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03 LC 22 5255
House Bill 889
By: Representatives Harrell of the 54th, Snow of the 1st, Henson of the 55th, Mobley of the 58th, Mosby of the 59th, Post 3, and others
By: Representatives Harrell of the 54th, Snow of the 1st, Henson of the 55th, Mobley of the 58th, Mosby of the 59th, Post 3, and others
A BILL TO BE
ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To amend Article 5 of Chapter 4 of Title 46 of the Official
Code of Georgia Annotated, the "Natural Gas Competition and Deregulation Act,"
so as to change certain provisions relating to the regulated provider; to
provide for a third group of consumers eligible for commodity service from the
regulated provider; to provide for rates for such Group 3; to provide for
related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other
purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
Article 5 of Chapter 4 of Title 46 of the Official Code of
Georgia Annotated, the "Natural Gas Competition and Deregulation Act," is
amended in Code Section 46_4_166, relating to selection of a regulated provider
to serve certain customers, by striking subsections (a) and (d) and inserting in
lieu thereof the
following:
"(a)By July 1, 2002, the The commission shall select a
regulated provider of natural gas to serve:
(1) Group 1, low_income residential consumers;and
(2) Group 2, firm natural gas consumers:
(A) Who have been unable to obtain or maintain natural gas commodity service; or
(B) Whose utility payment history was cited by the regulated provider as reason for transfer from Group 1 to Group 2; and
(3) Group 3, firm natural gas customers:
(A) Who are not Group 1 or Group 2 customers; and
(B) Who elect to receive natural gas commodity service from the regulated provider in accordance with this Code section."
"(d)(1) Rates for consumers served by the regulated provider shall be established as provided in this subsection.
"(a)
(1) Group 1, low_income residential consumers;
(2) Group 2, firm natural gas consumers:
(A) Who have been unable to obtain or maintain natural gas commodity service; or
(B) Whose utility payment history was cited by the regulated provider as reason for transfer from Group 1 to Group 2; and
(3) Group 3, firm natural gas customers:
(A) Who are not Group 1 or Group 2 customers; and
(B) Who elect to receive natural gas commodity service from the regulated provider in accordance with this Code section."
"(d)(1) Rates for consumers served by the regulated provider shall be established as provided in this subsection.
(2) The regulated provider selected by the
commission shall establish two rates for Group 1 and Group
2 consumers served by the regulated provider of natural
gas, which rates shall be approved by the commission as a part of the
selection process for the regulated
provider:
(1) (A) The rate for
a low_income residential consumer shall be based upon actual commodity cost, a
reasonable rate of return, and an equitable share of the cost of the
transportation and distribution system over which such consumer receives
distribution. Any low_income residential consumer may transfer to the regulated
provider without being required to pay in full any debt to a marketer for
previous service and without termination in service due to failure to pay such a
debt. The regulated provider shall have access to the universal service fund to
recover bad debt arising from service to low_income residential consumers in
accordance with rules and regulations promulgated by the commission and designed
to encourage efficient debt collection practices by the regulated provider. The
electing distribution company shall waive any customer charge for each
low_income residential consumer whose age exceeds 65 years. A low_income
residential consumer served by the regulated provider at this rate shall be
subject to transfer to Group 2 for failure to pay distribution or commodity
charges under the terms and conditions specified in the proposal and accepted by
the commission; and
(2) (B)
The rate for Group 2 consumers shall be set to incorporate risks associated with
these customers. The regulated provider shall be authorized to terminate
service to a Group 2 consumer for failure to pay for commodity or distribution
service. The regulated provider shall not have access to the universal service
fund to recover bad debt arising from service to such consumers. A Group 2
consumer shall be eligible to transfer to Group 1 if such a consumer is eligible
by income for Group 1 and meets criteria specified in the proposal and accepted
by the commission.
(3) The rate for Group 3 consumers shall be a just and reasonable rate set by the commission in accordance with the provisions of Code Sections 46_2_23, 46_2_24, and 46_2_25."
(3) The rate for Group 3 consumers shall be a just and reasonable rate set by the commission in accordance with the provisions of Code Sections 46_2_23, 46_2_24, and 46_2_25."
SECTION 2.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are
repealed.