Florida Senate - 2015                                     SB 230
       
       
        
       By Senator Dean
       
       
       
       
       
       5-00159B-15                                            2015230__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to public utilities; amending s.
    3         366.05, F.S.; requiring that any proposed change in a
    4         public utility’s billing cycle be approved by the
    5         Florida Public Service Commission by a specified
    6         period before the effective date of the change;
    7         requiring the commission to consider the public impact
    8         of a proposed change; prohibiting the extension of a
    9         billing cycle by more than a specified period;
   10         prohibiting a public utility from charging a consumer
   11         or user a higher rate in certain circumstances;
   12         providing an exception; providing an effective date.
   13          
   14  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   15  
   16         Section 1. Subsection (12) is added to section 366.05,
   17  Florida Statutes, to read:
   18         366.05 Powers.—
   19         (12) A proposed change in a public utility’s billing cycle
   20  must be approved by the commission at least 1 month before the
   21  effective date of the change. In reviewing a proposal, the
   22  commission shall consider the public impact of the proposed
   23  change. The commission may not approve more than a 7-day
   24  extension of a billing cycle. An increase in energy usage
   25  attributable solely to an extension may not result in the
   26  charging of a higher rate to a consumer or user. This subsection
   27  does not apply to a change in a billing cycle which is
   28  necessitated by a state of emergency declared by the Governor.
   29         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2015.