Summary of SCC Proposal on
Metering & Billing

• Overview: Establishes new section § 56-581.1, and amends §§ 56-580, 56-581, 56-585, 56-587, and 56-590. New § 56-581.1 contains the core of the Commission’s legislative proposal concerning competitive metering and competitive billing as reflected in its September 1, 1999 legislative report on this topic to the General Assembly.
• Proposal: Proposed § 56-581.1 authorizes the Commission to determine before January 1, 2002 whether and when electric metering services and electric billing services may be provided competitively. The Commission’s determinations may vary by service, type of seller, region, incumbent electric utility and customer group. The determinations are also subject to specific legislative guidelines, including requirements that the determinations (i) take into account customer readiness for such competition, and (ii) not jeopardize the safety, reliability or quality of electric service.