SB0247: Water and wastewater utility infrastructure.

Legislative Summary

Water and wastewater utility infrastructure. Amends the statute concerning the acquisition by a utility company of a water or wastewater utility to provide that if: (1) the appraised value of the utility property to be acquired does not exceed $3,000,000; and (2) the purchase price for the utility property is less than the appraised value of the utility property; the acquiring utility company may submit to the Indiana utility regulatory agency (IURC) a filing under a procedure, based on the procedures set forth in the IURC's rules governing 30 day administrative filings, to include in the acquiring utility company's rate base specified costs associated with the acquisition. Sets forth certain information that must be included in an acquiring utility company's filing. Provides that if the IURC approves an acquiring utility company's filing, the IURC: (1) may only authorize that: (A) the full purchase price; and (B) estimated: (i) incidental expenses; and (ii) other costs of acquisition; be recorded as the acquiring utility company's net original cost of acquisition; and (2) shall provide that any estimated: (i) incidental expenses; and (ii) other costs of the acquisition; are subject to a reasonableness review as part of the acquiring utility company's next base rate case. Adds language specifying that the Indiana Code chapter that governs the transfer, acquisition, and improvement of utilities by municipalities applies to a municipally owned natural gas utility (in addition to a municipally owned electric, water, wastewater, or combined water and wastewater utility).