(a) Except as provided in § 203A(a)(3) of this title, no person or entity shall begin the business of an electric transmission utility providing transmission facilities, as defined in § 1001(26) of this title, without having first obtained from the Commission a certificate that the present or future public convenience and necessity requires, or will be served by, the operation of such business.
(b) A person or entity seeking to begin the business of an electric transmission utility in this State shall first make application to the Commission for a certificate of public convenience and necessity approving the person or entity as an electric transmission utility authorized to provide transmission facilities. The application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity shall be in writing, shall be in such form as determined by the Commission, and shall contain such information as the Commission may prescribe. In determining whether to grant the certificate, the Commission shall consider:
(1) Whether PJM Interconnection, L.L.C. (or its successor) (“PJM”) has selected the applicant to develop or own transmission facilities included in the regional transmission expansion plan approved through PJM's Federal Energy Regulatory Commission-approved developer qualification and competitive procurement process, or if such PJM approval has not occurred:
a. The demonstrated experience, operating expertise, and long-term viability of the applicant or its affiliates, partners, or parent company;
b. The need for and impact of any transmission facilities proposed by the applicant on the safe, adequate, and reliable operation or delivery of electric supply services; and
c. The engineering and technical design of any transmission facilities proposed by the applicant.
(2) The impact of granting the certificate of public convenience and necessity application on the State's economy and the benefits to the State's ratepayers; and
(3) The impact of granting the certificate of public convenience and necessity application on the health, safety, and welfare of the general public.
(c) The Commission shall act on an application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity within 90 days of the submission of a completed application. For good cause shown, and if it finds that the public interest would be served, the Commission may extend the date of its action on an application for an additional period not to exceed 90 days.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a certificate of public convenience and necessity for an electric transmission utility will not be granted if the Commission finds that the applicant is unwilling or unable to provide safe, adequate and reliable transmission services, or is currently subject to a Commission finding that the applicant is unwilling or unable to provide safe, adequate and reliable transmission services.
(e) The Commission may, for good cause, undertake to suspend or revoke a certificate of public convenience and necessity held by an electric transmission utility. Good cause shall consist of:
(1) A finding by the Commission of material noncompliance by the holder of the certificate with any conditions imposed in the certificate by the Commission, or with any order or rule of the Commission related to the same; or
(2) A finding by the Commission that the holder of the certificate has failed in a material manner to provide safe, adequate, and reliable transmission services.
(f) Any proceedings under this section involving a certificate of public convenience and necessity shall be conducted in accordance with the procedures set forth in subchapter III of Chapter 101 of Title 29.