HOUSE BILL NO. 211
INTRODUCED BY R. JOHNSON
AN ACT ALLOWING A CITY, COUNTY, OR CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT TO BECOME A DEFAULT ELECTRICITY SUPPLIER TO RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL CUSTOMERS OF A PUBLIC UTILITY WITHIN THE CITY'S, COUNTY'S, OR CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT'S JURISDICTION; AMENDING SECTION 69-8-203, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
Section 1. Section 69-8-203, MCA, is amended to read:
"69-8-203. Public utility -- customer choice -- continued service -- education of customers. (1) A customer is permitted to choose an electricity supplier pursuant to the deadlines established in 69-8-201. Public utilities shall propose a method for customers to choose an electricity supplier.
(2) If a customer has not chosen an electricity supplier by the end of the transition period, a city, county, or consolidated government that is licensed as an electricity supplier may, upon application to and approval by the commission, become the default supplier to residential and commercial customers of a public utility within its jurisdiction. For customers that are not within the jurisdiction of a licensed and approved city, county, or consolidated government electricity supplier area, a public utility shall propose a method in the public utility's transition plans for assigning that customer to an electricity supplier. The commission shall establish an application process and guidelines for the designation of one or more default suppliers for the distribution area of each public utility.
(3) A public utility may phase in customer choice to promote the orderly transition to a competitive market environment pursuant to the deadlines in 69-8-201.
(4) Public utilities shall educate their customers about customer choice so that customers may make an informed choice of an electricity supplier. This education process must give special emphasis to education efforts during the transition period."
Section 2. Effective date. [This act] is effective on passage and approval.
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Latest Version of HB 211 (HB0211.ENR)
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