Posted: | February 22, 2013 08:38 AM |
---|---|
From: | Representative Robert W. Godshall |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | Amend Chapter 14 of Title 66 to include wastewater utilities. |
In the near future, I will be introducing legislation to amend Chapter 14 of Title 66 to include wastewater utilities to the types of utilities that are required to comply with the provisions of the chapter. Chapter 14 provides security deposit, service termination and reconnection procedures for utilities. The General Assembly created Chapter 14 to address its concerns about the impact that utility uncollectible accounts have on the rates of timely paying customers. Prior to the enactment of Chapter 14, consumers who accrued overdue balances with their utilities were able to receive an unlimited number of payment agreements from both the Public Utility Commission and the utility companies. Chapter 14 set up a specific procedure for the handling of accounts with overdue balances. Wastewater utilities were not included in the definition of “public utility” in Chapter 14 when it was enacted. This creates administrative challenges to utilities that provide both water and wastewater service to consumers and is confusing to customers. Companies that provide both services must maintain two separate billing systems and operate under separate policies regarding the service application process, security deposits and service termination and reconnection. The current system causes customer confusion and is an inefficient use of utility resources. My bill will permit utilities that provide both water and wastewater service to adopt a single set of policies resulting in less customer confusion and mitigate inefficiencies that can result in additional customer costs. |
Introduced as HB939