Energy (Transmission)

SB 266 requires electric utilities to obtain legislative approval before building "high-impact" electric transmission lines (defined as 10+ miles long, carrying 340+ kilovolts of electricity). It directly affects utilities planning such projects and landowners near proposed routes, as utilities must submit detailed proposals to the legislature within 30 days of receiving a commission siting permit. The key mechanism adds a new step: the legislature must adopt a concurrent resolution approving the project, with no automatic approval if they fail to act within a timeframe. This bill changes the process by giving Kansas legislators a formal vote on major transmission line projects, beyond the existing commission review.

HB 2148 prohibits Kansas' state corporation commission from approving permits for new electric transmission lines in areas designated by the U.S. Department of Energy as national interest electric transmission corridors. It also blocks electric utilities from using eminent domain to acquire land for these lines in such corridors, except for projects approved before the corridor designation. The bill amends state law to enforce these restrictions and repeals existing permitting processes for these areas. This directly affects utilities planning new transmission infrastructure in designated corridors and landowners within those zones.

HB 2149 requires solar and renewable energy retailers to provide clear, standardized disclosures to residential customers before selling financed systems (like home solar panels). This includes details on system specifications, guaranteed energy output, total lifetime costs, tax credits, and installer credentials, all in plain language. The bill also mandates the attorney general to create a standard disclosure form and updates rules for connecting these systems to the grid, increasing utility capacity limits for parallel generation services. These changes directly affect homeowners purchasing financed renewable energy systems and aim to improve transparency in the sales process.