(a) The Arkansas Public Service Commission shall have and is granted the power and authority to make and amend from time to time after reasonable notice and hearing reasonable rules establishing exemptions from some or all of the requirements of this subchapter for the construction, reconstruction, or expansion of any major utility facility which is unlikely to have major adverse environmental or economic impact by reason of length, size, location, available space, or right-of-way on or adjacent to existing utility facilities, and similar reasons.
(b) The commission shall:(1) Initiate a proceeding to modify any existing rules necessary to administer this subchapter and any other applicable exemptions under this subchapter; and(2) Enter an order modifying any existing rules on or before March 31, 2026.
(1) Initiate a proceeding to modify any existing rules necessary to administer this subchapter and any other applicable exemptions under this subchapter; and
(2) Enter an order modifying any existing rules on or before March 31, 2026.
(c) An electric or natural gas public utility shall be authorized to file an application under this section after March 20, 2025, before the commission completes any modification of its rules necessary to carry out this section.