AN ACT relating to utility service disconnection reports by retail electric suppliers.
Summary
HB327 would require every retail electric supplier in Kentucky to file a monthly report with the Public Service Commission detailing residential service disconnections from the prior month. The report must include the date and time of each disconnection, the reason for the disconnection, and the number of disconnections as a share of total residential accounts. It also requires reporting on whether service was reconnected within 24 hours.
The bill further specifies that the report must identify the reason for each disconnection, including customer-requested discontinuance or transfer, nonpayment-related causes such as missed bills, deferred payment plans, or deposits, and violations of service terms or misuse affecting other customers. For each disconnection, the report must also include the high and low temperatures recorded by NOAA/National Weather Service for that date and location. The commission must post the monthly reports publicly on its website.
Impact
HB327 would add a new reporting requirement to KRS Chapter 278 for retail electric suppliers, increasing regulatory oversight of residential utility shutoffs. It would not directly prohibit disconnections, but it would create a public record of when, why, and under what weather conditions disconnections occur, along with whether service was restored within 24 hours. This could affect utilities, regulators, consumer advocates, and residential customers by improving transparency and potentially informing future policy on utility shutoff practices.
Sentiment
No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of legislative debate or formal support/opposition in the available record. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears oriented toward transparency and consumer protection, which may appeal to advocates concerned about utility shutoffs, especially during extreme weather. At the same time, utilities may view the monthly reporting obligations as an added administrative burden.
Contention
The main likely point of contention is the balance between transparency and administrative burden. Consumer advocates would likely support the public reporting of disconnections, especially the inclusion of weather data and reconnection timing, because it could highlight hardship and potential risks during cold or hot weather. Retail electric suppliers may object to the added reporting requirements, the need to track detailed disconnection data monthly, and the public posting of potentially sensitive operational information. Another possible issue is that the bill does not restrict disconnections, so critics could argue it improves disclosure without addressing the underlying causes of shutoffs.
An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 56-249.01, relating to electric utilities; disconnection reports; State Corporation Commission database; annual summary.
An Act to direct the State Corporation Commission to determine maximum allowable fees for disconnection and reconnection charged by certain electric utilities; disconnections for nonpayment.