Amendment ID: S2545-60-R1

Redraft Amendment 60

Pipeline Tax and DPU Proceedings

Messrs. Hinds, Eldridge, Lewis and Timilty, Ms. Gobi, Messrs. Pacheco, Feeney and Welch, Ms. Friedman, Ms. L'Italien and Ms. Jehlen move that the proposed new draft be amended by inserting after section 15 the following 2 sections:-

“SECTION 15A. Chapter 30A of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 10A the following section:-

Section 10B. Notwithstanding section 10, in any adjudicatory proceeding regarding a petition, request for approval or investigation of a gas company or electric company, as those terms are defined in section 1 of chapter 164, the following shall be permitted to participate as full parties in the proceeding: (i) a municipality that is within the service area of such company; (ii) a member of the general court whose district includes ratepayers of such company; and (iii) a group of not less than 50 persons who are immediately and significantly impacted by such a petition or request for approval or investigation and whose involvement would not unduly broaden the issues in the proceeding.

SECTION 15B. Section 94A of chapter 164 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2016 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph:-

As part of the review of a contract with a term of more than 1 year for new gas pipeline capacity, the department shall determine whether such contract is in the public interest. The department shall not approve such a contract unless, as part of its public interest determination, the department finds that: (i) such contract is necessary to satisfy demand for gas by, and is cost-effective for, in-state ratepayers; (ii) such contract compares favorably to other reasonably available options in terms of its impact on rates, the economy, environment, climate, local communities, public health, safety and welfare; (iii) the parties to the proposed contract have attempted, in good faith, to identify and evaluate alternatives that would reduce or eliminate the need for private land takings or public land disposition including, but not limited to, expanded and more long-term utilization of existing gas infrastructure, distribution system repairs and upgrades, contracts for gas storage along unconstrained pipeline corridors, enhancement of peak-shaving measures and colocation of gas infrastructure with major roadways; and (iv) for contracts exceeding a term of 3 years, the parties to the proposed contract have attempted, in good faith, to identify and evaluate demand-side options to reduce or eliminate the need for new gas infrastructure.”