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2023 - 2024 LEGISLATURE
2023 ASSEMBLY BILL 45
February 20, 2023 - Introduced by Representatives KNODL, STEFFEN, ARMSTRONG,
BEHNKE, BRANDTJEN, DALLMAN, DITTRICH, DONOVAN, DUCHOW, GUNDRUM,
KITCHENS, KURTZ, MACCO, MURPHY, MURSAU, RETTINGER, RODRIGUEZ, ROZAR,
SNYDER, SORTWELL, SWEARINGEN, TITTL, TUSLER and ZIMMERMAN, cosponsored
by Senators BRADLEY, FEYEN, NASS, STROEBEL, TESTIN, TOMCZYK, WANGGAARD
and WIMBERGER. Referred to Committee on Energy and Utilities.
***AUTHORS SUBJECT TO CHANGE***
AN ACT to create 66.04045 of the statutes; relating to: restricting local
regulation of utility service based on the type or source of energy.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill prohibits a city, village, town, or county from placing any restriction
on the connection or reconnection of a utility service based on the type or source of
energy to be provided. The bill also prohibits a city, village, town, or county from
discriminating against a public utility or a liquified petroleum gas retailer, as
defined in the bill, based in whole or in part on the nature or source of the service to
be provided to a consumer within the political subdivision. The bill provides that it
does not affect the authority of a city, village, town, or county to either 1) manage or
operate a public utility; or 2) take steps designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
from facilities and operations of the city, village, town, or county, including
purchasing renewable energy.
For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as
an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SECTION 1. 66.04045 of the statutes is created to read:
66.04045 Limitations on regulation of utility services. (1) DEFINITIONS.
In this section:
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SECTION 1 ASSEMBLY BILL 45
(a) “Greenhouse gas” has the meaning given in s. 285.78 (1) (c).
(b) “Political subdivision” means a city, village, town, or county.
(c) “Public utility” has the meaning given in s. 196.01 (5).
(d) “Utility service” means any of the following:
1. Service, including electric, manufactured gas, liquefied petroleum gas,
natural gas, hydrogen, fuel oil, a renewable source, or any other source, supplied by
a public utility that is capable of providing and authorized to provide the service for
the property of an individual or entity.
2. Service to supply liquified petroleum gas for the property of an individual
or entity by a retailer, as defined under s. 101.16 (1) (d).
(2) AUTHORITY TO RESTRICT SYSTEMS LIMITED. (a) No political subdivision may
do any of the following:
1. Place any restriction, either directly or in effect, on the connection or
reconnection of a utility service based upon the type or source of energy to be
delivered to an individual consumer within the political subdivision.
2. Discriminate against a public utility or a retailer, as defined under s. 101.16
(1) (d), based in whole or in part on the nature or source of the utility service provided
for an individual consumer within the political subdivision.
(b) This section does not affect the authority of a political subdivision to do any
of the following:
1. Manage or operate a public utility.
2. Take steps designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from facilities and
operations of the political subdivision, including purchasing renewable energy.
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SECTION 1
ASSEMBLY BILL 45
(c) Nothing in this section shall affect the approval requirements established
under s. 196.58 (6).
(END)
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