House committee substitute to the 2nd edition makes the following changes.  Makes conforming changes to act’s long and short titles. Makes organizational changes.

Section 1.

Limits the section’s changes to GS 159B-39 (permitted uses of revenue from electric power rates) to Rocky Mount.  Modifies the effective date so that the changes to GS 159-39 and GS 160A-314.2 are effective when they becomes law and expire on January 1, 2029.

Section 2.

Creates the City of Rocky Mount’s Public Utilities Advisory Committee (Committee) in new GS 160A-339 to provide informed citizen review of, and recommendations concerning, the public utilities of the City of Rocky Mount, both within the corporate limits of the City and in the areas outside the corporate limits served by the City.  Clarifies that the Committee does not have any authority to manage, operate, maintain, or control the city’s public utilities, to fix rates, to expend or hold funds, or to employ or discharge personnel; all such authority is reserved to the City Council and, as delegated, to the City Manager. Specifies that the Committee’s nine voting members are comprised of five customers of the city’s utility system who reside in the city and four customers of the city’s utility system who reside or are located outside the city limits within the utility service area, consisting of one residential customer and one commercial or industrial customer who reside or are located outside the city limits within Nash County and one residential customer and one commercial or industrial customer who reside or are located outside the city limits within Edgecombe County. Provides for three-year staggered terms, an ex officio member, appointments, qualifications, vacancies, quarterly meetings, a chair, and reimbursement of actual and necessary expenses if so authorized. Tasks the Committee with reviewing and making recommendations to the City Council concerning the management, operation, maintenance, improvement, and extension of the public utilities of the city, which utilities include electric, natural gas, water, and sewer services, including the six ways described. Provides for information sharing by city staff, including the annual proposed utility budget for review and written recommendation by the Committee. Requires the Committee to submit an annual report to the City Council on its activities, along with any other reports as necessary. Effective July 1, 2027, with the Committee going into effect on July 1, 2028. Provides for initial nomination and appointment process.

Section 3.

Applicable to Louisburg only, modifies GS 159B-39 removing the authorization to transfer revenue derived from rates for electric service to other municipal funds a sum that reflects a rate of return on the investment in the electric system, including removing subsection (c) related to calculating the rate of return and total amount that can be transferred. Clarifies that the repeal of  SL 2021-103 is applicable only to the Town of Louisburg.