Summary

Sponsor: Representative Richardville
Topic: Electric Company Slamming
Committee: Energy and Technology

House Bill 4741 would serve to prohibit the switching of a customer's electric distributor or addition of new services without the customer's authorization. It would also prescribe certain duties to state agencies such as the Public Service Commission (PSC). Finally, it would provide monetary penalties for those individuals who violated this act.

Upon passage, a customer could not have their service switched or altered in any way without either oral authorization, written confirmation, or authorization through a third party. An electric distributor cannot stand in the way of this decision by either refusing or delaying the desired service switch. The PSC would be responsible for formally issuing these orders.

The Commission would also be required to carry out an educational program for customers that would inform them of the availability of electric suppliers and distributors, explain disclosure requirements, and provide them with any other information necessary to making informed choices about service. The PSC could also promulgate any other rules it deemed necessary.

The bill also states that a customer has the right to his or her own billing and service records for the last twelve months. Once the request for information has been made by the customer, the distributor must supply the desired information within ten days. The information cannot be released to a third party without the written consent of the customer. Each bill must identify by address and phone number the name of the electric supplier. The supplier could not knowingly provide false information to a customer without being subject to the penalties provided in the bill. For a first violation an individual would be subject to a $10,000 to $20,000 fine per day. Each subsequent offense would invoke a $20,000 to $40,000 per day fine. The distributor would also be required to refund what the customer overpaid and he or she could be subject to having their license revoked