Public Act 88 of 2004

      Comments on this legislation    Post new comment    Text and Analysis    Add to Watch List 
  Previous   Next 

• Introduced by Sen. Laura Toy (R) on July 15, 2003, to waive certain “code of conduct” restrictions on utilities (gas and electric companies) which offer appliance and heating/cooling system repair and service in competition with non-utility service providers, if the utility controls less than 30 percent of the repair and servicing market in the area. Utilities would still be prohibited from inserting ads for the service in customer utility bills, or cross-subsidizing the service with regulated utility service revenues. Without this bill, recent Michigan Public Service Commission regulations could force utilities, specifically Consumers Energy, to stop offering this service.
  • Referred to the Senate Technology and Energy Committee on July 15, 2003.
    • Reported in the Senate on October 28, 2003, with the recommendation that the bill pass.
• Passed 33 to 4 in the Senate on October 30, 2003.
  Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
• Received in the House on October 30, 2003.
  • Referred to the House Energy and Technology Committee on October 30, 2003.
  • Reported in the House on March 25, 2004, with the recommendation that the substitute (H-1) be adopted and that the bill then pass.
  • Substitute offered in the House on March 25, 2004, to replace the previous version of the bill with one that narrows its scope to effectively apply solely to an appliance service program operated by Consumers Energy. See House-passed bill for details. The substitute passed by voice vote in the House on March 25, 2004.
• Passed 104 to 0 in the House on March 25, 2004, to waive certain “code of conduct” restrictions and allow an electric utility that offers an appliance service program in competition with non-utility service providers, if the utility maintains administrative separation between the program and the regulated utility functions of the company. The bill would require separate books and records for the program, and would prohibit inserting ads for the service in customer utility bills, or cross-subsidizing the service with regulated utility service revenues. It contains regulations on the operation of such a program. Without this bill, recent Michigan Public Service Commission regulations could force utilities, specifically Consumers Energy, to stop offering this service.
  Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
• Received in the Senate on March 30, 2004.
• Passed 33 to 4 in the Senate on April 1, 2004, to concur with the House-passed version of the bill, which narrows its scope to effectively apply solely to an appliance service program operated by Consumers Energy.
  Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
• Signed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm on April 22, 2004.