(a) No company subject to Public Utility Commission jurisdiction and providing electric service shall begin construction of a two-way point-to-multipoint mobile wireless communication network for the purpose of communication between its facilities for its own personnel unless:
(1) the company has solicited proposals from commercial wireless service providers; and
(2) for solicitations issued after July 1, 2008, the company has provided notice prior to the solicitation to the Vermont Telecommunications Authority and to the Commissioner of Public Service and the Director for Public Advocacy.
(b) Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize or disallow the costs of such a network for the purpose of a rate proceeding for the company.