The bill amends existing laws regarding penalties for public utilities that violate provisions related to their duties. It introduces new legal language in Section 39-2-8, establishing a penalty range of not less than $200 and not more than $5,000 for violations, an increase from the previous maximum penalty of $1,000. Additionally, Section 39-4-22 is amended to reflect the same penalty increase for public utilities and their officers or agents who fail to comply with orders from the division, also raising the maximum penalty from $1,000 to $5,000 for each offense.

Furthermore, the bill modifies the penalties for officers, agents, or employees of public utilities who violate provisions or fail to comply with orders, increasing the maximum fine from $500 to $1,000. The amendments clarify that any violation by an officer or agent acting within the scope of their employment is also considered a violation by the public utility itself. This act aims to strengthen compliance among public utilities by imposing stricter penalties for violations and will take effect upon passage.

Statutes affected:
601: 39-2-8, 39-4-22
601  SUB A: 39-2-8, 39-4-22