HOUSE BILL NO. 6359

A bill to amend 1939 PA 3, entitled

"An act to provide for the regulation and control of public and certain private utilities and other services affected with a public interest within this state; to provide for alternative energy suppliers; to provide for licensing; to include municipally owned utilities and other providers of energy under certain provisions of this act; to create a public service commission and to prescribe and define its powers and duties; to abolish the Michigan public utilities commission and to confer the powers and duties vested by law on the public service commission; to provide for the powers and duties of certain state governmental officers and entities; to provide for the continuance, transfer, and completion of certain matters and proceedings; to abolish automatic adjustment clauses; to prohibit certain rate increases without notice and hearing; to qualify residential energy conservation programs permitted under state law for certain federal exemption; to create a fund; to encourage the utilization of resource recovery facilities; to prohibit certain acts and practices of providers of energy; to allow for the securitization of stranded costs; to reduce rates; to provide for appeals; to provide appropriations; to declare the effect and purpose of this act; to prescribe remedies and penalties; and to repeal acts and parts of acts,"

(MCL 460.1 to 460.11) by adding section 9e.

the people of the state of michigan enact:

Sec. 9e. (1) A natural gas utility may shut off service temporarily for reasons of health or safety or in a state or national emergency. When a natural gas utility shuts off service temporarily for reasons of health or safety, the natural gas utility shall do all of the following:

(a) Leave a notice at the premises.

(b) Make an attempt to contact the customer by all of the following methods:

(i) A personal visit to the customer.

(ii) A personal or automated telephone call where direct contact is made with a member of the customer's household, or a message is recorded on an answering machine or voice mail.

(iii) Any other contact method listed in a customer's file.

(c) Keep a record of all attempts to contact the customer.

(2) As used in this section, "natural gas utility" means that term as defined in section 9.