Vermont 2025-2026 Regular Session

Vermont House Bill H0088 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	BILL AS INTRODUCED H.88
2	2	2025 Page 1 of 5
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5	5	VT LEG #379357 v.1
6	6	H.88 1
7	7	Introduced by Representatives McCann of Montpelier, Harple of Glover, 2
8	8	Headrick of Burlington, Logan of Burlington, McGill of Bridport, Priestley of 3
9	9	Bradford, Tomlinson of Winooski, and Waszazak of Barre City 4
10	10	Referred to Committee on 5
11	11	Date: 6
12	12	Subject: Utilities; nonpayment; extreme heat; disconnection prohibition 7
13	13	Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to prohibit an 8
14	14	electric, water, or wastewater utility from involuntarily terminating residential 9
15	15	service for nonpayment during periods of extreme heat. 10
16	16	An act relating to a prohibition on utility disconnections during periods of 11
17	17	extreme heat 12
18	18	It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 13
19	19	Sec. 1. UTILITY DISCONNECTION RULE; EXTREME HEAT 14
20	20	(a) On or before June 1, 2026, and for the purpose of protecting the health 15
21	21	and safety of Vermonters, the Public Utility Commission shall adopt a rule 16
22	22	prohibiting an electric, water, or wastewater utility from involuntarily 17
23	23	disconnecting residential service for nonpayment during a period of extreme 18
24	24	heat in the utility’s service territory. For purposes of this section, residential 19
25	25	service includes service to tenants in metered apartment buildings and 20 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.88
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30	30	residents of mobile home parks. The rule shall include the following 1
31	31	provisions: 2
32	32	(1) A process that allows a resident to reconnect utility service during a 3
33	33	period of extreme heat if their service was previously disconnected for 4
34	34	nonpayment. 5
35	35	(2) A process that allows a utility to require a resident to enter into a 6
36	36	reasonable repayment plan prior to reconnecting service pursuant to 7
37	37	subdivision (1) of this subsection. 8
38	38	(3) A process for informing residents of their rights under this section. 9
39	39	(4) A requirement that each utility keep a written record of all 10
40	40	reconnection requests received pursuant to this section and all service 11
41	41	disconnections rescheduled due to extreme heat. Such record shall be 12
42	42	available for inspection by the Public Utility Commission or the Department of 13
43	43	Public Service, upon request. 14
44	44	(b) As used in this section: 15
45	45	(1) “Period of extreme heat” means that, within the 24 hours following 16
46	46	the scheduled disconnection, the forecasted temperature is at or above 92 17
47	47	degrees Fahrenheit or the National Weather Service has issued or has 18
48	48	announced that it intends to issue a heat-related alert, such as an excessive heat 19
49	49	warning, a heat advisory, an excessive heat watch, or a similar alert. 20 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.88
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54	54	(2) “Utility” means an electric, water, or wastewater utility subject to the 1
55	55	jurisdiction of the Public Utility Commission under 30 V.S.A. § 203(3) and 2
56	56	(6). 3
57	57	Sec. 2. 24 V.S.A. § 5143 is amended to read: 4
58	58	§ 5143. DISCONNECTION OF SERVICE 5
59	59	(a) No municipality shall disconnect service to a ratepayer unless payment 6
60	60	of a valid bill or charge is delinquent as defined herein, and notice of 7
61	61	disconnection has been provided previously to the ratepayer. A copy of the 8
62	62	notice shall be sent to the occupant of a residential dwelling that will be 9
63	63	affected by the disconnection if the occupant is different than the ratepayer. 10
64	64	(b) Disconnection shall not be permitted if: 11
65	65	(1) The delinquent bill or charge, or aggregate delinquent bills and 12
66	66	charges, do not exceed $15.00. 13
67	67	(2) The delinquency is due solely to a disputed portion of a charge that 14
68	68	is the subject of an appeal. 15
69	69	(3) The delinquency is due to a failure to pay a deposit, line extension, 16
70	70	special assessment, special construction charge, or other nonrecurring charge. 17
71	71	(4) The disconnection would represent an immediate and serious hazard 18
72	72	to the health of the ratepayer or a resident within the ratepayer’s household, as 19
73	73	set forth in a physician’s certificate that is on file with the municipality. Notice 20
74	74	by telephone or otherwise that such certificate will be forthcoming will have 21 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.88
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79	79	the effect of receipt, providing the certificate is in fact received within seven 1
80	80	days. 2
81	81	(5) The ratepayer has not been given an opportunity to enter into a 3
82	82	reasonable agreement to pay the delinquent bill or, having made such 4
83	83	agreement, has abided by its terms. 5
84	84	(6) The disconnection for a delinquency would occur during a period of 6
85	85	extreme heat. As used in this section, “period of extreme heat” means that, 7
86	86	within 24 hours following the scheduled disconnection, the forecasted 8
87	87	temperature is at or above 92 degrees Fahrenheit or the National Weather 9
88	88	Service has issued or announced that it intends to issue a heat-related alert, 10
89	89	such as an excessive heat warning, a heat advisory, an excessive heat watch, or 11
90	90	a similar alert. 12
91	91	(c) The tenant of a rental dwelling noticed for disconnection due to the 13
92	92	delinquency of the ratepayer shall have the right to request and pay for 14
93	93	continued service from the utility or reconnection of water and sewer service 15
94	94	for the rental dwelling, which the utility shall provide. If any water and sewer 16
95	95	charges or fees are included in the tenant’s rent, the tenant may deduct the cost 17
96	96	of any water and sewer service charges or fees paid to the municipality from 18
97	97	his or her the tenant’s rent pursuant to 9 V.S.A. § 4459. Under such 19
98	98	circumstances, the utility shall not require the tenant to pay any arrearage 20
99	99	greater than one billing cycle. 21 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.88
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104	104	(d) During a period of extreme heat, a resident may request that a utility 1
105	105	reconnect service that had previously been disconnected for nonpayment. If 2
106	106	required by the utility, the resident shall enter into a repayment plan prior to 3
107	107	the reconnection. A repayment plan shall not require a resident to make 4
108	108	monthly payments in excess of six percent of the resident’s monthly income. 5
109	109	A resident may agree to pay a higher percentage during the repayment period 6
110	110	but shall not be in default unless payment during this period is less than six 7
111	111	percent of the resident’s monthly income. If assistance payments are received 8
112	112	by the resident after implementation of the plan, the resident shall contact the 9
113	113	utility to reformulate the plan. 10
114	114	Sec. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE 11
115	115	This act shall take effect on July 1, 2025. 12