March 19, 2009, Introduced by Rep. Coulouris and referred to the Committee on Energy and Technology.
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
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 provide for a
restructuring of the manner in which energy is provided in this
state; 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 9l.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 9l. (1) Prior to shutoff of electric or natural gas
service, a provider shall attempt to determine whether a customer
is a senior citizen by at least 1 of the following methods:
(a) Conducting an interview with the customer.
(b) Obtaining information from a consumer reporting agency.
(c) Any other method approved by the commission.
(2) A provider shall comply with the requirements imposed in
subsection (1) by November 1, 2009. The commission may grant an
extension to a provider for compliance with subsection (1).
(3) As used in this section:
(a) "Consumer reporting agency" means that term as defined in
section 603 of the fair credit reporting act, 15 USC 1681a.
(b) "Provider" means an electric utility, cooperative electric
utility, alternative electric supplier, or an investor-owned
business engaged in the sale and distribution of natural gas within
this state whose rates are regulated by the commission.
(c) "Senior citizen" means a provider customer who is 65 years
of age or older.