(a)An electric utility may charge a broadband affiliate, an unaffiliated broadband Internet service provider, or a broadband operator for the costs of the construction, installation, operation, and maintenance of the broadband system of the broadband affiliate, unaffiliated broadband Internet service provider, or broadband operator.
(b)(1) The costs incurred by an electric utility to own, operate, construct, and maintain a broadband system and to provide broadband services on its electric delivery system either by itself or through a broadband affiliate or broadband operator shall be allocated to the electric utility's accounts between regulated broadband services and nonregulated broadband services in accordance with applicable accounting principles and standards.
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(a) An electric utility may charge a broadband affiliate, an unaffiliated broadband Internet service provider, or a broadband operator for the costs of the construction, installation, operation, and maintenance of the broadband system of the broadband affiliate, unaffiliated broadband Internet service provider, or broadband operator. (b) (1) The costs incurred by an electric utility to own, operate, construct, and maintain a broadband system and to provide broadband services on its electric delivery system either by itself or through a broadband affiliate or broadband operator shall be allocated to the electric utility's accounts between regulated broadband services and nonregulated broadband services in accordance with applicable accounting principles and standards. (2) (A) Costs allocated to nonregulated broadband services: (i) Are outside the scope of an electric utility's providing of electric service to the public; (ii) Shall not be recoverable through its rates for the providing of electric service; and (iii) Are not subject to the jurisdiction of the state or any agency, instrumentality, or political subdivision of the state. (B) Revenues received by an electric utility attributable to the providing of nonregulated broadband services shall not be included as revenues to the electric utility for purposes of establishing its rates for the providing of electric service. (c) (1) If all or part of a broadband system is installed on poles or other structures of a telephone utility and the broadband operator is unaffiliated with the electric utility that owns the electric delivery system, before installing equipment the unaffiliated broadband operator shall enter into the customary agreement used by the telephone utility for access to the electrical delivery system and shall pay the telephone utility an annual fee consistent with the usual and customary charges for access to the space occupied by that portion of the broadband system. (2) If all or part of a broadband system is installed on poles or other structures of a telephone utility and the broadband operator is an electric utility or broadband affiliate, the existing contract governing placement of the electric utility's attachments on poles or other structures shall apply and no additional annual fee or approval shall be required if the broadband system is installed within the space allocated for electric service under the contract. (d) An electric utility shall not: (1) Charge an affiliate under this section an amount less than the electric utility would charge an unaffiliated entity for the same item or class of items; or (2) Pay an affiliate under this section an amount more than the affiliate would charge an unaffiliated entity for the same item or class of items. (e) A transaction between an electric utility and an affiliate and allocations between an electric utility account and a nonutility account with respect to broadband services and broadband systems are subject to this subchapter.