SB1664

A covered utility must attach a stand-alone document to each statement of intent to change rates under Chapter 36 and other rate-change filings under the electricity-regulation subtitle. It must show the change for each rate class, how long the proposed change would last, and anticipated revenue. For a base-rate increase, the revenue estimate covers the four years after the proposed implementation date; for a change other than a base-rate change, it covers the period the change would be in effect. Four years is a disclosure horizon, not a four-year limit on the rate. Final law.

The document must compare the utility’s current and anticipated delivery charges for an average residential customer and show the difference. These are electricity delivery charges, not a personalized estimate of every charge in a household’s retail electricity bill. The Public Utility Commission must require a format the public can easily understand. If the regulator proposes to approve a different change, it must require an updated stand-alone document for that proposed outcome. Final law.

The commission must post understandable information on transmission and distribution utility rates on its own website or its Power to Choose website and update it at least monthly. The law concerns the covered delivery utilities and their rate proceedings; it is not a requirement that every retail electricity seller rewrite its contract. This review does not establish actual agency posting or compliance. Final law.

The introduced, Senate committee, Senate-passed, House committee and final operative texts match. No floor amendment is indexed; the rate-document and online-update requirements were present from introduction. Introduced; Senate committee; Senate-passed; House committee; Final law; Version index; Amendment index.

Compare the published text versions in the official text index. A change is not attributed to a specific amendment here without a verified record.

Customers, local officials and other participants in rate cases may find it easier to compare proposed delivery charges and understand expected utility revenue. Utilities must prepare the disclosures, and the commission must maintain public rate information. Better disclosure does not guarantee a particular rate decision or savings for an individual customer. Final law.

The March 17 introduced and May 6 Senate-passed fiscal notes anticipate no significant state or local-government fiscal impact and assume costs can be absorbed using existing resources. Neither provides a dollar estimate of utility compliance costs or household savings. The act makes no appropriation. Introduced fiscal note; Senate-passed fiscal note; Final law.