Rep. Sharlett Mena’s extreme heat utility shutoff proposal received additional updates before passing out of the House and heading to the Senate. HB 1329 was heard on the House floor last week where a striking amendment (removing everything after the title and inserting a whole new bill) was introduced and approved. For background, check out AWC’s previous summaries of the bill as introduced and the amended version.

While the new version of the bill replaces the previous iteration, re-aligning it with existing statute covering utility shutoffs, changes advocated by AWC remain. As it stands now, HB 1329:

• Restores the current statutory language that requires utility bill repayment plans associated with utility shutoffs not to exceed 7% of household income.
• Requires every electrical company and water company regulated by the Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) to follow the terms of an existing UTC tariff that prohibits the company from effecting, due to lack of payment, an involuntary termination of service to any residential user on any day that temperatures are predicted to be 90 degrees or above.
• Requires said companies to utilize the existing UTC process to inform customers of the ability to seek reconnection in the event that a heat-related alert is issued.

HB 1329 currently awaits a hearing in the Senate Environment, Energy & Technology Committee.