Bill > SB0153

This bill establishes new restrictions on how public utilities can recover certain expenses in their customer rates. Specifically, the bill prohibits large-scale electric and natural gas utilities (termed "qualified utilities") from charging ratepayers for expenses related to advertising, lobbying, and political activities that do not serve a statutory or regulatory purpose. The bill provides detailed definitions of these terms, excluding certain types of advertising such as legally required communications, safety messaging, and energy conservation program information. Qualified utilities must file an annual report with the public utility commission by March 1st, detailing all expenses related to advertising, lobbying, and political activities, including the number of employees involved, their job roles, and the percentage of their salaries that would have been charged to ratepayers. If the commission finds that a utility has improperly recovered such expenses, it must require the utility to reimburse ratepayers for the full amount plus interest and assess a non-recoverable penalty equal to or greater than the improperly recovered costs. The bill is set to take effect on May 7, 2025, and aims to prevent utilities from using customer money to fund brand promotion, political influence, or lobbying efforts that do not directly benefit ratepayers.

Transportation and Infrastructure

https://le.utah.gov/~2025/bills/static/SB0153.html