HB2172 - UTIL-LOW-INCOME CUSTOMERS

9 Co-Sponsors

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that the utilities shall implement energy efficiency measures targeted at low-income households and the amount of expenditures in the utilities' annual energy efficiency program budget to implement these targeted measures shall be, at a minimum, proportional to the percentage of low-income customers within the utilities' service territory. Provides specified requirements for who qualifies as a low-income customer. Provides that a utility shall not disconnect service of: (1) low-income customers 65 years of age or older due to inability to afford the monthly bill; (2) low-income customers with children in the household under the age of 6 due to inability to afford the monthly bill; and (3) customers who have provided a medical certification exemption. Provides that if gas or electricity is used as the only source of space cooling, then a utility with over 100,000 residential customers may not terminate gas or electric utility service to the residential user, including all tenants of mastermetered apartment buildings: (1) on any day when the National Weather Service forecast for the following 24 hours covering the area of the utility in which the residence is located includes a forecast that the temperature or heat index will be 85 (rather than 95) degrees Fahrenheit or above; or (2) on any day preceding or during a holiday or weekend when a forecast indicates that the temperature or heat index will be 85 (rather than 95) degrees Fahrenheit or above during the holiday or weekend. Makes changes to provisions concerning: the Commission's annual report; notice of termination of service; utility credit reporting; consideration of attorney and expert compensation as an expense and intervenor compensation fund; prohibition against preference or prejudice to any corporation; proceedings, investigations, or hearings conducted by the Commission; complaints and notice; and automatic adjustment clause tariffs. Makes other and corresponding changes.