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Committee corrects winter‑moratorium drafting to exclude water utilities; HB 4,025 moves to Senate floor
Summary
Lawmakers advanced HB 4,025 to clarify the winter moratorium on residential rate increases applies only to electric and natural gas utilities, fixing a drafting issue that inadvertently covered small water utilities, Representative Nathan Sosa said.
The Senate Energy and Environment Committee on Feb. 23 advanced House Bill 4,025 A to the Senate floor with a due-pass recommendation. Representative Nathan Sosa testified the measure corrects drafting in last session’s Fair Energy Act so the winter moratorium on residential rate increases applies only to utilities providing electricity or natural gas, not to small water utilities overseen by the Public Utility Commission.
Sosa said the original language unintentionally covered water utilities; because water usage is typically lowest in winter, applying a winter moratorium to water utilities could disadvantage consumers. "So this bill would simply correct that to say that when we're talking about the winter moratorium, that applies to electric and gas utilities only," Sosa told the committee. Legislative staff said the measure takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die and noted no fiscal or revenue impact.
Vice Chair Brock Smith moved HB 4,025 A to the Senate floor with a due-pass recommendation. The chair called the roll and announced the motion carries; the transcript records at least one 'Yes' vote and the motion was carried as announced.
The committee closed its work session on HB 4,025 A; the bill will be scheduled for floor consideration.
