Requires the public service commission to conduct a review within fifteen days when a residential customer of a public utility company alleges that the public utility company has overcharged the customer for service and to refund the overcharge within thirty days; provides for penalties; requires the public service commission to promulgate rules and regulations.
Increases the number of commissioners of the public service commission to eight; requires the commission to have a duty to protect public interest, including ensuring access to utility services for residential and business customers; prohibits commissioners from having been employed within the last two years by an electric, gas, steam, telecommunications, or water utility that is regulated by the commission.
Enacts the "cellular mapping act"; requires the public service commission to review cellular services within the state; requires the expansion of cellular services.
Requires all public utilities to maintain a customer service facility within the state to perform services such as addressing customer inquiries and accepting bill payments.
Requires all public utilities to maintain a customer service facility within the state to perform services such as addressing customer inquiries and accepting bill payments.
Relates to establishing minimum standards for payment plans for eligible customers; requires the public service commission to set standards for payment plans for certain customers including reasonableness of agreements and timelines for payment; establishes eligibility.
Requires utility service providers to disclose planned rate increases to consumers within thirty days before a planned price increase takes effect; requires utility providers to provide contact information and a mechanism to cancel service completely.
Relates to the members of the public service commission; prohibits commissioners from having been employed within the last two years by an electric, gas, steam, telecommunications, or water utility that is regulated by the commission; requires that new appointments ensure that commissioners represent certain areas of education and training.