Bill > S2012

This bill, titled the "Transparency in Electric and Gas Bills Act," mandates that electric and gas utilities provide a detailed, itemized breakdown of all charges on customer bills starting July 1, 2027. This breakdown must clearly separate "supply charges" (the cost of electricity or gas itself), "delivery charges" (the cost of transmitting and distributing the energy), and "public policy costs" (expenses mandated by government for things like renewable energy and energy efficiency programs). Crucially, the bill requires a specific line item for costs associated with renewable energy sources, detailing charges for wind, solar, hydro, and geothermal energy, and explaining how these costs are determined and allocated. Before utilities can implement these new billing requirements, they must submit a plan to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), which will then hold a public comment period for at least sixty days to gather feedback from consumers and other stakeholders. The PUC will review these comments and approve the final implementation standards. Utilities will have one year after PUC approval to put the new billing system into effect, and the PUC will have the authority to enforce compliance and impose penalties for violations. Additionally, the PUC will conduct a public outreach and education campaign to help customers understand the new billing format.

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