Bill > HB06048

This bill amends Connecticut's heating fuel dealer regulations to provide consumers with more protections when entering into contracts for heating fuel and tank rentals. The key provisions require heating fuel dealers to provide written contracts with clear terms, limit contract lengths to 36 months for above-ground tanks (and 5 years for underground tanks), and mandate that consumers have the option to purchase tank equipment at a commercially reasonable price. Most importantly, the bill ensures that consumers are entitled to a refund for unused heating fuel when they terminate a tank rental contract or cancel their relationship with a heating fuel dealer. The refund amount will be the lesser of either the original purchase price of the fuel or the current market price of the fuel. The bill also restricts dealers from imposing excessive fees or penalties, requires transparent pricing on delivery tickets, and prohibits dealers from charging fees for consumer-initiated fuel deliveries except under specific circumstances like deliveries under 100 gallons or outside normal service areas. These changes aim to provide more transparency, flexibility, and consumer protection in the heating fuel market, with the new regulations set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Justice

General Law Committee (J)

https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=HB06048&which_year=2025