Requiring a competitive bid process for the permitting of electric transmission lines.

HB 2041 requires electric utilities to complete a competitive bidding process for certain transmission lines before applying for a siting permit. Specifically, it mandates that utilities include evidence in their permit applications proving the bidding was open, fair, and that the lowest reasonable bid was selected - applying only to lines whose costs will be recovered through a regional transmission organization. The Kansas Corporation Commission must then verify this evidence and issue a permit order only if the competitive process was properly completed. This directly affects utilities building qualifying transmission infrastructure and the commission’s permitting review process.