Summary — HB 6777: "An Act Concerning Water Utility Systems and Water Quality and Treatment Surcharges"
Status: Signed by Governor (Public Act 25-142). Introduced: January 29, 2025.
Note: The full bill text was not provided. This summary is based on the bill title, subject classifications, and the legislative history. For exact statutory language, consult the enrolled act (Public Act 25-142) or the Legislative Commissioners’ Office (LCO) file noted in the history.
Purpose / Intent
HB 6777 addresses how water utilities recover costs tied to water quality and treatment. The legislation appears intended to (1) create or authorize a mechanism for water utilities to impose surcharges specifically dedicated to water quality/treatment costs, and (2) clarify regulatory, reporting, and payment procedures tied to those surcharges and associated utility activities.
Key provisions (as indicated by title and subjects)
- Authorization of water quality and/or water treatment surcharges:
- Permits water companies or water utility systems to recover specific treatment or remediation costs through a surcharge on customer bills.
- Regulatory oversight and approval:
- Involves the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) in reviewing, approving, or setting parameters for such surcharges (filing, review standards, possible caps or timelines).
- Fees and payment instruments:
- Addresses fee collection and may set rules for acceptable forms of payment (reference to negotiable instruments suggests treatment of checks, drafts, or other instruments).
- Reporting and transparency:
- Requires periodic reporting to state entities (e.g., PURA, Office of Legislative Research, Office of Fiscal Analysis) on surcharge collections, expenditures, project status, or water quality outcomes.
- Treatment and facility considerations:
- May authorize funding flow for treatment facility upgrades, remediation projects, or operations necessary to meet drinking water standards.
Because the detailed statutory text is not included here, specific limits, duration, filing forms, or calculation methodologies are not provided.
Who is affected
- Water companies (investor-owned and possibly certain municipal systems) — authorized to seek surcharge recovery.
- Water customers (residential, commercial, institutional) — may see dedicated surcharge line-items on bills to fund treatment/water-quality costs.
- Public Utilities Regulatory Authority — role expanded or clarified for approval and oversight.
- Water treatment facilities and projects — potential new funding/recovery path for capital and operating expenses.
Procedural timeline / legislative actions
- Introduced 01/29/2025; referred to Joint Committee on Energy and Technology.
- Public hearing 01/31/2025; committee reports and substitute filed March–May 2025.
- Passed both chambers (House adopted amendments; Senate concurred with House amendment schedule A).
- Enrolled as Public Act 25-142 (tracked 06/17/2025); transmitted to Secretary of the State 06/25/2025; signed by Governor 07/01/2025.
Potential impacts
- Short-term: increased bill transparency but possible upward pressure on customer bills via surcharges to fund treatment costs.
- Medium/long-term: improved capacity for water systems to finance treatment and compliance projects, potentially improving drinking water quality and regulatory compliance.
- Regulatory: increased administrative workload for PURA and reporting agencies to track surcharge approvals and use.
For the exact provisions (surcharge formulas, duration, limits, application/notice requirements, and statutory amendments), consult the enacted Public Act 25-142 text or the LCO file number referenced in the bill history.
