§2622. Obligations to consider and determine

(a) Request for consideration and determination

Each State regulatory authority (with respect to each electric utility for which it has ratemaking authority) and each nonregulated electric utility may undertake the consideration and make the determination referred to in section 2621 of this title with respect to any standard established by section 2621(d) of this title in any proceeding respecting the rates of the electric utility. Any participant or intervenor (including an intervenor referred to in section 2631 of this title) in such a proceeding may request, and shall obtain, such consideration and determination in such proceeding. In undertaking such consideration and making such determination in any such proceeding with respect to the application to any electric utility of any standard established by section 2621(d) of this title, a State regulatory authority (with respect to an electric utility for which it has ratemaking authority) or nonregulated electric utility may take into account in such proceeding-

(1) any appropriate prior determination with respect to such standard-

(A) which is made in a proceeding which takes place after November 9, 1978, or

(B) which was made before such date (or is made in a proceeding pending on such date) and complies, as provided in section 2634 of this title, with the requirements of this chapter; and

(2) the evidence upon which such prior determination was based (if such evidence is referenced in such proceeding).

(b) Time limitations

(1) Not later than 2 years after November 9, 1978 (or after October 24, 1992, in the case of standards under paragraphs (7), (8), and (9) of section 2621(d) of this title), each State regulatory authority (with respect to each electric utility for which it has ratemaking authority) and each nonregulated electric utility shall commence the consideration referred to in section 2621 of this title, or set a hearing date for such consideration, with respect to each standard established by section 2621(d) of this title.

(2) Not later than three years after November 9, 1978 (or after October 24, 1992, in the case of standards under paragraphs (7), (8), and (9) of section 2621(d) of this title), each State regulatory authority (with respect to each electric utility for which it has ratemaking authority), and each nonregulated electric utility, shall complete the consideration, and shall make the determination, referred to in section 2621 of this title with respect to each standard established by section 2621(d) of this title.

(c) Failure to comply

Each State regulatory authority (with respect to each electric utility for which it has ratemaking authority) and each nonregulated electric utility shall undertake the consideration, and make the determination, referred to in section 2621 of this title with respect to each standard established by section 2621(d) of this title in the first rate proceeding commenced after the date three years after November 9, 1978, respecting the rates of such utility if such State regulatory authority or nonregulated electric utility has not, before such date, complied with subsection (b)(2) of this section with respect to such standard.

( Pub. L. 95–617, title I, §112, Nov. 9, 1978, 92 Stat. 3122 ; Pub. L. 102–486, title I, §111(c), Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 2795 .)

Codification

"October 24, 1992", referred to in subsec. (b)(1), (2), was in the original "the enactment of the Comprehensive National Energy Policy Act", and was translated as meaning the enactment of the Energy Policy Act of 1992, Pub. L. 102–486, to reflect the probable intent of Congress. The Comprehensive National Energy Policy Act was the original short title of H.R. 776, which was enacted into law on Oct. 24, 1992, as Pub. L. 102–486.

Amendments

1992-Subsec. (b)(1), (2). Pub. L. 102–486 inserted "(or after October 24, 1992, in the case of standards under paragraphs (7), (8), and (9) of section 2621(d) of this title)".

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in section 2621 of this title.