Date: 05/01/2013

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB13-282

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION & ENERGY

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Adopt amendment L.004 (Attachment C). The motion p
Refer Senate Bill 13-282, as amended, to the Commi		Pass Without Objection
PASS



03:35 PM -- Senate Bill 13-282

Representatives Pabon and Levy, prime sponsors, presented Senate Bill 13-282. Current law allows the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to adopt rules exempting customers who use essential life support devices from tiered electricity rates. The bill repeals this authorization, and instead, by November 1, 2013, requires the PUC to adopt rules exempting from tiered electricity rates customers with certain medical conditions that require the use of air conditioning. Only customers an annual with income that is less than 60 percent of the area median income for their area of residence are eligible for this exemption. The bill establishes that fraudulent receipt of or application for this exemption constitutes theft. If the PUC fails to adopt such rules by November 1, 2013, the exemption becomes effective. Representative Levy discussed the intent of the bill and distributed prepared amendment L.004 (Attachment C) to the committee. Representative Pabon discussed the stakeholder process. Representative Coram asked who the bill will applies to and whether it is only PUC-regulated utilities. Discussion ensued concerning REAs and medical conditions that are included in the bill. Representative Levy commented that Amendment L.004 addresses medical issues under the bill. Representative Lawrence asked how many households this bill will impact. Representative Coram asked if the PUC would require a letter from a doctor to obtain an exemption.

130501 AttachC.pdf130501 AttachC.pdf

The following people testified on the bill:

03:52 PM -- Ms. Sharon O'Hara, representing the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society, testified in support of the bill. Ms. O Hara responded to questions from the committee.

03:57 PM -- Mr. Kirk Williams, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. He commented on his personal experience with MS.

04:01 PM -- Ms. Ellie Friedman, representing the PUC, testified on the bill. She gave a brief overview of the exemption for customer who use essential life support devices from tiered electricity rates. She stated that the PUC is neutral on the bill. Representative Primavera asked why certain disabilities are specified in the bill and how medical conditions will be determined to meet the exemption. Discussion ensued concerning application for the exemption granted under the bill.
BILL:SB13-282
TIME: 04:16:12 PM
MOVED:Tyler
MOTION:Adopt amendment L.004 (Attachment C). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:Moreno
VOTE
Buck
Coram
Everett
Excused
Fischer
Kraft-Tharp
Lawrence
Lee
Mitsch Bush
Peniston
Primavera
Scott
Moreno
Tyler
YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection



04:17 PM

Representative Tyler commented on the tiered rate structure.

BILL:SB13-282
TIME: 04:17:57 PM
MOVED:Tyler
MOTION:Refer Senate Bill 13-282, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 12-0.
SECONDED:Moreno
VOTE
Buck
Yes
Coram
Yes
Everett
Excused
Fischer
Yes
Kraft-Tharp
Yes
Lawrence
Yes
Lee
Yes
Mitsch Bush
Yes
Peniston
Yes
Primavera
Yes
Scott
Yes
Moreno
Yes
Tyler
Yes
Final YES: 12 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS




04:21 PM

The committee adjourned.