Section 22-3-160.1. Public hearings required; exception to hearing requirement

   (a) Before exercising the right of eminent domain for purposes of constructing or expanding an electric transmission line with a design operating voltage of 115 kilovolts or greater and a length of one mile or more, any utility shall schedule and hold one or more public meetings with an opportunity for comment by members of the public. In any proceeding to exercise the right of eminent domain for purposes of an electric transmission line for which the utility began land acquisition negotiations on or after July 1, 2004, the utility shall be required to demonstrate substantial compliance with this Code section as a condition for exercising the right of eminent domain.

(b) Prior to the public meeting or meetings required by this Code section, the utility shall provide adequate public notice of the utility's intent to construct or expand an electric transmission line and adequate public notice of the public meeting or meetings related to the electric transmission line as follows:

   (1) By publishing adequate public notice of said public meeting or meetings in a newspaper of general circulation in each county in which any portion of the electric transmission line is to be constructed or expanded. Said notice shall be published at least 30 days prior to the date of the first public meeting related to the electric transmission line and shall include the following: the date, time, and location of each meeting; a statement that the purpose of the meeting or meetings is to provide public notice of the utility's intent to construct or expand an electric transmission line for which the right of eminent domain may be exercised; a description of the proposed project including the general route of the electric transmission line and the general property area within which the utility intends to construct or expand the electric transmission line; the width of the proposed transmission line route; and a description of the alternative construction approaches considered by the utility and a statement of why such alternatives were rejected by the utility; and

   (2) By providing written notice of the public meeting or meetings, by means of certified mail, to each owner of property, as indicated in the tax records of the county in which such property is located, over which the utility intends to construct or expand the electric transmission line and to the chairpersons or chief executives of the counties and the mayors of any municipalities in which such property is located. Such notice shall be mailed at least 30 days prior to the date of the first public meeting related to the electric transmission line and shall include all of the information required by paragraph (1) of this subsection.

(c) At least one public meeting shall be held in each county in which the electric transmission line would be located. In any county in which the electric transmission line would require acquisition of property rights from more than 50 property owners, two or more public meetings shall be held. The public meetings shall be held in an accessible location and shall be open to members of the public. At least one of the public meetings shall commence between 6:00 P.M. and 7:00 P.M., inclusive, on a business weekday. At the public meetings, the utility shall provide a description of the proposed project including the general route of the electric transmission line and the general property area within which the utility intends to construct or expand the electric transmission line, the width of the proposed transmission line route, and a description of the alternative construction approaches considered by the utility and a statement of why such alternatives were rejected by the utility. At the public meetings, the utility shall allow a reasonable opportunity for members of the public to express their views on the proposed project and to ask questions.

(d) A utility shall not be required to give notice of or hold public meetings with respect to any of the following:

   (1) An electric transmission line to be constructed or expanded by a utility on an established right of way or land that was acquired by the utility or any other utility prior to July 1, 2004;

   (2) An electric transmission line for which the utility began land acquisition negotiations prior to July 1, 2004;

   (3) An electric transmission line to be constructed or expanded by a utility on an established right of way or land that is owned or controlled by a state agency, a county, a municipality, or an agency, bureau, or department of the United States;

   (4) An electric transmission line to be constructed or expanded by a utility for the purpose of relocating an existing electric transmission line at the direction, order, or request of a state agency, a county, a municipality, or an agency, bureau, or department of the United States;

   (5) An electric transmission line to be constructed or expanded by a utility without exercising the power of eminent domain to acquire the right of way or easement area for such line; or

   (6) An electric transmission line to be constructed by a utility for the purpose of serving an electric substation or switching station to be constructed on a site that is owned or controlled by a utility customer to be served by such substation or switching station.

Code 1981, § 22-3-160, enacted by Ga. L. 2004, p. 568, § 2; Code 1981, § 22-3-160.1, as redesignated by Ga. L. 2005, p. 60, § 22/HB 95.