SECTION 1. Section 85B of Chapter 164 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2010 Official Addition,  is hereby amended by adding, after paragraph (8) in subsection (a), the following new paragraph:-

(9) identification of necessary upgrades to transmission and distribution infrastructure to ensure reliable service to customers, including, but not limited to, the replacement of damaged wires, transformers, conduits, or substations with storm-resistant, modernized technologies and other upgrades to prevent service disruption during emergencies.

SECTION 2. Said Section 85B of Chapter 164 of the General Laws is hereby further amended by adding after subsection (i) the following new subsection:-

(j) Each investor-owned electric distribution, transmission or natural gas distribution company, when implementing an emergency response plan, shall replace damaged or destroyed distribution or transmission infrastructure with upgraded, storm-resistant or other modernized infrastructure to prevent future service disruptions, as determined in advance by the department. The department shall consider and approve of such necessary upgrades annually in each emergency response plan.