Senate Bill 3229

AN ACT TO ENACT THE MISSISSIPPI 2026 SEVERE WINTER STORM ELECTRIC UTILITY CUSTOMER RELIEF AND ELECTRIC UTILITY SYSTEM RESTORATION ACT; TO ESTABLISH A MECHANISM BY WHICH THE MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION MAY AUTHORIZE AND CERTIFY AN ELECTRIC UTILITY FINANCING ORDER AND THE STATE MAY ISSUE BONDS TO PAY THE COSTS OF REPAIRING DAMAGE TO THE SYSTEMS OF ELECTRIC UTILITIES CAUSED BY THE 2026 WINTER STORM; TO AUTHORIZE ELECTRIC UTILITIES TO PETITION THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION FOR THE ISSUANCE OF A FINANCING ORDER WHICH, WHEN TRANSMITTED TO THE STATE BOND COMMISSION BY AN ELECTRIC UTILITY, AUTHORIZES THE ISSUANCE OF BONDS TO PAY THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH RESTORING THE SYSTEM OF THE ELECTRIC UTILITY; TO PROVIDE THE CONTENTS OF SUCH A PETITION; TO AUTHORIZE THE PUBLIC UTILITIES STAFF TO CONDUCT AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION OF THE PETITION; TO ESTABLISH THE DUTIES OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION WITH REGARD TO SUCH PETITIONS; TO PROVIDE FOR THE CONTENTS OF FINANCING ORDERS; TO PROVIDE THAT THE FINANCING ORDER SHALL REQUIRE THE ELECTRIC UTILITY TO COLLECT A SYSTEM RESTORATION CHARGE FROM ITS RETAIL CUSTOMERS SUFFICIENT TO PAY THE DEBT SERVICE ON ANY BONDS ISSUED PURSUANT TO THE FINANCING ORDER; TO PROVIDE FOR ANNUAL ADJUSTMENTS TO THE SYSTEM RESTORATION CHARGES TO ENSURE THAT THE CHARGES ARE SUFFICIENT TO PAY THE DEBT SERVICE ON ANY BONDS ISSUED PURSUANT TO THIS ACT; TO PROVIDE THE METHOD FOR APPEALING DECISIONS OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION WITH RESPECT TO A FINANCING ORDER; TO PROVIDE FOR THE DURATION OF A FINANCING ORDER; TO AUTHORIZE THE ISSUANCE OF BONDS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED THE AMOUNT SPECIFIED IN THE FINANCING ORDER TO BE UTILIZED BY AN ELECTRIC UTILITY TO PAY THE COST OF REPAIRS NECESSITATED BY THE 2026 WINTER STORM; TO AUTHORIZE THE CREATION OF SINKING FUNDS INTO WHICH SYSTEM RESTORATION CHARGES COLLECTED BY THE ELECTRIC UTILITY SHALL BE DEPOSITED AND TO PROVIDE THAT MONEY IN THE SINKING FUNDS SHALL BE UTILIZED TO PAY THE DEBT SERVICE ON BONDS ISSUED PURSUANT TO A FINANCING ORDER; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

In the Senate

• Josh Harkins

  Sponsor

• House of Representatives committee amendmentAdopted

  Adopted Mar 17

l9n doesn't hold this bill's text yet.

In the Senate Feb 24 – Feb 25

1. Feb 24Referred to the Senate committee on Finance
2. Reported from committee in the Senate: title sufficient, do pass
3. Feb 25Passed the Senate

In the House of Representatives Feb 26 – Mar 17

1. Feb 26Sent to the House
2. Referred to the House committee on Ways and Means
3. Mar 3Reported from committee in the House: title sufficient, do pass as amended
4. Mar 17Amended in the House
5. Passed the House as amended

Back in the Senate Mar 18 – Apr 6

1. Mar 18Returned to the Senate to concur in the House's amendments
2. Mar 19Declined in the Senate to concur, and invited a conference
3. Mar 24Conferees named in the Senate: Harkins, Sparks and Whaley
4. Mar 25Conferees named in the House: Lamar, Steverson and Powell
5. Mar 27Conference report filed in the Senate
6. Conference report filed in the House
7. Mar 29Conference report adopted in the House
8. Conference report adopted in the Senate
9. Apr 6Enrolled bill signed in the Senate

To the Governor Apr 6 – Apr 8

1. Apr 6Enrolled bill signed in the House
2. Apr 8Approved by the Governor