HP0745
LD 1003
Session - 129th Maine Legislature
C "A", Filing Number H-101, Sponsored by
LR 2230
Item 2
Bill Tracking, Additional Documents Chamber Status

Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and inserting the following:

Sec. 1. 35-A MRSA §3106  is enacted to read:

§ 3106 Consumer protections; bill information

The commission by rule shall establish customer bill information requirements for investor-owned transmission and distribution utilities that:

1 Historical rate information.   Require investor-owned transmission and distribution utilities to include, once per year, as an insert or attachment to customer bills, an informational chart produced by the commission that displays a 10-year history of transmission, distribution and standard-offer service rates available to the customer's rate class, along with a statement of the total percentage change in transmission, distribution and standard-offer service rates over the 10-year period. The commission shall post the informational charts produced pursuant to this subsection on the commission's publicly accessible website;
2 Consumer assistance.   Require a customer bill issued by an investor-owned transmission and distribution utility to display clearly and prominently the toll-free telephone number for the commission's consumer assistance and safety division and a statement of the consumer assistance services available by calling the division; and
3 Correction of misleading information.   Establish a process by which, if the commission finds that an investor-owned transmission and distribution utility has included on customer bills, or inserts or attachments to customer bills, information that is misleading, deceptive or inaccurate, the transmission and distribution utility is required to provide to customers a statement that corrects the misleading, deceptive or inaccurate information that was disseminated. Upon request of the Public Advocate, the commission shall investigate the truth and accuracy of information included on customer bills, or inserts or attachments to customer bills.

Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.

Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section number to read consecutively.

SUMMARY

This amendment replaces the bill. The amendment requires the Public Utilities Commission to adopt rules to do the following:

1. Require investor-owned transmission and distribution utilities to provide customers annually, as an insert or attachment to customer bills, an informational chart showing a 10-year history of transmission, distribution and standard-offer service rates available to the customer's rate class, along with a statement of the total percentage change in those rates over the 10-year period;

2. Require a customer bill issued by an investor-owned transmission and distribution utility to display clearly and prominently the toll-free telephone number for the commission's consumer assistance and safety division and a statement of the consumer assistance services available by calling the division; and

3. Establish a process for the commission, upon finding that an investor-owned transmission and distribution utility has distributed information to customers that is misleading, deceptive or inaccurate, to require the transmission and distribution utility to provide customers a statement that corrects the misleading, deceptive or inaccurate information.

The amendment also requires the commission to post informational charts showing a 10-year history of electricity rate components on the commission's website.

FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)


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