HOUSE BILL NO. 3 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE MURRAY.
3324H.02I JOSEPH ENGLER, Chief Clerk
AN ACT To amend chapter 393, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to utilities, with an emergency clause.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Chapter 393, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be 2 known as section 393.001, to read as follows: 393.001. 1. The implementation of any utility rate increase authorized by the 2 one hundred third general assembly, first regular session, shall be delayed until 3 September 30, 2025, for areas covered by a presidential disaster declaration. 4 2. Public utilities shall notify impacted customers of the delayed implementation 5 of rate increases. 6 3. For a period of thirty days following a presidential disaster declaration, for 7 any customer in the area covered by such declaration, no utility company regulated by 8 the public service commission shall: 9 (1) Issue a disconnection notice for nonpayment of electric, gas, or water service; 10 (2) Charge a reconnection fee, service charge, or late penalty; or 11 (3) Require a customer who was disconnected prior to the disaster declaration to 12 pay a deposit as a condition of reconnection, if that customer is applying for 13 reconnection at the same address. 14 4. A public utility may request reimbursement for waived reconnection fees and 15 penalties through the Missouri housing trust fund or other state-administered disaster 16 relief appropriations, subject to rules created under this section.
EXPLANATION — Matter enclosed in bold-faced brackets [thus] in the above bill is not enacted and is intended to be omitted from the law. Matter in bold-face type in the above bill is proposed language. HB 3 2
17 5. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent public utilities from 18 recovering lost revenues through normal ratemaking processes, provided that no costs 19 are passed directly to customers affected by a presidential disaster declaration within 20 thirty days following the declaration. 21 6. The public service commission may promulgate all necessary rules and 22 regulations for the administration of this section. Any rule or portion of a rule, as that 23 term is defined in section 536.010, that is created under the authority delegated in this 24 section shall become effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of the 25 provisions of chapter 536 and, if applicable, section 536.028. This section and chapter 26 536 are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with the general assembly 27 pursuant to chapter 536 to review, to delay the effective date, or to disapprove and annul 28 a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking authority 29 and any rule proposed or adopted after the effective date of this section shall be invalid 30 and void. Section B. Because immediate action is necessary to provide assistance to individuals 2 and families affected by recent natural disasters, section A of this act is deemed necessary for 3 the immediate preservation of the public health, welfare, peace, and safety, and is hereby 4 declared to be an emergency act within the meaning of the constitution, and section A of this 5 act shall be in full force and effect upon its passage and approval. ✔
Statutes affected: