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HA1TOHS1FORHB62 • 2025

This Amendment makes the following changes to HS 1 to HB 62: 1.

This Amendment makes the following changes to HS 1 to HB 62: 1.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Ross Levin
Last action
2025-04-08
Official status
Passed 4/8/25
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material aligns with the candidate explanation, but it leaves some aspects open-ended such as specific community impacts or detailed definitions for 'facilities for payment and restoration of services'.

Changes to Utility Service Rules

This amendment changes how utilities measure temperature, contact account holders before service termination, define who is responsible for an account, set heat index limits, send notices, determine when the law takes effect, and allows weekend service shut-offs if payment facilities are available.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires utility companies to use daily temperatures from airports in the same county as a home instead of locations within 50 miles.
  • Limits electric companies to two documented attempts to contact account holders before terminating services during heating seasons, down from three.
  • Changes references to 'adult occupant' to 'account holder'.
  • Increases the heat index limit for shutting off utilities from 90 degrees to 95 degrees.
  • Removes the requirement that notices be sent by First Class mail.
  • Extends the time before the law takes effect from 60 days to 90 days after it is passed.
  • Allows utility companies to shut off services on weekends if payment and restoration facilities are available.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Utility companies
  • Electric company customers

Terms To Know

Account holder
The person responsible for paying utility bills.
Heat Index
A measure used to determine when electric utilities may be shut off due to extreme heat conditions.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not specify how the changes will affect specific communities or individuals.
  • The bill does not provide details on what constitutes 'facilities for payment and restoration of services'.
  • It is unclear if there are any exceptions to these new rules.

Bill History

  1. 2025-04-08 Delaware General Assembly

    Introduced and Placed With Bill

  2. 2025-04-08 Delaware General Assembly

    Passed In House by Voice Vote

Official Summary Text

This Amendment makes the following changes to HS 1 to HB 62:
1. Requires the utility company to measure the daily temperature from an airport in the same county as the subject dwelling, rather than a location within 50 miles of the subject dwelling;
2. Requires the electric company to make 2, rather than 3, documented attempts to contact the account holder prior to termination of services during the heating season;
3. Changes the term "adult occupant of the dwelling unit" to the "account holder";
4. Increases the Heat Index (determining when electric utilities may be shut off) from 90 degrees to 95 degrees;
5. Removes the requirement that written notice during the heating or cooling season be sent via First Class mail;
6. Changes the Act's effective date from 60 to 90 days after its enactment into law; and
7. Authorizes a utility company to shut off utility services on a weekend if the utility company provides facilities for payment and restoration of services on weekends.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Legislation Document

SPONSOR:

Rep. Ross Levin

Rep. Romer

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE AMENDMENT NO. 1

TO

HOUSE SUBSTITUTE NO. 1

FOR

HOUSE BILL NO. 62

AMEND House Substitute No. 1 for House Bill No. 62 on line 25 by deleting “

Thursday.

” as it appears therein and inserting in lieu thereof “

Thursday, unless such utility provides facilities for payment and restoration of services at all times during such period.

”.

FURTHER AMEND House Substitute No. 1 for House Bill No. 62 on line 46 by deleting “

a location within 50 miles of

” as it appears therein and inserting in lieu thereof “

an airport in the same county as

”.

FURTHER AMEND House Substitute No. 1 for House Bill No. 62 on line 51 by deleting “

a location within 50 miles of

” as it appears therein and inserting in lieu thereof “

an airport in the same county as

”.

FURTHER AMEND House Substitute No. 1 for House Bill No. 62 on line 52 by deleting “

90

” as it appears therein and inserting in lieu thereof “

95

”.

FURTHER AMEND House Substitute No. 1 for House Bill No. 62 on line 54 by deleting “

an adult occupant

” as it appears therein and inserting in lieu thereof “

the account holder

”.

FURTHER AMEND House Substitute No. 1 for House Bill No. 62 on lines 61 through 62 by deleting “

an adult occupant of the dwelling unit.

” as it appears therein and inserting in lieu thereof “

the utility account holder.

”.

