Utility companies shouldn?t be allowed to surreptitiously charge customers for energy efficiency programs, said a lawmaker behind a proposal to curb these charges.
Del. Kevin Kelly?s push to prohibit these fees without customer consent has been softened to a requirement that utilities notify customers.
“I?m satisfied, [but] I would have liked more teeth” in the bill, said Kelly, an Allegany County Democrat.
Kelly?s measure, debated in the House of Delegates Tuesday, was prompted by charges Allegheny Power included in bills after the company mailed customers two compact fluorescent light bulbs last fall.
The company didn?t ask customers if they wanted the bulbs or tell them they would be charged 96 cents per month for 12 months, Kelly said.
“It was a matter of arrogance and deceit,” he said.
Customers weren?t mad about paying $11.52 for the program, but that they weren?t notified until after the fact, Kelly said. The company was later ordered to rebate the charges following customer outcry.
Maryland utilities must develop energy efficiency programs, which are approved by the Public Service Commission. The bill would have prohibited the PSC from approving a program for which the gas and electric utility charge customers without their consent. The amended version requires utilities to notify customers in their bills and on the Web site of the program, charges and benefits.
Kelly said he knew it was unlikely that his original measure prohibiting the charges would make it far. “I wanted something,” he said.
House Minority Leader Anthony O?Donnell said he was disappointed the measure was pared down. “It came in as a ?Don?t kiss me? bill, and now it?s a ?warn me before you kiss me? bill,” he said.
Del. Brian McHale, a Baltimore City Democrat who was floor leader on the bill, said lawmakers didn?t want to discourage companies from enacting these energy efficiency programs.
“The situation is better than it was,” Kelly said.
