The bill amends the 1939 Public Act 3 to enhance the regulation and control of electric utilities in Michigan. It mandates that each electric utility establish an industry worker transition program that includes skills upgrades, training programs, and job placement assistance for employees affected by ownership changes. The bill also stipulates that in the event of a sale or transfer of ownership, the acquiring entity must hire a sufficient number of nonsupervisory employees from the existing workforce and maintain their wage rates and benefits for at least 30 months. Additionally, the bill requires the Public Service Commission to adopt service quality and reliability standards for electric utilities and mandates annual reporting on compliance with these standards.

Furthermore, the bill introduces new provisions allowing electric utilities to manage vegetation around power lines to improve reliability and reduce costs. It also establishes a framework for the commission to create benchmarks for utilities, monitor power quality, and impose financial incentives or penalties based on compliance with service standards. The language of the bill includes several insertions and deletions to clarify the responsibilities of electric utilities and the commission, ensuring that the regulations are effectively implemented to protect both employees and consumers.

Statutes affected:
Substitute (H-1): 460.10
House Introduced Bill: 460.10
As Passed by the House: 460.10