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• Introduced by Rep. David Agema (R) and Rep. Joel Sheltrown (D) on March 19, 2009, to prohibit a municipal utility from shutting off the service of a customer who hasn’t paid his or her bills unless it has complied with state administrative rules on this.
  • Referred to the House Energy and Technology Committee on March 19, 2009.
    • Reported in the House on March 31, 2009, with the recommendation that the substitute (H-3) be adopted and that the bill then pass.
  • Substitute offered in the House on March 31, 2009, to replace the previous version of the bill with one that revises details but does not change the substance of the bill as previously described. The substitute passed in the House by voice vote on March 31, 2009.
• Passed in the House (104 to 6) on March 31, 2009. [Vote Details and Comments]
• Received in the Senate on April 2, 2009.
  • Referred to the Senate Energy Policy & Public Utilities Committee on April 2, 2009.
    • Reported in the Senate on September 24, 2009, with the recommendation that the following amendments be adopted and that the bill then pass: 1. Amend page 3, following line 15, by inserting: "(4) THE PROVIDER'S GOVERNING BODY SHALL ESTABLISH A POLICY TO ALLOW A CUSTOMER THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENTER INTO A PAYMENT PLAN FOR AN AMOUNT OWED TO THE PROVIDER THAT IS NOT IN DISPUTE, IF A CUSTOMER CLAIMS AN INABILITY TO PAY IN FULL. A PROVIDER IS NOT REQUIRED TO ENTER INTO A SUBSEQUENT PAYMENT PLAN WITH A CUSTOMER UNTIL THE CUSTOMER HAS COMPLIED FULLY WITH THE TERMS OF AN EXISTING OR PREVIOUS PAYMENT PLAN. A PROVIDER IS NOT REQUIRED TO ENTER INTO A SUBSEQUENT PAYMENT PLAN WITH A CUSTOMER WHO DEFAULTED ON THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF A PAYMENT PLAN WITHIN THE LAST 12 MONTHS." and renumbering the remaining subsections. 2. Amend page 3, line 25, after "PROVIDER" by striking out "IF THE CLAIM IS". 3. Amend page 3, line 25, after "AMOUNT" by inserting "OWED TO THE PROVIDER". 4. Amend page 4, line 7, after "(G)" by striking out "THAT" and inserting "DURING THE HEATING SEASON,". 5. Amend page 4, line 8, after the second "CUSTOMER" by inserting "THAT ENTERS INTO A WINTER PROTECTION PAYMENT PLAN WITH THE PROVIDER". 6. Amend page 5, line 4, after "COMMISSION" by inserting "FOR REGULATED UTILITIES".
  • Amendment offered in the Senate on October 6, 2009. The amendment passed in the Senate by voice vote on October 6, 2009.
  • Referred to the Senate Energy Policy & Public Utilities Committee on December 17, 2009.