The bill amends the existing law governing public and private utilities in Michigan by adding a new section, 9e, which mandates that electric utilities disclose specific information regarding service interruptions on customer bills. This includes the number of service interruptions, the total duration of those interruptions, and the number of momentary interruptions during the billing cycle. If an electric utility is found to have violated these disclosure requirements, the commission can impose a fine of up to $1,000 for each violation. Additionally, customer attestations can serve as evidence of service interruptions, which utilities can contest using meter data.
Furthermore, the bill requires electric utilities to provide detailed annual reports to the commission by March 1 each year. These reports must include the causes of significant service interruptions, tree trimming efforts, grid reliability projects, and a list of the worst-performing circuits based on specific performance metrics. The definitions of "momentary interruption," "service interruption," and "service restoration" are also clarified within the new section. This legislation aims to enhance transparency and accountability in the electric utility sector, ultimately benefiting consumers.
Statutes affected: Senate Introduced Bill: 460.1, 460.11