Senate Bill 1125 Summary

• Creates utility consumer participation board within the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs to administer a utility consumer representation fund, with 5 members appointed by the governor and representatives nominated by legislative leaders and the attorney general.

• Establishes utility consumer representation fund financed by remittances from energy utilities when filing for energy cost recovery proceedings, with base amounts of $900,000 (large utilities), $650,000 (large residential), and $100,000 (small utilities) adjusted annually for inflation.

• Requires utilities to file quarterly reports disclosing customer payment performance, complaints, shut-off notices, hearings, settlement agreements, and service restoration times; directs the Public Service Commission to establish customer service standards and educational programs.

• Mandates utility service restoration promptly upon customer request after cause is cured, with specific timeframes; requires utilities to issue $100 daily bill credits for erroneous shut-offs and expanded shut-off protections for eligible low-income and senior citizen customers during heating and cooling seasons.

• Provides residential customers the right to appear in person, by attorney, or authorized representative in commission proceedings; requires the Commission to publish a booklet of residential customer rights within 90 days.