The bill amends the 1939 Public Act 3, which regulates public and private utilities in Michigan, by introducing new provisions aimed at enhancing worker protections and service quality standards for electric utilities. 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, it requires the establishment of a dispute resolution mechanism for employee complaints regarding wages and working conditions.

Furthermore, the bill enhances service quality and reliability standards by requiring the Michigan Public Service Commission to adopt regulations that include provisions prohibiting utilities from charging residential customers fees for various payment methods, such as credit cards and cash. It mandates annual reporting from utilities on their compliance with these standards and allows the commission to impose financial penalties on entities that fail to meet them. The bill aims to ensure that utilities operate efficiently while protecting both employees and consumers in the energy sector.

Statutes affected:
House Introduced Bill: 460.10