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RCC 369

Para ordenar a la Autoridad de Acueductos y Alcantarillados de Puerto Rico (AAA) a que, durante un período de dos (2) años contados a partir de la vigencia de esta Resolución Conjunta, ajuste proporcionalmente el pago de la porción correspondiente de la tarifa base, cargo fijo, cargo mínimo o cualquier otro cargo relacionado con el servicio de agua potable respecto a aquellos períodos de facturación en que un abonado haya estado sin recibir efectivamente dicho servicio por veinticuatro (24) horas consecutivas o más, debido a interrupciones, suspensiones o deficiencias atribuibles a la AAA; establecer los mecanismos de acreditación y ajuste correspondientes; y para otros fines relacionados.

2025-2028 Session

The bill requires the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority to offer proportional credits on residential and commercial water bills for any 24-hour or longer outage caused by th

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Bill Summary · RCC 369

Summary of Bill RCC 369 (Session: 2025-2028; Jurisdiction: Puerto Rico)

Purpose and intent

  • The bill directs the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (Autoridad de Acueductos y Alcantarillados de Puerto Rico, AAA) to implement proportional adjustments to certain water service charges for a two-year period starting from the effective date of this joint resolution.
  • The adjustments are triggered when a subscriber experiences a continuous absence of potable water service for 24 hours or more due to interruptions, suspensions, or deficiencies attributable to the AAA.
  • The overarching goal is to credit or reduce charges for periods when customers did not receive actual service, ensuring customers are not financially penalized for AAA-side service outages.

Key provisions and changes

  • Time period for adjustments: Two (2) years from the effective date of this Joint Resolution.
  • Scope of charges affected: Proportional adjustment applies to:
    • Base rate portion of the water bill
    • Fixed charge
    • Minimum charge
    • Any other charge related to the potable water service
  • Trigger for adjustments: A continuous 24-hour (or longer) period without effective water service due to interruptions, suspensions, or deficiencies attributable to the AAA.
  • Credit mechanism: The bill requires the establishment of crediting/adjustment mechanisms for billing during the outage period. Details to be determined by the implementing authority but must reflect proportional reductions corresponding to the duration and impact of service interruption.
  • Implementation mechanics: The decree sets up processes to authenticate outages, calculate proportional credits, and apply adjustments to customer bills. It may specify documentation, verification steps, and dispute resolution pathways (though exact procedural mechanics are to be detailed within implementing rules or regulations).

Affected parties

  • Primary: Residential and commercial customers of the AAA who experience service outages attributable to the AAA lasting 24 hours or more.
  • Secondary: The AAA itself, which would be required to administer the crediting mechanism and ensure accurate billing adjustments.
  • Other stakeholders may include consumer protection agencies and utility regulators overseeing service reliability and billing practices.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Legislative action date: The bill was radicado (filed) on 2026-06-11.
  • Duration: Two-year adjustment period measured from the date the Joint Resolution becomes effective.
  • Administrative requirements: The bill mandates the establishment of crediting and adjustment mechanisms. While it does not detail every procedural step, it implies that implementing regulations or internal AAA policies will govern verification, calculation, and application of credits, as well as potential procedures for customer notification and dispute resolution.

Potential implications and considerations

  • Customer protection: If outages occur, customers would receive proportional bill credits, potentially reducing financial burden during service interruptions.
  • Financial impact on AAA: The AAA would incur reduced revenue credits during the two-year period. The bill may necessitate budgeting considerations or reserves to account for anticipated credits.
  • Reliability and accountability: Establishing formal crediting mechanisms could incentivize improvements in service reliability and transparency in billing practices.

If you would like, I can draft a brief Q&A section addressing common questions (e.g., how credits are calculated, eligibility verification, dispute process) or compare this proposal to similar consumer protection measures in other jurisdictions.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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