BILL REQ. #:  H-1567.1 

READ FIRST TIME 02/01/07.   

     AN ACT Relating to paying utility bills electronically; adding a new section to chapter 35.21 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 35.67 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 35.92 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 36.94 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 54.16 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 57.08 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 80.28 RCW; and adding a new section to chapter 80.36 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 35.21 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) When a city or town that provides electric, natural gas, water, or sewer services substantially upgrades or replaces their billing system, the resulting system must be capable of accepting electronic payment from residential customers. Additional fees or costs charged to the customer may not exceed the actual cost of providing an electronic payment option. The methodology related to electronic payment shall not affect the terms and conditions of service.
     (2) For the purposes of this section the following definitions apply:
     (a) "Electronic payment" means an internet-based method of payment that allows a customer, at the time of payment, to access an internet web page and transmit text or data controlling the amount of the payment, the date of the payment, and the account from which the payment will be made.
     (b) "Substantially" means a redesign or upgrade of more than twenty-five percent of the code or database structures of the billing system.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 35.67 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) When a city or town that provides sewer services substantially upgrades or replaces their billing system, the resulting system must be capable of accepting electronic payment from residential customers. Additional fees or costs charged to the customer may not exceed the actual cost of providing an electronic payment option. The methodology related to electronic payment shall not affect the terms and conditions of service.
     (2) For the purposes of this section the following definitions apply:
     (a) "Electronic payment" means an internet-based method of payment that allows a customer, at the time of payment, to access an internet web page and transmit text or data controlling the amount of the payment, the date of the payment, and the account from which the payment will be made.
     (b) "Substantially" means a redesign or upgrade of more than twenty-five percent of the code or database structures of the billing system.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   A new section is added to chapter 35.92 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) When a city or town that provides electric, natural gas, water, or sewer services substantially upgrades or replaces their billing system, the resulting system must be capable of accepting electronic payment from residential customers. Additional fees or costs charged to the customer may not exceed the actual cost of providing an electronic payment option. The methodology related to electronic payment shall not affect the terms and conditions of service.
     (2) For the purposes of this section the following definitions apply:
     (a) "Electronic payment" means an internet-based method of payment that allows a customer, at the time of payment, to access an internet web page and transmit text or data controlling the amount of the payment, the date of the payment, and the account from which the payment will be made.
     (b) "Substantially" means a redesign or upgrade of more than twenty-five percent of the code or database structures of the billing system.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   A new section is added to chapter 36.94 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) When a county that operates sewer or water services substantially upgrades or replaces their billing system, the resulting system must be capable of accepting electronic payment from residential customers. Additional fees or costs charged to the customer may not exceed the actual cost of providing an electronic payment option. The methodology related to electronic payment shall not affect the terms and conditions of service.
     (2) For the purposes of this section the following definitions apply:
     (a) "Electronic payment" means an internet-based method of payment that allows a customer, at the time of payment, to access an internet web page and transmit text or data controlling the amount of the payment, the date of the payment, and the account from which the payment will be made.
     (b) "Substantially" means a redesign or upgrade of more than twenty-five percent of the code or database structures of the billing system.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   A new section is added to chapter 54.16 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) When a public utility district that provides electric, water, or sewer services substantially upgrades or replaces their billing system, the resulting system must be capable of accepting electronic payment from residential customers. Additional fees or costs charged to the customer may not exceed the actual cost of providing an electronic payment option. The methodology related to electronic payment shall not affect the terms and conditions of service.
     (2) For the purposes of this section the following definitions apply:
     (a) "Electronic payment" means an internet-based method of payment that allows a customer, at the time of payment, to access an internet web page and transmit text or data controlling the amount of the payment, the date of the payment, and the account from which the payment will be made.
     (b) "Substantially" means a redesign or upgrade of more than twenty-five percent of the code or database structures of the billing system.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6   A new section is added to chapter 57.08 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) When a district that operates sewer or water services substantially upgrades or replaces their billing system, the resulting system must be capable of accepting electronic payment from residential customers. Additional fees or costs charged to the customer may not exceed the actual cost of providing an electronic payment option. The methodology related to electronic payment shall not affect the terms and conditions of service.
     (2) For the purposes of this section the following definitions apply:
     (a) "Electronic payment" means an internet-based method of payment that allows a customer, at the time of payment, to access an internet web page and transmit text or data controlling the amount of the payment, the date of the payment, and the account from which the payment will be made.
     (b) "Substantially" means a redesign or upgrade of more than twenty-five percent of the code or database structures of the billing system.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 7   A new section is added to chapter 80.28 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) When a gas company, electric company, or water company that provides gas, electric, or water services substantially upgrades or replaces their billing system, the resulting system must be capable of accepting electronic payment from residential customers. Additional fees or costs charged to the customer may not exceed the actual cost of providing an electronic payment option. The methodology related to electronic payment shall not affect the terms and conditions of service.
     (2) For the purposes of this section the following definitions apply:
     (a) "Electronic payment" means an internet-based method of payment that allows a customer, at the time of payment, to access an internet web page and transmit text or data controlling the amount of the payment, the date of the payment, and the account from which the payment will be made.
     (b) "Substantially" means a redesign or upgrade of more than twenty-five percent of the code or database structures of the billing system.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 8   A new section is added to chapter 80.36 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) When a telecommunications company that provides telecommunications services substantially upgrades or replaces their billing system, the resulting system must be capable of accepting electronic payment from residential customers. Additional fees or costs charged to the customer may not exceed the actual cost of providing an electronic payment option. The methodology related to electronic payment shall not affect the terms and conditions of service.
     (2) For the purposes of this section the following definitions apply:
     (a) "Electronic payment" means an internet-based method of payment that allows a customer, at the time of payment, to access an internet web page and transmit text or data controlling the amount of the payment, the date of the payment, and the account from which the payment will be made.
     (b) "Substantially" means a redesign or upgrade of more than twenty-five percent of the code or database structures of the billing system.