H.R. 9122

[Congressional Bills 118th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 9122 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 9122 To amend the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 so that procedures relating to termination of electric service provide that such service may not be terminated during any extreme heat weather event or extreme cold weather event, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 24, 2024 Ms. DelBene (for herself and Ms. Blunt Rochester) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 so that procedures relating to termination of electric service provide that such service may not be terminated during any extreme heat weather event or extreme cold weather event, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Preventing Unnecessary Deaths During Life-Threatening Events Act''. SEC. 2. EXTREME HEAT AND EXTREME COLD WEATHER EVENTS. Section 115(g) of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2625(g)) is amended-- (1) by inserting ``, subject to paragraph (4)'' after ``nonregulated electric utility which provide that''; (2) in paragraph (2)-- (A) by inserting ``electric service may not be terminated'' before ``during any period''; (B) by striking ``installments,'' and inserting ``installments.''; (C) by striking ``such service may not be terminated.''; and (D) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively; (3) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively; (4) by striking ``The procedures for termination of service'' and inserting the following: ``(1) In general.--The procedures for termination of service''; and (5) by striking ``Such procedures shall take into account the need to include reasonable provisions for elderly and handicapped consumers.'' and inserting the following: ``(2) Elderly consumers and consumers with disabilities.-- Procedures described in paragraph (1) shall take into account the need to include reasonable provisions for elderly consumers and consumers with disabilities. ``(3) Extreme weather events.--For purposes of paragraph (1)(B), any period of an extreme heat weather event or extreme cold weather event, as determined by the State regulatory authority (with respect to an electric utility for which it has ratemaking authority) or the nonregulated electric utility, shall be considered to be a period when termination of service to an electric consumer would be especially dangerous to health. ``(4) Limitation.--Procedures described in paragraph (1) may authorize temporary suspension of electric service to specific areas as required for the safe operation and maintenance of the infrastructure of the applicable electric utility, including to reduce the risk of fires caused by such infrastructure. ``(5) Updated procedures.--Procedures described in paragraph (1) shall be updated, as necessary, by the State regulatory authority (with respect to electric utilities for which it has ratemaking authority) or by the nonregulated electric utility at least once every 10 years, including to reflect the best available science with respect to changing climate conditions.''. <all>