Plain English Breakdown
The official source material does not specify details about the amount of bill credit or the exact nature of senior assistance programs, leaving these points as limits and unknowns.
Indiana Utility Customer Protection Act
This act changes Indiana's laws about utilities by stopping reconnection fees, protecting certain customers from service termination during summer months, and requiring utilities to inform seniors of assistance programs.
What This Bill Does
- Stops utility companies from charging a fee when they reconnect services for customers who had their service turned off.
- Prevents electric or gas companies from ending service between June 21 and September 23 if the home has someone aged 65 or older, or anyone under 17 years old.
- Requires electric or gas companies to give new senior residents (aged 62 or older) information about programs that can help them with their bills.
- Makes it so utility companies must give a bill credit to customers who experience an interruption in electricity service.
Who It Names or Affects
- Utility customers, especially those aged 65 and over, under 17 years old, or new senior residents (aged 62 and older).
Terms To Know
- reconnection fee
- A charge that a utility company might ask for when they turn service back on after it was turned off.
- bill credit
- An amount subtracted from a customer's bill, often as compensation or assistance.
Limits and Unknowns
- The bill does not specify how much the bill credit for service interruptions should be.
- It is unclear what specific programs are covered by the information utilities must provide to seniors.
- This act only applies to electric and gas utility companies in Indiana.