(a) Every person engaged in electric transmission services, as defined in § 16-1, electric generation services, as defined in said section, or electric distribution services, as defined in said section, generating electric power in the state utilizing a generating facility with a capacity greater than one megawatt, shall, annually, on or before March first, file a report on a forecast of loads and resources which may consist of an update of the previous year’s report with the siting council for its review. The report shall cover the ten-year forecast period beginning with the year of the report. Upon request, the report shall be made available to the public. The report shall include, as applicable: (1) A tabulation of estimated peak loads, resources and margins for each year; (2) data on energy use and peak loads for the five preceding calendar years; (3) a list of existing generating facilities in service; (4) a list of scheduled generating facilities for which property has been acquired, for which certificates have been issued and for which certificate applications have been filed; (5) a list of planned generating units at plant locations for which property has been acquired, or at plant locations not yet acquired, that will be needed to provide estimated additional electrical requirements, and the location of such facilities; (6) a list of planned transmission lines on which proposed route reviews are being undertaken or for which certificate applications have already been filed; (7) a description of the steps taken to upgrade existing facilities and to eliminate overhead transmission and distribution lines in accordance with the regulations and standards described in § 16-50t; and (8) for each private power producer having a facility generating more than one megawatt and from whom the person furnishing the report has purchased electricity during the preceding calendar year, a statement including the name, location, size and type of generating facility, the fuel consumed by the facility and the by-product of the consumption. On and after March 1, 2012, each such report from a person engaged in electric transmission services or electric distribution services, as defined in § 16-1, shall identify any potential reliability concerns during the forecast period and such person shall provide such information to the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection. Confidential, proprietary or trade secret information provided under this section may be submitted under a duly granted protective order. The council may adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, that specify the expected filing requirements for persons that transmit electric power in the state, electric distribution companies, and persons that generate electric power in the state utilizing a generating facility with a capacity of greater than one megawatt. Until such regulations are adopted, persons that transmit electric power in the state shall file reports pursuant to this section that include the information requested in subdivisions (6) and (7) of this subsection; electric distribution companies in the state shall file reports pursuant to this section that include the information requested in subdivisions (1), (2), (7) and (8) of this subsection; persons that generate electric power in the state utilizing a generating facility with a capacity greater than one megawatt shall file reports pursuant to this section that include the information requested in subdivisions (3), (4), (5) and (8) of this subsection. The council shall hold a public hearing on such filed forecast reports annually. The council shall conduct a review in an executive session of any confidential, proprietary or trade secret information submitted under a protective order during such a hearing. At least one session of such hearing shall be held after six-thirty p.m. Upon reviewing such forecast reports, the council may issue its own report assessing the overall status of loads and resources in the state. If the council issues such a report, it shall be made available to the public and shall be furnished to each member of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to energy and technology, any other member of the General Assembly making a written request to the council for the report and such other state and municipal bodies as the council may designate.

(b) On October 1, 1994, and not less than once every five years thereafter, the council shall establish a proceeding to investigate and determine life-cycle costs for both overhead and underground transmission line alternatives. The council shall determine the schedule and scope of the investigation at a publicly noticed meeting held not earlier than ninety days preceding the first public hearing on the matter. The scope of the investigation shall include, but not be limited to, an inquiry of all relevant life-cycle costs, relative reliability, constraints concerning access and construction, potential damage to the environment and compatibility with the existing electric supply system. As part of the investigation the council shall hold public hearings which shall afford all interested parties opportunity to be heard. At least one public hearing shall be held after six-thirty p.m.

(c) An investigation conducted pursuant to subsection (b) of this section may include the retention of consultants, manufacturers and other experts necessary for the council to objectively determine the range of life-cycle costs of such alternatives. No such consultant, manufacturer or expert shall have any financial interest in, or, in the twelve months preceding the investigation, have engaged in any business, employment or professional activity for compensation with a corporation, company, association, joint stock association, partnership or person, or lessee thereof, owning, leasing, maintaining, operating, managing or controlling poles, wires, conduits or other fixtures, along public highways or streets, for the transmission or distribution of electric current for sale for light, heat or power within the state, or with a person, firm or corporation which manufactures such poles, wires, conduits or other fixtures. The council shall apportion and assess its expenses for consultants, hearing facilities, stenographic reports and other reasonable and necessary expenses of conducting such an investigation among those persons, firms and corporations having gross revenues from the retail sale of electric power in excess of one hundred thousand dollars during the preceding calendar year. The council shall assess each such person, firm or corporation in proportion of its gross revenues to the aggregate gross revenues of all such persons, firms and corporations. Each person, firm or corporation subject to an assessment shall pay its assessed amount not later than thirty days after receiving notice of its assessment or as specified by the council. Prior to incurring expenses for which assessments shall be made under this subsection, the council shall review the anticipated expenses at a public meeting, notice of which shall be given to each person, firm or corporation subject to an assessment. A person, firm or corporation may object to an assessment made pursuant to this subsection by filing with the council, not later than thirty days after receiving notice of its assessment, a petition stating the amount of the assessment to which it objects and the grounds upon which it claims such assessment is excessive, erroneous, unlawful or invalid. Upon the request of the petitioner, the council shall hold a hearing. After reviewing the company’s petition and testimony, if any, the council shall issue an order in accordance with its findings. The petitioner shall pay the council the amount indicated in the order not later than thirty days after the date of the order.

(d) The council shall remit all payments received pursuant to this section to the State Treasurer for deposit in the Siting Council Fund. Such payments shall be accounted for as expenses recovered from electric power suppliers. All payments made under this section shall be in addition to any taxes payable to the state under chapters 211, 212, 212a and 219.

(e) An assessment unpaid on the due date or any portion of an assessment withheld after the due date under this section shall be subject to interest at the rate of one and one-fourth per cent per month or fraction thereof.