SB 00847 Summary

• Caps consultant expenses for Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) and Office of Consumer Counsel proceedings at $200,000 per agency for large companies and $50,000 for companies with fewer than 15,000 customers, effective October 1, 2019.

• Exempts telecommunications services from rate regulation provisions that apply to gas and electric distribution companies; removes advertising restrictions for telephone companies.

• Requires certified telecommunications providers and telephone companies to make rates, terms, and conditions available to residential customers on their websites and to business customers through websites, customer service guides, or contracts, effective October 1, 2019.

• Replaces state-specific directory assistance and subscriber list requirements with compliance to federal law under 47 USC 222(e).

• Repeals sections 16-247k (alternative forms of regulation), 16-247n (operations support systems), 16-256c, and 16-256h; modifies sections governing telecommunications service tariff filings, customer protections, and truth in billing requirements to align with federal law.