An Act to enhance municipal choice and provide affordable electricity options

This bill (SD 938) allows municipalities to establish their own municipal lighting plants (community-owned electricity systems) by creating a standardized process for purchasing electricity infrastructure from private distribution companies. It requires municipalities seeking to acquire such infrastructure to submit detailed financial plans to the Department of Energy Resources, including property outlines, cost projections, and financing strategies. The department must then evaluate feasibility within 180 days and develop a standard formula (by December 31, 2022) to determine fair purchase prices for the property, excluding future profits or "stranded costs." This directly affects municipalities aiming to create affordable, locally-controlled electricity options.