LANSING – Municipal utilities will have to notify the Michigan Public Service Commission of a shutoff resulting in death or serious injury of a customer under legislation signed into law Monday by Gov. Jennifer Granholm.
The legislation permits the PSC to investigate these cases and refer matters to the Department of Attorney General if needed.
The three bills, which are part of a larger package awaiting final action in the Legislature, also require the Department of Human Services to set up an electronic payment system with cooperating utilities that would pay for low-income customer energy bills.
“Electric and natural gas customers of municipal utilities in Michigan now have increased shutoff protection just as the state braces for its first snap of very cold temperatures,” Granholm said. “That is a great first step toward making sure customers of municipal electric and natural gas utilities have the same protection that customers of regulated utilities have.”
The bills signed into law are HB 4386 , PA 152; HB 4650 , PA 153; and HB 4655 , PA 154.
Other bills awaiting final passage in the House would require utilities to identify senior citizen customers and establish penalties for violating shutoff procedures (HB 4658 , HB 4673 , SB 338 , SB 533 , SB 535 , SB 553 , SB 554 , SB 555 and SB 5
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