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Minutes for SB88 - Committee on Utilities
Short Title
Providing for the statewide election of commissioners of the state corporation commission, establishing the utilities regulation division in the office of the attorney general, requiring such division to represent and protect the collective interests of utility customers in utility rate-related proceedings and exempting the state corporation commission from the open meetings act.
Minutes Content for Mon, Feb 13, 2023
The Chairman opened the hearing on the bill and called upon Nick Myers for a revisor overview on the bill.
Committee questions and comments ensued raising the following points:
- The candidates would be partisan candidates.
- The bill would not change any of the current obligations of the KCC.
The Chairman called for proponent testimony on the bill.
Paul Snider claimed that the Kansas regulatory system is not working for the benefit of Kansas residential and business customers. Mr. Snider explained that the purpose of the bill would be to "make the KCC more accountable to the public and correct the imbalance in favor of the utilities currently found at the KCC. He pointed out that ten states currently elect commissioners including one-third of the Southwest Power Pool and it would also establish a new unit at the Kansas Attorney General's office. Mr. Snider discussed a number of specific instances he provided as evidence for why a change is needed.
Sam Sackett (speaking on behalf of Pete Loeke) claimed that accountability to ratepayers does not exist, while Kansas rates are currently not as competitive with other states as they could be. Mr. Sacket supported the moving of certain staff functions to the Kansas Attorney Generals office. He pleaded for the committee not be content with the current rate structure.
Committee questions and comments ensued.
Seeing no additional proponent testimony, the Chairman suspended the meeting to be continued during the next committee meeting.
