GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2021

 

SESSION LAW 2021-103

HOUSE BILL 206

 

 

AN ACT authorizing the Town of louisburg to use revenue derived from rates for electric service for economic development projects that will increase the town's number of electric customers or electric load.

 

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

 

SECTION 1.  G.S. 159B‑39 reads as rewritten:

§ 159B‑39.  Permitted uses of revenue from electric power rates.

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(b)        The direct and indirect costs of operating the electric system include all of the following:

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(9)        The development or redevelopment of properties, or activities related thereto, likely to increase the municipality's number of electric customers or electric load thereby leading to reduced electric service rates, improved economic development, job growth, or community improvement. Provided, however, a municipality may only use revenue derived from rates for electric service to pay costs identified under this subdivision if all of the following criteria apply: (i) the municipality's electric rates are within ten percent (10%) of the customer rates charged by any provider of electric service in a service area adjacent to the municipality during the fiscal year in which the cost is incurred; (ii) the municipality maintains in its electric enterprise fund moneys available to pay all costs necessary for operation of its electric system for a three‑month period, which funds were not appropriated by the annual budget; and (iii) the municipality has a fully developed capital improvement plan that includes a funding source to replace assets depreciated by seventy‑five percent (75%) or more.

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SECTION 2.  This act applies to the Town of Louisburg only.

SECTION 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law and (i) applies to the use of revenue derived from rates for electric service to pay costs identified in G.S. 159B‑39(b)(9), as enacted by Section 1 of this act, on or after that date and (ii) expires July 1, 2031.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 12th day of August, 2021.

 

 

                                                                    s/  Bill Rabon

                                                                         Presiding Officer of the Senate

 

 

                                                                    s/  Tim Moore

                                                                         Speaker of the House of Representatives