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Committee backs amendment to energy-fairness bill to improve data access and affordability metrics
Summary
The committee recommended LD 1949 "ought to pass as amended," adopting sponsor changes to make PUC-collected affordability and disconnection data more accessible and to incorporate an affordability metric; roll call was 7-5 with one absent.
The Energy Utilities & Technology Committee voted to recommend LD 1949, an "Act Regarding Energy Fairness," as amended by the sponsor. Representative Meli Sachs presented an amendment intended to make PUC-collected data on credit and collection activities easier to find and to require that PUC integrate affordability considerations into relevant work.
Sachs told members that utilities already provide about 18 data points annually to the PUC on credit and collection activities but that the information is difficult to access. The amendment asks the PUC to make these data prominent and more understandable on its website so that legislators, stakeholders and the public can use the information when considering disconnection policies, rate cases and related proposals. The amendment also retains an affordability-impact consideration for PUC work and includes a minimum set of reporting items (customer costs, volatility, and billing transparency) while allowing the commission to add further information it finds useful.
Committee members debated the amendment and then moved to a roll-call vote after the sponsor offered the changes. The recorded roll call in the transcript shows: Representative Nathan Wadsworth no; Representative Kilton Webb yes; Representative Reagan Paul no; Representative Warren yes; Senator Matt Harrington no; Senator Mark Lawrence yes; Representative Meli Sachs yes; Representative Chris Kessler yes; Representative Steve Foster no; Representative Valley Geiger yes; Representative Matthew McIntyre no; Representative Bronte yes. The transcript noted a tally of seven in favor, five opposed and one absent; the chair declared "The motion prevails." The committee also recorded a minority report of "ought not to pass."
What happens next: with a committee recommendation of "ought to pass as amended," the bill will proceed to the reviser's office for printing and to a public hearing schedule as determined by the committee clerk.
Sources: Committee hearing transcript; sponsor remarks explaining amendment. Ending: The committee adjourned after completing the two bills on the agenda.
