Download Zipped File WP 6.1 0520PUTM.ZIP 4,180 Bytes

Public Utilities and Technology Interim Committee

MINUTES OF THE

    
PUBLIC UTILITIES AND TECHNOLOGY INTERIM COMMITTEE

May 20, 1998 - 2:00 p.m. - Room 223 State Capitol and Questar Facility


Members Present:
    Sen. Lorin V. Jones, Co-Chair
    Rep. Beverly Ann Evans, Co-Chair
    Sen. Mike Dmitrich
    Sen. John P. Holmgren
    Sen. Alarik Myrin
    Rep. Jeff Alexander
    Rep. Ralph Becker
    Rep. Orville D. Carnahan
    Rep. Gary F. Cox
    Rep. Christine R. Fox-Finlinson
    Rep. Brent H. Goodfellow
    Rep. J. Brent Haymond
    Rep. Dennis H. Iverson
    Rep. Jack Seitz

Members Absent:
    Sen. Craig A. Peterson
    Rep. Tom Hatch
    Rep. David M. Jones
    Rep. Swen Nielsen
    Rep. Daniel H. Tuttle


Staff Present:
    Mr. Richard North,
     Research Analyst
    Ms. Tani Pack Downing,
     Associate General Counsel
    Ms. Junie G. Anderson,

     Committee Secretary

Note:    A list of others present and a copy of materials distributed in the meeting are on file in the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel.

1.    Call to Order - Chair Jones called the meeting to order at 2:10 p.m.

    MOTION: Rep. Iverson moved to approve the minutes of the November 19, 1997 and April 22, 1998 meetings. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Dmitrich, Rep. Alexander, Rep. Fox-Finlinson, and Rep. Haymond absent for the vote.
                                
2.    Electric Deregulation and Customer Choice Task Force Update - Sen. Leonard Blackham, Co-Chair, reported that the task force will meet twice a month. He also said the task force decided in the last meeting that no proposals for deregulation would be accepted from the different entities right away. He said they would study the various options and, in the fall, make a final report to the Legislative Management Committee and the Public Utilities and Technology Interim Committee.

    Rep. Beverly Evans, Co-Chair, said the task force would meet on May 21 to discuss retail electricity pricing and deregulation, and competitive environments. She also discussed several other issues to be studied by the task force during the interim period.
    
3.    1998 Study Issues - Chair Jones briefed the committee on the letter to the Legislative Management Committee for approval of the top five study items selected by the Public Utilities and Technology Committee members for the interim period. The five study items included: (1) Slamming (2) Division of Information Technology Services (3) Telecommunication Competition

and Regulation (4) Telephone Rate Subsidies/Imputation and (5) Natural Gas Use and Distribution.                                            

    Kathleen Liuzzi, Suitter Axland, suggested that telecommunications access be the first issue studied from the list.

    Rep. Fox-Finlinson suggested that the Public Service Commission (PSC) regulatory structure be added to the list of study issues. She also suggested a study of the relationship between the Division of Public Utilities, the Committee of Consumer Services, and the PSC.

    Mr. North distributed a letter from the chairs of the Utah Tomorrow Strategic Planning Committee titled, "Utah Tomorrow and Interim Committee Prioritization."
    
     MOTION: Rep. Evans moved that staff draft a new letter to the Legislative Management Committee to revise the study list of the Public Utilities and Technology Interim Committee to include a review of the PSC's structure and relationship to other agencies. The motion passed unanimously.

    Rep. Iverson discussed the issue of the legality of telemarketing in Utah. Rep. Evans suggested that telemarketing and other telephone issues could be addressed under the general study item of telecommunications issues.

4.    Tour _ QUESTAR - Ruland Gill, Questar, welcomed us to the Questar facility and introduced Don Cash, Chairman of Questar, who gave a brief history of the facility.

    Alan Allred, gave a presentation and distributed a handout titled, "Overview _ Introduction to Gas Industry Restructuring."

    The group was also given a tour of the Call Center, Dispatch Center, and Automated Mapping.

5.    Return to Capitol/Adjourn - The tour ended and meeting adjourned at 4:55 p.m.

[Back to the Interim Directory][Back to the Monthly Schedule][Back to the Committee Listing] Utah State Legislature