On April 30, 2012, Sen. Betty Boyd introduced SB 12-183 – Concerning Restrictions on a Utility’s Ability to Disconnect Certain Residential Customers’ Utility Service, and, In Connection Therewith, Directing the Commission on Low-Income Energy Assistance to Review and Report on the Effectiveness of Existing Measures Concerning Discontinuance of Service and Low-Income Rate Relief. This summary is published here courtesy of the Colorado Bar Association’s e-Legislative Report.

Currently, utilities providing gas and electric services to residential customers are prohibited from terminating service during certain periods if the termination would be especially dangerous to the health or safety of the customer.

The bill adds additional circumstances under which utilities providing gas or electric heating services for residential customers may not disconnect a residential customer’s service between the months of November and March if the customer demonstrates that he or she is a member of a low-income household or that he or she, or a member of his or her household, is in the military and has been deployed on active duty. In addition to demonstrating his or her income eligibility, a residential customer who is a member of a low-income household must apply for a payment plan with the utility and demonstrate his or her eligibility, and application, for low-income energy assistance to be exempt from disconnection between the months of November and March.

On May 2, the Health and Human Services Committee amended the bill and referred it to the Committee on Appropriations. On May 4, the Appropriations Committee amended the bill and moved it to the floor of the Senate for consideration on 2nd Reading.

Since this summary, the bill passed a 3rd Reading in the Senate and was referred to the House Appropriations Committee. It was unamended in Appropriations and passed a 2nd Reading on the House floor.

Summaries of other featured bills can be found here.