1Amend Bill, page 4, line 21, by striking out the comma after
2"(h)" and inserting

3 and

4Amend Bill, page 4, lines 21 and 22, by striking out 
5"heading, (a), (b) introductory paragraph and (2), (c), (d), (e) 
6and (f)"

7Amend Bill, page 6, lines 25 through 30; page 7, lines 1
8through 30; page 8, lines 1 through 7, by striking out all of
9said lines on said pages and inserting

10§ 1405. Payment [agreements] arrangements.

11(a) General rule.--The commission is authorized to
12investigate complaints regarding payment disputes between a
13public utility, applicants and customers. The commission is
14authorized to establish payment [agreements] arrangements
15between a public utility, customers and applicants within the
16limits established by this chapter.

17(b) Length of payment [agreements] arrangements.--The length
18of time for a customer to resolve an unpaid balance on an
19account that is subject to a payment [agreement] arrangement
20that is investigated by the commission and is entered into by a
21public utility and a customer shall not extend beyond:

22(1) Five years for customers with a gross monthly
23household income level not exceeding 150% of the Federal
24poverty level.

25(2) [Two] Four years for customers with a gross monthly
26household income level exceeding 150% and not more than 250%
27of the Federal poverty level.

28(3) [One year] Three years for customers with a gross
29monthly household income level exceeding 250% of the Federal
30poverty level and not more than 300% of the Federal poverty
31level.

32(4) [Six months] One year for customers with a gross
33monthly household income level exceeding 300% of the Federal

1poverty level.

2(c) Customer assistance programs.--[Customer assistance
3program rates shall be timely paid and shall not be the subject
4of payment agreements negotiated or approved by the commission.]
5When a customer or applicant contacts a public utility to make 
6payment arrangements, the public utility shall notify the 
7customer or applicant verbally and in writing about the public 
8utility's customer assistance program, inquire about the 
9customer's or applicant's eligibility for a customer assistance 
10program, and enroll an eligible customer into the customer 
11assistance program, with the customer's consent.

12(d) Number of payment [agreements] arrangements.--Absent a
13change in income, the commission shall not establish or order a
14public utility to establish a second or subsequent payment
15[agreement] arrangement if a customer has defaulted on a
16previous payment [agreement. A] arrangement established by a 
17commission order or decision. In addition, a public utility may,
18at its discretion, enter into [a second or subsequent payment
19agreement with a customer] payment arrangements, not established 
20or ordered by the commission, in accordance with regulations 
21established by the commission.

22(e) Extension of payment [agreements] arrangements.--If the
23customer defaults on a payment [agreement] arrangement
24established under subsections (a) and (b) as a result of a
25significant change in circumstance, the commission may reinstate
26the payment [agreement] arrangement and extend the remaining
27term for an initial period of six months. The initial extension
28period may be extended for an additional six months for good
29cause shown.

30(f) Failure to comply with payment [agreement]
31arrangement.--Failure of a customer to comply with the terms of
32a commission-ordered payment [agreement] arrangement shall be
33grounds for a public utility to terminate the customer's
34service. Pending the outcome of a complaint filed with the
35commission, a customer shall be obligated to pay that portion of
36the bill which is not in dispute and subsequent bills which are
37not in dispute.