§ 49-03-01 — Certificate of public convenience and necessity - Secured by electric public utility

utility.
1. An electric public utility may not begin construction or operation of a public utility plant
or system, or of an extension of a plant or system without first obtaining from the
commission a certificate that public convenience and necessity require or will require
the construction and operation. This section does not require an electric public utility to
secure a certificate for an extension within any municipality within which the electric
public utility has lawfully commenced operations. If any electric public utility in
constructing or extending its line, plant, or system, unreasonably interferes with or is
about to interfere unreasonably with the service or system of any other electric public
utility, or any electric cooperative corporation, the commission, on complaint of the
electric public utility or the electric cooperative corporation claiming to be injuriously
affected, after notice and hearing as provided in this title, may order enforcement of
this section with respect to the offending electric public utility and prescribe just and
reasonable terms and conditions.
2. An electric transmission provider may not begin construction or operation of an electric
transmission line interconnecting with an existing electric transmission line owned or
operated by an electric public utility without first obtaining a certificate that public
convenience and necessity require or will require the construction or operation.