SB111,1303,15 196.027 (1) (d) 3. The retiring of any existing electric generating facility fueled by nonrenewable combustible energy resources.

SB111,2403 Section 2403 . 196.027 (1) (f) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB111,1303,25 196.027 (1) (f) “Environmental control cost" means capital cost, including capitalized cost relating to regulatory assets, incurred or expected to be incurred by an energy utility in undertaking an environmental control activity and, with respect to an environmental control activity described in par. (d) 2. or 3., includes the unrecovered value of property that is retired, including any demolition or similar cost that exceeds the salvage value of the property. “Environmental control cost" does not include any monetary penalty, fine, or forfeiture assessed against an energy utility by a government agency or court under a federal or state environmental statute, rule, or regulation.

SB111,2404 Section 2404. 196.218 (5) (a) 5. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB111,1304,6 196.218 (5) (a) 5. To pay costs incurred under contracts under s. 16.971 (13) to (16) to the extent that these costs are not paid under s. 16.997 (2) (d), except that no moneys in the universal service fund may be used to pay installation costs that are necessary for a political subdivision to obtain access to bandwidth under a shared service agreement under s. 16.997 (2r) (a).

SB111,2405 Section 2405 . 196.218 (5) (a) 10. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB111,1304,9 196.218 (5) (a) 10. To make broadband expansion grants and administer the program under s. 196.504 (2).

SB111,2406 Section 2406 . 196.31 (1) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB111,1304,14 196.31 (1) (intro.) In Except as provided in sub. (2m), in any proceeding before the commission, the commission shall compensate any participant in the proceeding who is not a public utility, for some or all of the reasonable costs of participation in the proceeding if the commission finds that:

SB111,2407 Section 2407 . 196.31 (2m) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:

SB111,1304,18 196.31 (2m) The commission may grant no more than $100,000 annually in compensation under this section to the consumer advocate, as defined in s. 196.315 (2) (a).

SB111,2408 Section 2408 . 196.31 (2r) of the statutes is created to read:

SB111,1304,22 196.31 (2r) From the appropriation under s. 20.155 (1) (j), the commission shall reserve $50,000 annually to compensate equity-focused participants who review economic and environmental issues impacting low-income populations.

SB111,2409 Section 2409 . 196.315 of the statutes is created to read:

SB111,1305,5 196.315 Consumer advocate funding. (1) Legislative statement of intent and purpose. It is in the public interest that there be an independent, nonpartisan consumer advocate for residential, small commercial, and small industrial energy utility consumers of this state and that the advocate be sufficiently funded by those customers to allow for the representation and protection of their interests before the commission and other venues. All actions by the advocate funded under this section shall be directed toward such duty.

SB111,1305,6 (2) Definitions. In this section:

SB111,1305,8 (a) “Consumer advocate” means the body created under s. 199.04 (1), dissolved under s. 199.17, and reorganized as a nonstock, nonprofit corporation under ch. 181.

SB111,1305,10 (b) “Energy utility” means an investor-owned electric or natural gas public utility.

SB111,1305,11 (c) “Municipal utility” has the meaning given in s. 196.377 (2) (a) 3.

SB111,1305,16 (3) Funding. (a) Annually, within 60 days after a budget under sub. (5) is approved, each energy utility shall pay to the consumer advocate the amount specified under sub. (5) (e). In any year, the total of all amounts required to be paid by energy utilities to the consumer advocate under this subsection may not exceed $900,000.

SB111,1305,17 (b) The funds provided under par. (a) may not be used for any of the following:

SB111,1305,18 1. Lobbying, as defined in s. 13.62 (10).

SB111,1305,20 2. Defraying the cost of participating in proceedings involving rates or practices of municipal utilities and no other public utilities.

SB111,1305,23 (c) The consumer advocate shall retain all relevant records supporting its expenditure of funds provided under par. (a) for 3 years after receipt of the funds and shall grant the commission access to the records upon request.

SB111,1306,2 (4) Cost recovery. (a) Rate-making orders. The commission shall ensure in rate-making orders that an energy utility recovers from its residential, small commercial, and small industrial customers the amounts the energy utility pays under sub. (3) (a).

SB111,1306,4 (b) Accounting. The commission shall apply escrow accounting treatment to expenditures required under this section.

SB111,1306,6 (5) Budget review; approval. (a) The commission shall review the budgeting and expenditure of funds provided to the consumer advocate under sub. (3) (a).

SB111,1306,12 (b) Annually, by a date specified by the commission, the consumer advocate shall file for the commission's approval an annual budget as approved by the consumer advocate's board of directors. The commission may request additional information from the consumer advocate related to the budget, and may consider any relevant factors, including existing operating reserves and actual costs in prior years compared to the budgets approved by the commission.

SB111,1306,20 (c) The commission shall approve a budget filed under this subsection if the commission determines it is consistent with sub. (1) and covers the reasonable annual costs of the consumer advocate, including salaries, benefits, overhead expenses, the maintenance of an operating reserve, and any other cost directly or indirectly related to representing and protecting the interests of residential, small commercial, and small industrial energy utility customers. The commission may approve the budget with such conditions and modifications as the commission determines are necessary.