This bill mandates that residential customers must present specific forms of identification when switching between electric power suppliers, basic generation service providers, or gas suppliers. Customers are required to provide either government-issued photo identification or government-issued non-photo identification along with a secondary form of identification, which can include a telephone number in the customer's name, a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, pay check, or a credit or ATM card displaying the person's name. The electric power supplier or gas supplier must attest to the relevant public utility that the required identification was provided, and customers are not obligated to provide their utility account number if they present the authorized identification. Additionally, customers must provide a written or electronic signature to authorize the switch.

The bill also outlines the process for switching suppliers, stating that the electric public utility or gas public utility must receive an electronic enrollment notice within specified timeframes for the switch to take effect on the next scheduled meter reading date. The bill allows the board to establish shorter timeframes for these switches. Importantly, it clarifies that the provisions do not prevent suppliers or utilities from using other methods to facilitate customer switches. The act will take effect 60 days after enactment and will apply to contracts formed or renewed thereafter.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 48:3-98.5