Utility Consumer Protection

The bill enacts various consumer protection measures to protect electric and gas utility customers in Colorado.

Section 1 of the bill requires an electric or gas public utility (utility) to protect the personal data of its customers. The utility is prohibited from disclosing, selling, or reselling a customer's personal data to:

• A state or federal government entity, unless the disclosure is necessary for participation in a state or federal assistance program; or
• A third party.

Under current law, utilities regulated by the public utilities commission (commission) are prohibited from disconnecting a customer's utility service for nonpayment under certain circumstances. Sections 2 through 4 add the following circumstances in which disconnection of utility service for nonpayment is prohibited:

• During periods of extreme heat or cold, including during the months of October through May;
• If the air quality index measures over 100; and
• During a period in which a residential customer has a medical emergency, as evidenced by a medical certificate from a licensed physician or health-care provider, and requiring the utility to postpone the disconnection of service for up to 180 days.

The bill also applies the prohibitions regarding disconnection of a utility customer's service due to nonpayment to electric and gas municipal utilities and cooperative electric associations that have not exempted themselves from regulation by the commission.

Section 5 requires a utility to use money collected from the energy assistance system benefit charge for direct bill payment assistance year-round, including for customers participating in the low-income energy assistance program when assistance through that program is unavailable.
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)