As used in this chapter:

(1) "Capacity resource" means an electric plant, a long-term power purchase, or a demand-side capacity option.

(2) "Commission" means the Georgia Public Service Commission.

(3) "Construction" means clearing of land, excavation, or other substantial activity leading to the operation of an electric plant other than planning, land surveying, land acquisition, subsurface exploration, design work, licensing or other regulatory activity, contracting for construction, or environmental protection measures and activities associated therewith.

(4) "Demand-side capacity option" means a program proposed by a utility or the commission for the reduction of future electricity requirements the utility's Georgia retail customers would otherwise impose, including, but not limited to, conservation, load management, cogeneration, and renewable energy technologies.

(5) "Electric plant" means any facility, or the portion of a facility, that produces electricity or that, at the time application for certification is made pursuant to this chapter, is intended to produce electricity for a utility's Georgia retail customers. "Electric plant" includes the realty and ancillary facilities for the construction of the plant.

(6) "Long-term power purchase" means a purchase of electric capacity and energy for a period exceeding one year, the principal purpose of which is to supply the requirements of the Georgia retail customers of a utility.

(7) "Plan" means an integrated resource plan which contains the utility's electric demand and energy forecast for at least a 20 year period, contains the utility's program for meeting the requirements shown in its forecast in an economical and reliable manner, contains the utility's analysis of all capacity resource options, including both demand-side and supply-side options, and sets forth the utility's assumptions and conclusions with respect to the effect of each capacity resource option on the future cost and reliability of electric service. The plan shall also:

(A) Contain the size and type of facilities which are expected to be owned or operated in whole or in part by such utility and the construction of which is expected to commence during the ensuing ten years or such longer period as the commission deems necessary and shall identify all existing facilities intended to be removed from service during such period or upon completion of such construction;

(B) Contain practical alternatives to the fuel type and method of generation of the proposed electric generating facilities and set forth in detail the reasons for selecting the fuel type and method of generation;

(C) Contain a statement of the estimated impact of proposed and alternative generating plants on the environment and the means by which potential adverse impacts will be avoided or minimized; (D) Indicate in detail the projected demand for electric energy for a 20 year period and the basis for determining the projected demand;

(E) Describe the utility's relationship to other utilities in regional associations, power pools, and networks;

(F) Identify and describe all major research projects and programs which will continue or commence in the succeeding three years and set forth the reasons for selecting specific areas of research;

(G) Identify and describe existing and planned programs and policies to discourage inefficient and excessive power use; and

(H) Provide any other information as may be required by the commission.

(8) "Supply-side capacity option" means an electric plant, a long-term power purchase, or any other source of additional energy.

(9) "Utility" means any electric supplier whose rates are fixed by the commission.