Energy (Pipeline Infrastructure)

SB 109 prevents utilities from recovering costs related to abandoning power plants if they later build new natural gas resources. Specifically, it blocks qualifying utilities from applying for financing orders to recover energy transition costs (like employee severance, decommissioning, and mine reclamation) through energy transition bonds if they construct new natural gas facilities. The bill amends existing law to deny this cost-recovery mechanism for utilities abandoning generating facilities while developing new natural gas infrastructure. This directly affects utilities seeking to transition away from certain power sources while expanding natural gas operations.