SHB 2232 - H AMDS 151

By Representative Poulsen

On page 4, after line 26, insert the following:

A(5) Recommend licensing requirements for electricity service suppliers, and may recommend changes or additions to consumer protection laws and regulations.@

Renumber the remaining subsections consecutively and correct internal references accordingly.

On page 5, after line 27, insert the following:

ANEW SECTION. Sec. 7. CONSUMER PROTECTION AND EDUCATION. (1) The commission and public counsel shall investigate consumer protection issues and may recommend changes to regulations and existing statutes or the creation of new laws encompassing such issues as credit terms, disconnection and reconnection of service, redlining and discriminatory practices, unfair trade practices, certification of Agreen@ resources, consumer privacy, assessment of late and other such fees, application standards for service, and billing for unregulated services. The commission and public counsel shall consult with public utility districts, municipal electric utilities, and electric cooperatives in conducting the investigation and in developing recommendations, if any. The commission and public counsel shall report their findings and recommendations to the task force by January 1, 1999.

(2) To ensure high quality, reliable electricity service, the commission and public counsel shall determine licensing requirements so that all electricity service suppliers must meet reasonable business standards. The commission and public counsel shall also determine methods for ensuring that the public has access to regularly updated listings of all licensed retail electricity service suppliers throughout the state, Agreen@ marketers or energy suppliers throughout the state, standard offers made by electricity service suppliers in representative areas of the state, and the market price for firm power. The commission and public counsel shall report their determinations under this subsection to the task force by January 1, 1999.

(3) The department shall develop a consumer outreach and education plan to include:

(a) The dissemination of information by diverse approaches, including brochures or other written materials and a variety of mass media outlets;

(b) The active involvement of community-based organizations in developing messages and promoting outreach;

(c) Targeted efforts to reach rural, low-income, elderly, non-English-speaking, disabled, minority, and other traditionally under-served populations;

(d) Well-publicized public forums conducted in several geographical areas of the state to capture the broadest exposure in order to provide opportunities for exchange of information; and

(e) A citizen=s electricity market hotline with a toll-free 1-800 number that shall respond to consumer questions and complaints about their electric service and about the transition to a more competitive retail electric market.

The department shall present the plan to the task force by January 1, 1999.@

Renumber the remaining sections consecutively and correct internal references accordingly.

EFFECT: The task force must recommend licensing requirements for electricity service providers, and may recommend changes or additions to consumer protection laws and regulations. The WUTC and public counsel must study consumer protection issues and recommend changes to consumer protection laws and regulations. The WUTC and public counsel also must determine licensing requirements for all electricity service providers, and must determine methods for ensuring public access to updated listings of licensed retail electric suppliers, Agreen@ energy suppliers, standard offers made by electric suppliers, and the market price for firm power. The DCTED must develop an outreach and education plan. The WUTC, public counsel, and the DCTED must report to the task force by January 1, 1999.