1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to utilities; regulating payment agreements for undercharges;amending 
1.3 	Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 216B.098, subdivision 4.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 216B.098, subdivision 4, is amended to 
1.6 	read:
1.7 		Subd. 4.Undercharges. (a) A utility shall offer a payment agreement to customers 
1.8 	who have been undercharged if no culpable conduct by the customer or resident of 
1.9 	the customer's household caused the undercharge. The agreement must cover a period 
1.10 	equal to the time over which the undercharge occurred or a different time period that is 
1.11 	mutually agreeable to the customer and the utility, except that the duration of a payment 
1.12 	agreement offered by a utility to a customer whose household income is at or below 50 
1.13 	percent of state median household income must consider the financial circumstances of 
1.14 	the customer's household. 
1.15 	(b) No interest or delinquency fee may be charged under this as part of an 
1.16 	undercharge agreement under this subdivision.
1.17 	(c) If a customer inquiry or complaint results in the utility's discovery of the 
1.18 	undercharge, the utility may bill for undercharges incurred after the date of the inquiry 
1.19 	or complaint only if the utility began investigating the inquiry or complaint within a 
1.20 	reasonable time after when it was made.