Bill > H7886

This bill, effective July 1, 2026, mandates that electric and natural gas distribution companies must read, record, and update utility billing on a monthly scheduled interval, forwarding bills within fourteen days of the scheduled record. If a utility company estimates bills, they must submit their estimation formula to the Public Utility Commission (PUC) for approval, rejection, or modification, with any changes also requiring PUC review. Estimated bills, calculated using the PUC-approved formula, will be used for months when a quarterly meter reading is not conducted. Crucially, if a utility fails to read a meter on a quarterly basis, they cannot collect any balance exceeding the amount from the prior estimated monthly bills, and any amount due for usage beyond the estimated bill will be forfeited for the period the meter was not read; furthermore, the cost of these meter readings will not be passed on to customers.

Business and Industry

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