ENGROSSED HOUSE
BILL NO. 1747	By:	Blackwell of the House

			    and

		Schulz of the Senate

( energy - electric transmission system advisor – codification – 		emergency )

BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1.     NEW LAW     A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 180.12 of Title 17, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
A.  In an effort to provide safe, reliable and economical electric energy to all the citizens of this state and promote the development of transmission infrastructure necessary to support expansion of wind energy facilities, the Corporation Commission is authorized to employ, by contract, one person to act as an electric transmission system advisor to the Commission, the Governor, the Legislature and the Attorney General, for the purpose of monitoring state, regional and federal activities relating to access to and reliability of the electric transmission system.  In addition to any other duties specified by the Commission, the advisor shall attend and participate in meetings of the Southwest Power Pool, the regional transmission organization governing electric transmission service for this state, to advocate on behalf of the citizens of this state and report to the Corporation Commission, the Governor, the Legislature and the Attorney General on all issues relating to electric power transmission in this state.
B.  The Commission shall determine the duties and qualifications necessary for the electric transmission advisor and determine appropriate compensation which shall be paid from funds levied pursuant to the assessment on public utilities authorized in Section 180.11 of Title 17 of the Oklahoma Statutes.  Contracts authorized by this act shall be sole source contracts and not be subject to competitive bidding requirements.  Contracts shall not exceed one (1) year in duration.  The Commission may terminate any contract for cause as it deems necessary and may contract for services for less than one (1) year as it desires.  The Commission is authorized to contract for electric transmission advisor services pursuant to the provisions of this act for five (5) years following the effective date of this act.
C.  The Commission may solicit advice from any agency, public utility, or related interest group relating to the provisions of this act.
D.  The Commission is authorized to promulgate any rules necessary to implement the provisions of this act.
SECTION 2.  It being immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency is hereby declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
Passed the House of Representatives the 4th day of March, 2009.

	
Presiding Officer of the House of
	Representatives

Passed the Senate the ____ day of __________, 2009.

	
Presiding Officer of the Senate