1325

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION & ENERGY

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Moved amendment L.001 (Attachment D). The motion
Moved to refer House Bill 06-1325, as amended, to 		Pass Without Objection
PASS



12:02 PM -- House Bill 06-1325

Representative McFadyen, prime sponsor, presented House Bill 06-1325 which creates a 15-member Reliable Electricity Infrastructure Task Force. The bill requires the task force to collect information and report to the General Assembly on the following topics:

* Colorado's current and projected demand for electricity through 2020;
* an inventory of the electric transmission structure serving Colorado, and an evaluation of its ability to handle current and projected demand;
* additions or improvements to the transmission system that will be required to meet projected demand;
* the transmission needs related to the implementation of Amendment 37;
* the decision-making process for routing transmission lines;
* the financial resources and time required to build or improve transmission infrastructure in order to meet projected demand;
* the existing and anticipated future impediments to improving Colorado's transmission infrastructure;
* possible policy choices to ensure that Colorado will have a reliable electric grid and a reasonably priced electricity supply; and
* additional transmission issues, including siting and permitting, enhancing interconnection with systems in other states, multi-state planning, project financing and cost recovery, accommodating renewable resources, eminent domain, and revenue sharing among jurisdictions along transmission corridors.

The bill further authorizes the task force to accept gifts, grants, and donations, but specifies that the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) is not required to solicit such moneys on behalf of the task force. If by June 1, 2006, sufficient moneys have not been raised to cover task force expenses, the PUC must return any of the contributions it received back to donors.

12:10 PM

Fred Stoffel, representing Xcel Energy, spoke in support of the bill. Mr. Stoffel stated that Xcel Energy supports the legislation.

12:13 PM

Heidi Wagner, representing the Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc., spoke in support of the bill. Ms. Wagner stated that the bill is an excellent step toward assessing Colorado's electricity infrastructure needs.
BILL:HB06-1325
TIME: 12:16:17 PM
MOVED:McFadyen
MOTION:Moved amendment L.001 (Attachment D). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:Larson
VOTE
Balmer
Borodkin
Green
Knoedler
Larson
Lindstrom
Ragsdale
Sullivan
Welker
McFadyen
Pommer
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:HB06-1325
TIME: 12:16:59 PM
MOVED:McFadyen
MOTION:Moved to refer House Bill 06-1325, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed 10-0.
SECONDED:Knoedler
VOTE
Balmer
Yes
Borodkin
Yes
Green
Yes
Knoedler
Yes
Larson
Excused
Lindstrom
Yes
Ragsdale
Yes
Sullivan
Yes
Welker
Yes
McFadyen
Yes
Pommer
Yes
Final YES: 10 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS