Committee reviews Vermont Energy Equity Law to limit utility disconnections and add PUC metrics

Maria Royal presented the Vermont Energy Equity Law (short title) and framed it as a measure to reduce energy burden on low- and moderate-income households. She cited recent reports (Efficiency Vermont and the Energy Action Network) and noted the PUC's existing rule 3.3 on disconnections as the regulatory backdrop.

Royal walked members through specific bill provisions. She described amendments to Title 30 provisions that would alter PUC authority and consumer protections: extend the duration of physician-certification protections beyond current month-limited certificates; prohibit involuntary residential service disconnections during periods of extreme heat as defined by the commission; require gas, electric and water utilities to adopt strategic, realistic plans to achieve the lowest prudently feasible number of involuntary residential disconnections in their service territory; and add a requirement that alternative regulation plans demonstrate reductions in involuntary disconnections as a condition of approval.

Members raised practical questions about scope and current utility practice. One member asked for clarity on when it is "okay to disconnect" and when disconnections would be harmful; another asked for data on whether disconnections have increased and by how much. The sponsor and other members requested utility and PUC witnesses to describe current customer-assistance practices, the PUC's role in enforcement, and the metrics that would define success. Royal said PUC consumer-staff witnesses will appear later in the week.

Next steps: committee members signaled they want testimony from utilities and the PUC to understand operational impacts, and the committee recessed briefly to prepare for those witnesses.