House
Study
Bill
158
-
Introduced
HOUSE
FILE
_____
BY
(PROPOSED
COMMITTEE
ON
COMMERCE
BILL
BY
CHAIRPERSON
SODERBERG)
A
BILL
FOR
An
Act
providing
for
the
installation
and
operation
of
an
1
automatic
metering
and
termination
of
service
system
by
2
electric
utilities.
3
BE
IT
ENACTED
BY
THE
GENERAL
ASSEMBLY
OF
THE
STATE
OF
IOWA:
4
TLSB
2693YC
(2)
84
rn/sc
H.F.
_____
Section
1.
Section
476.20,
Code
2011,
is
amended
by
adding
1
the
following
new
subsection:
2
NEW
SUBSECTION
.
6.
An
electric
utility
may
install
3
and
operate,
upon
a
customer’s
request
and
pursuant
to
an
4
appropriate
tariff
for
any
type
of
classification
of
service,
5
a
prepaid
metering
system
and
equipment
that
is
configured
6
to
terminate
electric
service
immediately
and
automatically
7
when
the
customer
has
incurred
charges
for
electric
service
8
equal
to
the
customer’s
prepayments
for
such
service.
The
9
automatic
termination
of
electric
service
once
the
customer’s
10
prepaid
limit
has
been
reached
shall
be
considered
a
voluntary
11
termination
of
service
by
the
customer
and
shall
not
be
12
considered
a
disconnection
by
the
utility
for
purposes
of
13
this
chapter
and
applicable
rules
adopted
by
the
board.
The
14
utility
shall
be
required
to
educate
a
customer
in
advance
of
15
installation
concerning
the
use
of
the
prepaid
meter
and
the
16
potential
for
disconnection.
17
EXPLANATION
18
This
bill
permits
an
electric
utility
to
install
and
19
operate,
upon
a
customer’s
request
and
pursuant
to
an
20
appropriate
tariff
for
any
type
of
classification
of
service,
21
a
prepaid
metering
system
and
equipment
that
is
configured
22
to
terminate
electric
service
immediately
and
automatically
23
when
the
customer
has
incurred
charges
for
electric
service
24
equal
to
the
customer’s
prepayments
for
such
service.
The
25
bill
provides
that
automatic
termination
of
electric
service
26
once
the
customer’s
prepaid
limit
has
been
reached
shall
be
27
considered
a
voluntary
termination
of
service
by
the
customer
28
rather
than
a
disconnection
by
the
utility.
The
bill
directs
a
29
utility
installing
a
prepaid
metering
system
and
equipment
to
30
educate
a
customer
in
advance
of
installation
concerning
the
31
use
of
the
prepaid
meter
and
the
potential
for
disconnection.
32
-1-
LSB
2693YC
(2)
84
rn/sc
1/
1