FURTHER AMEND House Substitute No. 1 for House Bill No. 62 on line 64 by deleting “

3

” as it appears therein and inserting in lieu thereof “

2

”.

FURTHER AMEND House Substitute No. 1 for House Bill No. 62 on line 64 by deleting “

an adult occupant of the dwelling unit

” as it appears therein and inserting in lieu thereof “

the account holder

”.

FURTHER AMEND House Substitute No. 1 for House Bill No. 62 on line 66 by deleting “

an adult occupant of the dwelling unit

” as it appears therein and inserting in lieu thereof “

the account holder

”.

FURTHER AMEND House Substitute No. 1 for House Bill No. 62 on line 68 by deleting “

be via First Class mail and

” as it appears therein.

FURTHER AMEND House Substitute No. 1 for House Bill No. 62 on lines 86 through 87 by deleting “

an adult occupant of the dwelling unit

” as it appears therein and inserting in lieu thereof “

the utility account holder

”.

FURTHER AMEND House Substitute No. 1 for House Bill No. 62 on line 106 by deleting “

Thursday.

” as it appears therein and inserting in lieu thereof “

Thursday, unless such utility provides facilities for payment and restoration of services at all times during such period.

”.

FURTHER AMEND House Substitute No. 1 for House Bill No. 62 on line 122 by deleting “

a location within 50 miles of

” as it appears therein and inserting in lieu thereof “

an airport in the same county as

”.

FURTHER AMEND House Substitute No. 1 for House Bill No. 62 on line 127 by deleting “

a location within 50 miles of

” as it appears therein and inserting in lieu thereof “

an airport in the same county as

”.

FURTHER AMEND House Substitute No. 1 for House Bill No. 62 on line 128 by deleting “

90

” as it appears therein and inserting in lieu thereof “

95

”.

FURTHER AMEND House Substitute No. 1 for House Bill No. 62 on line 130 by deleting “

an adult occupant

” as it appears therein and inserting in lieu thereof “

the account holder

”.

FURTHER AMEND House Substitute No. 1 for House Bill No. 62 on lines 137 through 138 by deleting “

an adult occupant of the dwelling unit.

” as it appears therein and inserting in lieu thereof “

the utility account holder.

”.

FURTHER AMEND House Substitute No. 1 for House Bill No. 62 on line 140 by deleting “

3

” as it appears therein and inserting in lieu thereof “

2

”.

FURTHER AMEND House Substitute No. 1 for House Bill No. 62 on line 140 by deleting “

an adult occupant of the dwelling unit

” as it appears therein and inserting in lieu thereof “

the account holder

”.

FURTHER AMEND House Substitute No. 1 for House Bill No. 62 on line 142 by deleting “

an adult occupant of the dwelling unit

” as it appears therein and inserting in lieu thereof “

the account holder

”.

FURTHER AMEND House Substitute No. 1 for House Bill No. 62 on line 144 by deleting “

be via First Class mail and

” as it appears therein.

FURTHER AMEND House Substitute No. 1 for House Bill No. 62 on line 161 by deleting “

an adult occupant of the dwelling unit

” as it appears therein and inserting in lieu thereof “

the utility account holder

”.

FURTHER AMEND House Substitute No. 1 for House Bill No. 62 on line 162 by deleting “60” as it appears therein and inserting in lieu thereof “90”.

SYNOPSIS

This Amendment makes the following changes to HS 1 to HB 62:

1. Requires the utility company to measure the daily temperature from an airport in the same county as the subject dwelling, rather than a location within 50 miles of the subject dwelling;

2. Requires the electric company to make 2, rather than 3, documented attempts to contact the account holder prior to termination of services during the heating season;

3. Changes the term "adult occupant of the dwelling unit" to the "account holder";

4. Increases the Heat Index (determining when electric utilities may be shut off) from 90 degrees to 95 degrees;

5. Removes the requirement that written notice during the heating or cooling season be sent via First Class mail;

6. Changes the Act's effective date from 60 to 90 days after its enactment into law; and

7. Authorizes a utility company to shut off utility services on a weekend if the utility company provides facilities for payment and restoration of services on weekends.