H.R. 9122

[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9122 Introduced in House (IH)]

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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.''.
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