This bill establishes a Summer Termination Program aimed at protecting certain utility customers from service discontinuation during extreme heat conditions. Specifically, it prohibits local authorities, municipal utilities, rural electric cooperatives, and public utilities from discontinuing electric, sewer, or water service to residential customers if the three-day wet bulb globe temperature forecast is expected to reach or exceed 85 degrees Fahrenheit for 24 hours or more within a 72-hour period. Eligibility for the program is granted to residential customers who either receive assistance under specified programs related to the Winter Termination Program or are unable to pay their utility bills due to financial hardships such as unemployment, illness, or other significant life events.
The bill mandates that both the Department of Community Affairs and the Board of Public Utilities establish their respective Summer Termination Programs within 120 days of the bill's effective date. Additionally, it requires the creation of a self-certification process for residential customers to declare their inability to pay their utility bills. This initiative aims to ensure that vulnerable populations are protected from losing essential services during periods of extreme heat, thereby promoting public health and safety.