MUNICPAL UTILITY SHUT-OFFS H.B. 4659 (H-3): FLOOR SUMMARY
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House Bill 4659 (Substitute H-3 as reported with amendment)
Sponsor: Representative Joel Sheltrown
House Committee: Energy and Technology
Senate Committee: Energy Policy and Public Utilities

CONTENT
The bill would amend Public Act 3 of 1939, the Public Service Commission law, to prescribe the conditions under which a municipally owned electric or natural gas utility (a "provider") could shut off service. The bill would do the following:

-- Allow a temporary shut-off for health or safety reasons or in an emergency.
-- Specify the reasons for which service to a residential customer could be shut off.
-- Require a provider to give a customer at least 10 days' notice by first-class mail or personal delivery before shutting off service.
-- Require the notice to include specified information, including that the customer had the right to enter into a payment plan, and that, during the heating season, the provider would postpone the shut-off if a certified medical emergency existed or if the customer were an eligible low-income customer who entered into a winter protection payment plan.
-- Require the provider's governing body to establish a policy to allow a customer the opportunity to enter into a payment plan for an amount owed that was not in dispute, if a customer claimed an inability to pay in full.
-- Provide that shut-off could occur only between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.
-- Require a provider to make at least two attempts to contact a customer at least one day before an involuntary shut-off.
-- Require a provider to restore service, within one working day as a rule, upon a customer's request when the cause of the shut-off had been cured or a satisfactory credit arrangement had been made.
The bill would take effect on November 1, 2009.


Proposed MCL 460.9q Legislative Analyst: Julie Cassidy

FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.


Date Completed: 9-24-09 Fiscal Analyst: Elizabeth Pratt Maria Tyszkiewicz

Analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent. hb4659/0910