(The Center Square) – An expectation is there will be a lot of discussion about savings, expenses and just who will pay for the new electricity grid coming to Wisconsin when lawmakers sit down on Tuesday for their first hearing on the Right of First Refusal.
The Senate Committee on Utilities and Tourism has a hearing scheduled as lawmakers get ready to try and pass the plan.
The basis of the Right of First Refusal is to allow the utilities to pick the company that will handle their construction work, without having to offer bids to other companies or firms.
Utilities in Wisconsin say it will save taxpayers $1 billion over the coming years.
Republican Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu is driving the legislation. Before the New Year, he said it “would be irresponsible” for lawmakers not to approve the idea.
But a ROFR plan is unpopular at the statehouse, including among many other Republican senators.
Nearly two dozen lawmakers signed on a letter to President Donald Trump last month that expressed their dissatisfaction with the idea.
“We believe ROFR legislation stands in stark opposition to numerous executive orders issued by you and your administration, which emphasized the critical importance of protecting and enhancing competition to foster innovation and reduce costs,” the lawmakers wrote.
A coalition of conservative groups and consumer advocates is also fighting ROFR.
“Under the current rules, any qualified transmission line builder can spread their [operation and maintenance] costs over the neighboring MISO states. There is no need to change the law to receive the ‘benefits’ of shifting O&M costs. O&M cost shifting happens with or without a ROFR law in place,” the coalition said. “The only ‘urgency’ to pass a ROFR law is to short circuit the competitive bidding process for two new large sets of Wisconsin projects, which are scheduled go out for bid in the very near future.”
The coalition says a ROFR law would actually cost Wisconsin taxpayers more.
This is not the first time that a ROFR plan has surfaced at the Wisconsin Capitol. The Assembly passed a version of the plan last year.
