Section 196.494 - Regional transmission planning(1) In this section:(a) "Electric utility" means a public utility, other than a municipal utility, as defined in s. 196.377(2) (a) 3, that provides retail electric service to customers in this state.(b) "Transmission facility" means any pipe, pipeline, duct, wire, line, conduit, pole, tower, equipment or other structure used for the transmission of electric power as determined by the commission.(2) The commission shall conduct a study on identifying and relieving any constraint on an intrastate or interstate electric transmission system that adversely affects the reliability of transmission service provided to electric customers in this state and shall, no later than September 1, 1998, submit a report on the results of the study to the legislature in the manner provided under s. 13.172(2).(3) The commission shall, under this subsection, issue an order requiring the transmission company, as defined in s. 196.485(1) (ge), or an electric utility to construct or procure, on a competitive basis, the construction of transmission facilities specified by the commission in its order if the commission determines that such construction is necessary to relieve a constraint on a transmission system and the construction will materially benefit the customers of the transmission company or electric utility or other electric utilities or of an independent system operator, as defined in s. 196.485(1) (d), or independent transmission owner, as defined in s. 196.485(1) (dm).(4) The commission shall allow an electric utility to recover in its retail electric rates any costs that are prudently incurred by the utility in complying with an order under sub. (3).(5) The governor may, on behalf of this state, enter into an interstate compact that establishes a joint process for the states in the upper midwest region of the United States to determine the need for and siting of regional electric transmission facilities that may affect electric service in this state. The governor may not enter into a compact under this subsection unless the compact includes requirements and procedures for establishing each of the following: (a) Compliance with each state's environmental and siting standards for transmission facilities.(b) A regional need determination for transmission facilities.(c) A mechanism for resolving conflicts between the states regarding the siting of transmission facilities.