Creates provisions relating to excessive charges by public utilities

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Creates provisions relating to excessive charges by public utilities

The following summaries of this bill are available: Print All Summaries Introduced Print SB 1626 - Whenever a rate payer submits a complaint to the Public Service Commission concerning any rate or charge for any product or service provided by the public utility, and the Commission has found that a violation occurred, the Commission may order that the public utility pay a reparation to the rate payer with interest, provided no discrimination will result from such reparation.

What This Bill Does

• The following summaries of this bill are available: Print All Summaries Introduced Print SB 1626 - Whenever a rate payer submits a complaint to the Public Service Commission concerning any rate or charge for any product or service provided by the public utility, and the Commission has found that a violation occurred, the Commission may order that the public utility pay a reparation to the rate payer with interest, provided no discrimination will result from such reparation.
• The Commission shall also have the authority to impose penalties or fines on the public utility as provided in current law.
• In case of a continuing violation, each day a violation occurred shall be considered a separate and distinct offence.
• If the public utility does not comply with the order from the Commission within the specified time frame as provided in the order, the Commission may commence a civil action for the enforcement of the order.

Limits and Unknowns

• This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Official Summary Text

The following summaries of this bill are available:

Print All Summaries

Introduced

Print

SB 1626 - Whenever a rate payer submits a complaint to the Public Service Commission concerning any rate or charge for any product or service provided by the public utility, and the Commission has found that a violation occurred, the Commission may order that the public utility pay a reparation to the rate payer with interest, provided no discrimination will result from such reparation. The Commission shall also have the authority to impose penalties or fines on the public utility as provided in current law. In case of a continuing violation, each day a violation occurred shall be considered a separate and distinct offence.

If the public utility does not comply with the order from the Commission within the specified time frame as provided in the order, the Commission may commence a civil action for the enforcement of the order. If the court finds that a violation occurred, the court shall enter an order so declaring and order that the public utility comply with the order by the Commission. Other remedies are described in the act.

Any rate payer aggrieved by excessive or discriminatory charges by a public utility may submit a complaint to the Commission within two years from the date the charges occurred. The Commission may commence a civil action within one year from the date the Commission issued the order to the public utility.
JULIA SHEVELEVA

Current Bill Text

SECOND REGULAR SESSION
SENATE BILL NO. 1626
103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR MOON.
7063S.01I KRISTINA MARTIN, Secretary
AN ACT
To amend chapter 393, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to excessive charges by
public utilities.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Chapter 393, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto 1
one new section, to be known as section 393.402, to read as 2
follows:3
393.402. 1. As used in this section, the following 1
terms mean: 2
(1) "Commission", the Missouri public service 3
commission; 4
(2) "Public utility", the same as defined in section 5
386.020. 6
2. Whenever a complaint has been made by a rate payer 7
to the commission concerning any rate, fare, toll, rental, 8
or charge for any product or commodity furnished or service 9
performed by a public utility, and the commission has found, 10
after conducting an investigation, that the public utility 11
has charged an excessive or discriminatory amount for such 12
product, commodity, or service, the commission may order 13
that the public utility make due reparation to the 14
complainant therefor, with interest from the date of 15
collection determined by the commission, provided no 16
discrimination will result from such reparation. The 17
SB 1626 2
commission shall also have the authority to impose penalties 18
or fines on the public utility for such excessive or 19
discriminatory charges pursuant to the provisions of this 20
chapter and chapter 386. In case of a continuing violation 21
by a public utility under this subsection, for each day a 22
violation occurred shall be considered a separate and 23
distinct offence pursuant to the provisions of section 24
386.570. 25
3. If the public utility does not comply with the 26
order from the commission under subsection 2 of this section 27
within the specified time frame as provided in such order, 28
the commission may commence a civil action in a court of 29
competent jurisdiction for the enforcement of such order. 30
If the court finds that a violation occurred, the court 31
shall enter an order so declaring and the court shall order 32
that the public utility comply with the commission order 33
under subsection 2 of this section. The court may also 34
grant injunctive relief, attorney fees, and any such other 35
relief the court finds appropriate. 36
4. Any rate payer aggrieved by excessive or 37
discriminatory charges by a public utility under this 38
section may submit a complaint to the commission within two 39
years from the date such excessive or discriminatory charges 40
occurred. The commission may commence a civil action under 41
subsection 3 of this section within one year from the date 42
the commission issued an order under subsection 2 of this 43
section. 44
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