Bill Text: MI SB0536 | 2009-2010 | 95th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Public utilities; consumer services; information regarding energy assistance programs; require to be included on customer's bills. Amends 1939 PA 3 (MCL 460.1 - 460.11) by adding sec. 9j.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2009-05-05 - Referred To Committee On Energy Policy And Public Utilities [SB0536 Detail]
Download: Michigan-2009-SB0536-Introduced.html
SENATE BILL No. 536
May 5, 2009, Introduced by Senators ANDERSON, CLARKE, OLSHOVE and CHERRY and referred to the Committee on Energy Policy and Public Utilities.
A bill to amend 1939 PA 3, entitled
"An act to provide for the regulation and control of public and
certain private utilities and other services affected with a public
interest within this state; to provide for alternative energy
suppliers; to provide for licensing; to include municipally owned
utilities and other providers of energy under certain provisions of
this act; to create a public service commission and to prescribe
and define its powers and duties; to abolish the Michigan public
utilities commission and to confer the powers and duties vested by
law on the public service commission; to provide for the
continuance, transfer, and completion of certain matters and
proceedings; to abolish automatic adjustment clauses; to prohibit
certain rate increases without notice and hearing; to qualify
residential energy conservation programs permitted under state law
for certain federal exemption; to create a fund; to provide for a
restructuring of the manner in which energy is provided in this
state; to encourage the utilization of resource recovery
facilities; to prohibit certain acts and practices of providers of
energy; to allow for the securitization of stranded costs; to
reduce rates; to provide for appeals; to provide appropriations; to
declare the effect and purpose of this act; to prescribe remedies
and penalties; and to repeal acts and parts of acts,"
(MCL 460.1 to 460.11) by adding section 9j.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 9j. (1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a
provider shall include with or on any shutoff notice a list
consisting of the contact information for the energy assistance
telephone line number at the department of human services or for a
2-1-1 system telephone number.
(2) A provider shall include the information required under
subsection (1) at least 2 times a year in a customer's bill with a
bill insert, in a newsletter issued to its customers, a public
forum, newspaper announcement, or electronic communication, or, for
a cooperative electric utility, in a periodical issued by an
association of rural electric cooperatives.
(3) The notification under subsections (1) and (2) may be
transmitted in the same manner as the customer's billing. The
commission may supplement the methods of providing the information
required under subsection (1).
(4) As used in this section, "provider" means an electric
utility, cooperative electric utility, alternative electric
supplier, or an investor-owned business engaged in the sale and
distribution of natural gas within this state whose rates are
regulated by the commission.
