HB 1054

Abstract

Disaster or emergency; weather extremes; disconnection prohibitions for certain utilities; residential customers; report. Prohibits telecommunications electric, gas, water, and wastewater utilities and broadband companies from disconnecting service to a residential customer for nonpayment of bills or fees during a declared state of emergency, emergency, major disaster, disaster, resource shortage, or local emergency, as those terms are defined in the Code. The bill provides that the prohibition lasts for 60 days after the state of emergency, emergency, major disaster, disaster, resource shortage, or local emergency has ended or state or local officials determine that the prohibition need no longer be in place, whichever occurs first. The bill further prohibits electric, gas, water, or wastewater utilities from disconnecting service to a residential customer for nonpayment of bills or fees during the heating period of each year, during the cooling period of each year, when the forecasted temperature low is below 32 degrees Fahrenheit or the forecasted temperature high is to exceed 95 degrees Fahrenheit, and during, as declared by the National Weather Service, a winter storm watch or warning, winter weather advisory, freeze warning, heat advisory, or excessive heat watch or warning. Prior to disconnecting a residential customer for the nonpayment of bills, the utility shall apply any available resources to help reduce the customer's debt or enroll the customer in a repayment plan. Disconnections and reconnections based on a residential customer's nonpayment of bills or fees shall not involve extra fees. Under the bill, the State Corporation Commission is required to report annually on disconnections and reconnections for nonpayment of bills, beginning December 1, 2022, and report monthly certain information as described in the bill, beginning December 15, 2022.