Regards customer-owned water service lines replacement costs

HB 226 allows water utility companies to include the costs of replacing customer-owned water service lines in their rate filings, shifting the financial responsibility for these replacements from individual homeowners to the utilities. The bill requires the Public Utilities Commission to create a specific valuation report that tracks these replacement costs and any reimbursements previously given to customers, ensuring these expenses are accounted for separately. By including these costs in the official property valuation, the legislation enables utilities to recover the expenses through future customer rates rather than requiring customers to pay directly for the work. This change applies to water-works companies operating in the state and aims to clarify how infrastructure replacement costs are calculated and billed.