(1) On or before September 1, 2020, the commission shall commence a rule-making proceeding to adopt standard practices for gas and electric utilities to use when disconnecting service due to nonpayment. At a minimum, the rules must address the following subjects:
Resources to support customers in multiple languages, as appropriate to the geographic areas served;
Limiting shut-off times to reasonable hours of the day Monday through Friday, excluding holidays, so that customers can attempt to reconnect on the same day;
Prescribed terms and conditions for payment plans to cure delinquency;
Referral of delinquent customers to energy payment assistance resources such as Energy Outreach Colorado, charities, nonprofits, and state agencies that provide, or that administer federal funds for, low-income energy assistance;
For each utility, standardized methodology to be used in determining reconnectionfees and deposit requirements for reconnection;
Protection policies for customers for whom electricity is medically necessary;
Prohibitions on the disconnection of service during periods of extreme heat or cold,as appropriate to the geographic area served;
A prohibition on the remote disconnection of service for nonpayment, through advanced metering infrastructure or otherwise, without a reasonable attempt to make contact with the customer of record by telephone or engaging in a personal, physical visit to the premises; and
Reporting requirements, no less frequently than annually, to provide the commissionwith standardized information from all utilities about disconnections and delinquencies. For the purpose of trend analysis, utilities may disaggregate data by month or by quarter, as the commission deems appropriate. Reporting requirements must take into consideration existing utility reporting and must allow the utilities a reasonable ability to ascertain data.
The commission shall publish on its website, or require utilities to publish on theirwebsites:
Information regarding the standard practices and fees specified in rules adopted pursuant to subsection (1) of this section; and
The information periodically reported in accordance with subsection (1)(i) of thissection.
Source: L. 2020: Entire section added, (SB 20-030), ch. 148, p. 638, § 2, effective June 29.