Public utilities: electric utilities; certificate of public convenience and necessity; allow qualified transmission companies to obtain. Amends sec. 2 of 1995 PA 30 (MCL 460.562). TIE BAR WITH: HB 5538'26, HB 5539'26

HB 5540 amends Michigan's Electric Transmission Line Certification Act to allow qualified independent transmission companies to obtain a certificate of public convenience and necessity for major transmission lines. The bill defines such companies as entities that meet federal requirements to join a regional transmission organization, own transmission facilities divested from a utility active as of December 31, 2000, and operate independently from utilities serving retail customers. This change would enable these companies to build or expand high-voltage transmission lines (345 kV or higher, 5 miles or longer) without being classified as traditional electric utilities. The bill requires concurrent passage of HB 5538 and HB 5539 to take effect.