2005 North Carolina Code - General Statutes Article 12A - Joint Legislative Utility Review Committee.

Article 12A.

Joint Legislative Utility Review Committee.

§ 120‑70.1.  Committee established.

There is hereby established a permanent committee of the General Assembly to be known as the Joint Legislative Utility Review Committee, hereinafter called the Joint Committee, which shall exercise the powers and fulfill the duties described in this Article. (1985, c. 499, s. 1.)

 

§ 120‑70.2.  Appointment of members and organization.

The Joint Committee shall consist of ten sitting members of the General Assembly. Five shall be appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate from the membership of the Senate and five shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives from the membership of the House. Members will serve at the pleasure of their appointing officer and any vacancies occurring on the Joint Committee shall be filled by the appointing officer of the appropriate house. The President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall designate one Senator to serve as cochairman and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall designate one Representative to serve as cochairman. A quorum shall consist of six members. (1985, c. 499, s. 1; 1991, c. 739, s. 1; 1995, c. 440, s. 1; c. 542, s. 20.5.)

 

§ 120‑70.3.  Powers and duties.

The Joint Committee shall have the following powers and duties:

(1)       To evaluate the actions of the North Carolina Utilities Commission, including the review of its interim and final orders, to the end that the members of the General Assembly may better judge whether these actions serve the best interest of the citizens of North Carolina, individual and corporate.

(2)       To analyze the operations of the several utility companies doing business in North Carolina, including review of their programs, projects, sources and amounts of income, performance and accomplishments, and determination of whether expenditures were in all cases appropriate and necessary.

(3)       To inquire into the role of the North Carolina Utilities Commission, the Public Staff, and the several utility companies in the development of alternate sources of energy.

(4)       To inquire into the individual and collective effort of the utility companies to encourage the conservation of energy and thus reduce requirements for additional generating facilities.

(5)       To review and evaluate changes in federal law and regulation, or changes brought about by court actions, as well as changes in technology affecting utilities, to determine whether the State's laws require modification as a result of those changes.

(6)       To submit evaluations to the General Assembly, from time to time, of the performance of the North Carolina Utilities Commission, the Public Staff, and the various utilities operating in the State.  A proposed draft of such evaluations shall be submitted to the North Carolina Utilities Commission, the Public Staff and the affected public utilities prior to submission to the General Assembly and the affected entity shall be given an opportunity to be heard before the Joint Committee prior to the completion of the evaluation and its submission to the General Assembly.

(7)       To make reports and recommendations to the General Assembly, from time to time, on matters relating to the powers and duties set out in this section.

(8)       To undertake such additional studies or evaluations as may, from time to time, be requested by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Legislative Research Commission, or either House of the General Assembly. (1985, c. 499, s. 1; 1991, c. 739, s. 2.)

 

§ 120‑70.4.  Additional powers.

The Joint Committee, while in the discharge of official duties, may exercise all the powers provided for under the provisions of G.S. 120‑19 and 120‑19.1 through 120‑19.4. The Joint Committee may meet at any time upon the call of either chairman, whether or not the General Assembly is in session. (1985, c. 499, s. 1.)

 

§ 120‑70.5.  Compensation and expenses of members.

Members of the Joint Committee shall receive subsistence and travel expenses at the rates set forth in G.S. 120‑3.1. (1985, c. 499, s. 1.)

 

§ 120‑70.6.  Joint Committee staffing.

The Joint Committee shall use clerical and professional employees of the General Assembly for its staff, who shall be made available to the Joint Committee by the Legislative Services Commission. The Joint Committee shall have the power to employ other professional staff, upon the determination of the necessity therefor by the Joint Committee; provided, however, that sufficient funds for such outside staff are available within the Joint Committee's budget. Travel and subsistence allowances for staff and employees of the Joint Committee shall be as fixed by G.S. 138‑6 and G.S. 138‑7 when such travel is approved by either chairman. Employees of the Joint Committee shall not be subject to the Executive Budget Act or to the State Personnel Act. Suitable office and meeting space, and appropriate equipment, shall be assigned to the Joint Committee by the Legislative Services Commission. (1985, c. 499, s. 1.)