General Assembly Raised Bill No. 7086 mandates the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) to open a docket regarding the Combined Public Benefits Charge and to enhance the standard billing format for electric services. The bill repeals Section 16-245d and introduces new requirements for electric suppliers to provide detailed billing information, including the total amount owed, itemized charges, and historical usage data. It also stipulates that customers opting for direct billing from their electric supplier will receive a credit on their monthly bill if they have previously paid for billing services through an electric distribution company. Key changes include the deletion of outdated provisions related to billing categories and the introduction of new requirements for PURA to modify these categories to improve customer understanding. Additionally, the bill emphasizes the separation of federally mandated congestion charges from system benefits charges and mandates a review of the standard billing format every five years.

Furthermore, the bill requires PURA to conduct a study analyzing the delivery components of electric bills for customers of electric distribution companies, aiming to enhance transparency regarding costs and benefits of programs funded through specific charges. The chairperson of PURA must submit a report with findings and recommendations to the General Assembly by January 15, 2025. The bill also modifies existing billing practices by removing previous requirements for quarterly bill inserts and mailings that included specific rate information for residential customers. Instead, it establishes that customers enrolled in automatic electronic bill payments will receive a link to their bill via email, along with payment confirmation, thereby improving customer understanding of electric bills.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 16-245d