AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- REGULATORY POWERS OF ADMINISTRATION

HB 7886 requires electric and gas utility companies to read customer meters quarterly instead of monthly, with bills issued within 14 days of the reading. It mandates that utilities file their estimated billing formulas with the Public Utility Commission (PUC) for approval and prohibits charging customers extra for unrecorded usage if meters aren't read on schedule. The bill also forbids utilities from passing meter-reading costs to customers and requires any excess charges beyond prior estimates to be forfeited if quarterly readings are missed. This affects all electric and gas distribution utilities and their residential and commercial customers in the state, taking effect July 1, 2026.