Section 49-03-01 - Certificate of public convenience and necessity - Secured by electric public utility1. 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.Amended by S.L. 2011, ch. 346 (SB 2322),§ 1, eff. 3/29/2011.