UTILITIES-EXPEDITED PROCEDURES

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that a public utility may apply for expedited review of a certificate of public convenience and necessity for the construction of any new high voltage electric service line that does not exceed 5 miles in length nor advance contiguously to a project filed with the Commission during 2012 (rather than any new high voltage electric service line) and related facilities. Provides that no transmission line may be constructed within 1.5 miles of specified areas. Provides that the amendatory changes shall apply to applications filed on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act and to all applications filed before the effective date of the amendatory Act for which the Commission has not issued a decision before the effective date of the amendatory Act. Effective immediately.