(1) Each investor-owned electric utility in this state shall, at the utility's option, either join a FERC approved multistate regional transmission system organization or other FERC approved multistate independent transmission organization or divest its interest in its transmission facilities to an independent transmission owner.

    (2) An investor-owned electric utility that is party to a legitimate filing that was pending before the FERC on December 31, 2001 which is seeking FERC approval of a proposed multistate regional transmission system organization shall be considered to be in compliance with this section. Subsection (3) shall apply if FERC rejects a pending filing or if the electric utility withdraws from the filing or from a regional transmission system organization. This section does not provide guidance to FERC with respect to any pending filing.

    (3) If an electric utility has not complied with this section by December 31, 2001, the commission shall direct the electric utility to join a FERC approved multistate regional transmission system organization selected by the commission.