25 LC 55 0548
House Bill 641
By: Representatives Lim of the 98
th
, Mathiak of the 82
nd
, Werkheiser of the 157
th
, Drenner
of the 85
th
, Lupton of the 83
rd
, and others
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Chapter 3 of Title 46 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
1
electric services, so as to require that an electric supplier hold the proposed discontinuation2
of electrical service to a residential consumer who suffers from a serious illness in abeyance3
for a certain period of time; to provide for notice requirements; to provide for the renewal of4
such abeyance period; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other5
purposes.6
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:7
SECTION 1.8
Chapter 3 of Title 46, relating to electrical service, is amended in Code Section 46-3-11,9
relating to application by electric supplier of discriminatory rates, charges, or service rules10
or regulations and prohibited acts by electric suppliers generally, by adding a new subsection11
to read as follows:12
"(c)(1) A residential consumer of an electric supplier may provide such electric supplier
13
written notice that he or she suffers from a serious illness which would be aggravated by14
the discontinuation of electric service to such consumer. Such notice shall be made in15
writing or, if made orally, with written notice being provided to the electric supplier16
H. B. 641
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within ten days thereafter. Within ten days of providing such notice to an electric17
supplier, the residential customer shall furnish the electric supplier a written statement18
from a physician, county board of health, hospital, or other medical clinic that identifies19
such illness, provides an estimated duration the consumer will suffer from such illness,20
and certifies that such illness would be aggravated by the discontinuation of electric21
service to such consumer.22
(2) No electric supplier shall discontinue electric service to a residential consumer who23
complies with the provisions of paragraph (1) of this subsection for such consumer's24
nonpayment of a bill and, instead, such electric supplier shall hold such proposed25
discontinuation of electric service in abeyance for the estimated duration of the serious26
illness identified in the written statement provided to the electric supplier or a period of27
one month, whichever is shorter. A residential consumer may renew such abeyance28
period one additional time for the same illness by repeating the requirements of paragraph29
(1) of this subsection."30
SECTION 2.31
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.32
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