§ 62-155. Electric power rates to promote conservation.
§ 62‑155. Electricpower rates to promote conservation.
(a) It is the policy of the State to conserve energy throughefficient utilization of all resources.
(b) If the Utilities Commission after study determines thatconservation of electricity and economy of operation for the public utilitywill be furthered thereby, it shall direct each electric public utility tonotify its customers by the most economical means available of the anticipatedperiods in the near future when its generating capacity is likely to be nearpeak demand and urge its customers to refrain from using electricity at thesepeak times of the day. In addition, each public utility shall, insofar aspracticable, investigate, develop, and put into service, with approval of theCommission, procedures and devices that will temporarily curtail or cut offcertain types of appliances or equipment for short periods of time whenever anunusual peak demand threatens to overload its system.
(c) The Commission itself shall inform the general public as tothe necessity for controlling demands for electricity at peak periods and shallrequire the several electric public utilities to carry out its program ofinformation and education in any reasonable manner.
(d) The Commission shall study the feasibility of and, if foundto be practicable, just and reasonable, make plans for the public utilities tobill customers by a system of nondiscriminatory peak pricing, with incentiverates for off‑peak use of electricity charging more for peak periods thanfor off‑peak periods to reflect the higher cost of providing electricservice during periods of peak demand on the utility system. No order regardingsuch rates shall be issued by the Commission without a prior public hearing,whether in a single electric utility company rate case or in general ordersrelating to two or more or all electric utilities.
(e) No Class A electric public utility shall apply for any ratechange unless it files at the time of the application a report of the probableeffect of the proposed rates on peak demand on it and its estimate of thekilowatt hours of electricity that will be used by its customers during theensuing one year and five years from the time such rates are proposed to becomeeffective. (1975, c. 780, s.2.)