SB594

Senate Bill 594 amends Arkansas Code § 23-3-201 regarding exemptions from the requirement to obtain a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) for public utility construction. The bill clarifies existing exemptions for the replacement, expansion, rebuilding, or upgrading of equipment and facilities, provided these projects do not require an increase in the width of an existing right-of-way. It also maintains existing exemptions for services provided under conditional authority, extensions of service within authorized territories or municipalities, and projects that occur in the ordinary course of business. Additionally, the bill retains specific exclusions related to major utility facilities regulated under the Utility Facility Environmental and Economic Protection Act. Finally, it confirms that these exemptions do not apply to equipment or facilities predominantly owned by exempt wholesale generators.