To enact section 4933.30 of the Revised Code to enact "The Consumer Utility Billing Transparency Act" requiring the itemization of all riders, taxes, and other costs on certain utility bills.
Summary
HB 158, titled the Consumer Utility Billing Transparency Act, would require gas, natural gas, water works, and electric light companies in Ohio to provide residential customers with more detailed utility bills. The bill directs utilities, whether for-profit or not-for-profit, to itemize the customer’s distribution, generation, transmission, and supply costs, along with all separate riders and charges, and all taxes and governmental fees.
Each line item would have to show the amount charged to the customer for the billing period. In effect, the bill is aimed at making utility bills easier to understand by separating core service costs from additional fees and government-related charges, rather than presenting them as bundled totals.
Impact
If enacted, HB 158 would add a new section to the Ohio Revised Code, section 4933.30, and impose a new billing disclosure requirement on certain utility providers serving residential customers. It would affect gas, natural gas, water, and electric utilities by requiring standardized itemization of charges on bills, but it would not change utility rates themselves or create new charges; instead, it would change how existing charges are displayed to customers.
Sentiment
The available record shows the bill was introduced and referred to the House Energy Committee, but there are no recorded committee transcripts or votes in the provided materials. Based on the bill text and title, the measure appears to be framed as a consumer transparency and billing clarity proposal, with an emphasis on helping customers understand what they are paying for on utility bills.
Contention
No specific objections or support arguments are documented in the provided committee materials. Potential areas of contention, based on the bill’s requirements, could include the administrative burden on utilities to reformat bills, the feasibility of consistently allocating riders and fees to individual customers, and whether the added disclosure would meaningfully improve consumer understanding. Any debate would likely center on consumer transparency versus compliance costs and billing complexity.
To amend sections 3505.01 and 3505.10 of the Revised Code to modify the deadline for a political party to certify its nominees for President and Vice-President to the Secretary of State.
To amend sections 3517.12, 3517.13, and 3517.155 of the Revised Code to modify the Campaign Finance Law regarding foreign nationals and statewide initiatives and referenda and to declare an emergency.
To amend sections 3517.12, 3517.13, and 3517.155 of the Revised Code to modify the Campaign Finance Law regarding foreign nationals and statewide initiatives and referenda and to declare an emergency.
To delay the deadline for a major political party to certify its presidential and vice presidential candidates to the Secretary of State for the 2024 general election.