Montana Code 69-5-202. Right of first refusal
69-5-202. Right of first refusal. (1) (a) Except as provided in subsection (1)(b), an incumbent electric utility has the right to construct, own, and maintain an electric transmission line on or after January 1, 2017:
Terms Used In Montana Code 69-5-202
- commission: means the public service commission provided for in 2-15-2602. See Montana Code 69-1-101
- Electric transmission line: means a line used to convey electrical energy connected to transmission facilities that is energized at 115 kilovolts or more phase to phase. See Montana Code 69-5-201
- Federally registered planning authority: means a regional transmission organization responsible for moving electricity, planning for the movement of electricity, or both over large interstate areas registered with the federal energy regulatory commission. See Montana Code 69-5-201
- Incumbent electric utility: means a public utility regulated by the public service commission pursuant to Title 69, chapter 3, or a utility qualifying as an electric cooperative pursuant to Title 35, chapter 18, or their successors or assignees, that owned, controlled, or operated transmission facilities on or before January 1, 2017. See Montana Code 69-5-201
- Transmission facilities: means facilities that are used to provide transmission services and are owned, controlled, or operated by an incumbent electric utility. See Montana Code 69-5-201
(i)located in an area included in the midwest reliability organization;
(ii)approved for construction by a federally registered planning authority; and
(iii)planned to interconnect with an incumbent electric utility’s transmission facilities.
(b)An incumbent electric utility may waive its right to construct, own, and maintain an electric transmission line by providing notice to the federally registered planning authority.
(2)If an incumbent electric utility intends to construct, own, and maintain an electric transmission line in accordance with subsection (1)(a), the incumbent electric utility shall provide notice to the federally registered planning authority of its intent within 120 days after the federally registered planning authority’s approval of the project.
(3)If an electric transmission line constructed, owned, and maintained in accordance with subsection (1)(a) is connected between two separate incumbent electric utilities, the electric transmission line must be shared equally between the incumbent utilities, unless the incumbent utilities agree to different terms and conditions.
(4)Nothing in this section may be construed to limit, alter, or modify the authority of the commission to make findings relative to 69-3-109 and 69-3-201 as they relate to transmission facilities or to regulate utilities subject to Title 69, chapter 3.