HB 1843

On and after January 1, 2027, this bill prohibits a public utility that provides electric, water, wastewater, or natural gas services (" utility "") from increas ing the rate charged for such service by the utility to a senior citizen customer who has provided notice to the utility through the age verification and notification process established by the Tennessee public utilities commission (""commission"") by rule. AGE VERIFICATION AND NOTIFICATION PROCESS This bill requires the commission to establish by rule an age verification and notification process through which a senior citizen customer may provide notice to the customer's utility that the customer is of age to qualify for the rate cap provided above. No later than 90 days after the effective date of the commission's final rule, this bill requires each utility to provide written notice to each utility customer of the availability of the rate cap for customer s of a utility who is 65 or older. Such written notice may be provided by bill insert, separate mailing, or electronic means for those customers who utilize electronic billing services. REMEDIES This bill provides that a utility that fails to comply with this bill is subject to reasonable sanctions ordered by the commission as described in rule. The fees collected from such civil penalties must be remitted to the commission for enforcement of this bill . RULEMAKING This bill authorizes the commission to promulgate rules necessary to effectuate this bill."