HB 81: "An Act relating to the provision of electric service in the state; and providing for an effective date."
00HOUSE BILL NO. 81 01 "An Act relating to the provision of electric service in the state; and providing 02 for an effective date." 03 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 04 * Section 1. AS 42.05 is amended by adding a new section to read: 05 Sec. 42.05.226. Electric consumer protections. (a) The commission shall 06 establish by regulation 07 (1) consumer protection standards to protect consumers in a competitive 08 electric service market; 09 (2) licensing requirements for electric service providers operating in a 10 competitive electric service market; 11 (3) procedures for the prompt, effective, and low-cost resolution of 12 consumer complaints against electric suppliers, aggregators, and distributors operating 13 in a competitive electric service market; 14 (4) minimum safety standards and service criteria for electric service
01 providers operating in a competitive electric service market; and 02 (5) penalties for electric service providers operating in a competitive 03 electric service market who fail to comply with the requirements of this chapter. 04 (b) The consumer protection standards adopted under (a) of this section must 05 require electric service providers operating in a competitive electric service market to 06 (1) provide consumers with free or reasonably priced information and 07 educational materials to enable consumers to compare the price, quality, supplier 08 service record, and terms of service offered by the electric service provider with the 09 offerings of other providers in the market; 10 (2) offer electric service to any consumer in the area served by the 11 electric service provider so long as providing the service is technically feasible at a 12 reasonable cost to the provider; 13 (3) provide electric service choices and pricing options to all consumers 14 without discrimination; 15 (4) maintain information and records, including records concerning 16 individual electric use patterns, about the electric service provider's consumers as 17 confidential records; however, an electric service provider may report information to 18 the commission so long as the information does not identify directly or indirectly an 19 individual consumer; 20 (5) meet the minimum safety standards and service criteria established 21 by the commission; 22 (6) meet its advertised terms and conditions; 23 (7) refrain from imposing unreasonable terms and conditions as a 24 precondition to providing service to a consumer in a competitive electric service 25 market. 26 (c) The commission shall adopt regulations to require electric service providers 27 operating in a competitive electric service market to continue to provide electric 28 service to residential consumers who demonstrate that economic hardship has 29 prevented payment in full of a delinquent bill. The regulations may require the 30 consumer to agree to a reasonable deferred payment plan and to comply with the plan. 31 (d) The commission shall adopt regulations to require a supplier or an
01 aggregator operating in a competitive electric service market to meet minimum 02 standards for certification as a condition of market entry. The commission shall, by 03 regulation, adopt the standards for certification. 04 (e) The commission shall, by regulation, provide that an electric service 05 consumer in a competitive electric service market may receive only one periodic 06 billing for the provision of electric service to a location. The billing must set out 07 information in a clear and concise manner so that the consumer is informed about the 08 components of the billing, including charges associated with generation and with 09 transmission and distribution. 10 * Sec. 2. This Act takes effect immediately under AS 01.10.070(c).