Public utilities: consumer services; disclosure on electric utility bills of the number of power outages that occurred within that billing cycle; require. Amends 1939 PA 3 (MCL 460.1 - 460.11) by adding sec. 9e.
Impact
If enacted, HB4977 would significantly modify the existing framework under 1939 PA 3 by adding a new provision requiring these disclosures, thus improving consumer awareness and protection. The public service commission would enforce these requirements and impose penalties for non-compliance. This shift in regulatory requirements could lead to better service standards and possibly compel utilities to invest more in infrastructure and preventive measures against outages. Additionally, such transparency might empower consumers to make more informed decisions about their utility providers.
Summary
House Bill 4977 aims to amend the regulation of public utilities in Michigan, specifically addressing consumer services related to electric utilities. The bill mandates that electric utilities must disclose information about service interruptions on customers' bills. This includes the number of interruptions, the total duration of these interruptions, and momentary interruptions that last less than five minutes. The goal is to enhance transparency for consumers regarding the reliability of their electric service and to hold utilities accountable for service lapses.
Contention
While supporters of HB4977 argue that it will provide necessary transparency and accountability in utility services, there may be some contention regarding the implications for utility operations and profitability. Opponents might argue that the additional requirements could impose financial burdens on providers, potentially leading to higher costs for consumers in the long run. Moreover, there may be debate over how effectively the public service commission can handle the influx of data and enforcement challenges posed by these new regulations.
Public utilities: consumer services; reimbursement to consumer for losses due to a power outage; provide for. Amends 1939 PA 3 (MCL 460.1 - 460.11) by adding sec. 9f.
Public utilities: electric utilities; electrical reconnection fees for electric utilities; establish. Amends secs. 10p & 10t of 1939 PA 3 (MCL 460.10p & 460.10t). TIE BAR WITH: HB 5216'23, HB 5222'23, HB 5220'23, HB 5221'23, HB 5217'23
Public utilities: electric utilities; long-term industrial load rates; prohibit from being subject to securitization charges. Amends sec. 10gg of 1939 PA 3 (MCL 460.10gg).
Public utilities: electric utilities; electrical reconnection fees for municipally owned electric utilities; establish. Amends secs. 9d, 9q & 9r of 1939 PA 3 (MCL 460.9d et seq.). TIE BAR WITH: HB 5216'23, HB 5222'23, HB 5220'23, HB 5217'23, HB 5219'23
Public utilities: electric utilities; tariff for distributed generation and net metering customers; eliminate. Amends sec. 6a of 1939 PA 3 (MCL 460.6a).
Public utilities: electric utilities; engineering audits; require. Amends sec. 10p of 1939 PA 3 (MCL 460.10p) & adds sec. 6y. TIE BAR WITH: HB 5216'23, HB 5220'23, HB 5221'23, HB 5217'23, HB 5219'23
Public utilities: public service commission; electric vehicle charging station operators; exempt from certain public utility requirements. Amends title & secs. 10g, 10h & 10q of 1939 PA 3 (MCL 460.10g et seq.).
Public utilities: electric utilities; phaseout of certain coal-fired electricity-generating plants; provide for by 2030. Amends sec. 6t of 1939 PA 3 (MCL 460.6t).
Public utilities: other; certain money spent by electric or natural gas utilities; require to be reported to the public service commission. Amends 1939 PA 3 (MCL 460.1 - 460.11) by adding sec. 6aa.
Public utilities: consumer services; eligibility for utility power outage credits; provide for. Amends 1939 PA 3 (MCL 460.1 - 460.11) by adding sec. 9f.
Hospital and violence intervention team safety requirements established, hospitals required to have a secure online portal for reporting of violence incidents and threats of violence, de-escalation training required for all hospital health care workers, and report required.