The bill introduces important consumer protections for electric and gas utility customers in Colorado, particularly aimed at protecting personal data and preventing utility service disconnections under certain circumstances. Here are the key provisions:
Key Provisions:
Protection of Personal Data:
Electric and gas utilities are prohibited from disclosing, selling, or reselling a customer's personal data to:
State or federal government entities, unless the disclosure is necessary for a state or federal assistance program.
Third parties.
Utility Service Disconnection Protections:
Utilities (electric and gas) are prohibited from disconnecting a customer's service for nonpayment under certain conditions, including:
Extreme heat or cold (specifically during the months of October through May).
When the air quality index measures over 100.
If the customer is experiencing a medical emergency, as documented by a medical certificate from a licensed physician or healthcare provider, in which case the utility must postpone disconnection for up to 180 days.
These protections extend to municipal utilities and cooperative electric associations that are regulated by the Public Utilities Commission.
Energy Assistance System Benefit Charge:
Utilities are required to use money collected from the energy assistance system benefit charge for direct bill payment assistance year-round.
This includes assistance for customers participating in the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP), especially when LEAP assistance is unavailable.
This bill aims to strengthen protections for utility customers in Colorado by:
Protecting sensitive personal data from being misused.
Ensuring vulnerable customers, especially those facing medical or environmental risks, are not disconnected from essential utility services.
Enhancing support for low-income residents who may struggle with utility bills.
Overall, these measures aim to promote fair treatment, privacy, and safety for utility consumers, particularly in challenging circumstances.
Summary
The bill enacts various consumer protection measures to protect
electric and gas utility customers in Colorado. Section 1 of the bill requires an electric or gas public utility
(utility) to protect the personal data of its customers. The utility is prohibited from disclosing, selling, or reselling a customer's personal data to:
•
A state or federal government entity, unless the disclosure is necessary for participation in a state or federal assistance program; or
•
A third party.
Under current law, utilities regulated by the public utilities
commission (commission) are prohibited from disconnecting a customer's utility service for nonpayment under certain circumstances. Sections 2 through 4 add the following circumstances in which disconnection of utility service for nonpayment is prohibited:
•
During periods of extreme heat or cold, including during the months of October through May;
•
If the air quality index measures over 100; and
•
During a period in which a residential customer has a medical emergency, as evidenced by a medical certificate from a licensed physician or health-care provider, and requiring the utility to postpone the disconnection of service for up to 180 days.
The bill also applies the prohibitions regarding disconnection of a utility customer's service due to nonpayment to electric and gas municipal utilities and cooperative electric associations that have not exempted themselves from regulation by the commission. Section 5 requires a utility to use money collected from the energy
assistance system benefit charge for direct bill payment assistance year-round, including for customers participating in the low-income energy assistance program when assistance through that program is unavailable.
