HF 3110

1st Engrossment - 88th Legislature (2013 - 2014) Posted on 03/27/2014 03:51pm

A bill for an act
relating to energy; utilities; modifying residential customer protections pertaining
to medically necessary equipment; amending Minnesota Statutes 2012, section
216B.098, subdivision 5.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 216B.098, subdivision 5, is amended to
read:

Subd. 5.

Medically necessary equipment.

new text begin (a) new text end A utility shall reconnect or
continue service to a customer's residence where a medical emergency exists or where
medical equipment requiring electricity necessary to sustain life is in use, provided that
the utility receives deleted text begin from a medical doctor deleted text end written certification, or initial certification by
telephone and written certification within five business days, that failure to reconnect or
continue service will impair or threaten the health or safety of a resident of the customer's
household. deleted text begin The customer must enter into a payment agreement.
deleted text end

new text begin (b) Certification of the necessity for service is required. Certification may be
provided by:
new text end

new text begin (1) a licensed medical doctor;
new text end

new text begin (2) a licensed or registered physician's assistant;
new text end

new text begin (3) a licensed or registered nurse practitioner; or
new text end

new text begin (4) a registered nurse, but only to the extent of verifying the current diagnosis or
prescriptions made by a licensed medical doctor for the customer or member of the
customer's household.
new text end

new text begin (c) Except as provided in paragraph (d), a certification may not extend beyond six
months from the date of written certification.
new text end

new text begin (d) If a utility determines that a longer certification is appropriate given a particular
customer's circumstances, the utility may, at its sole discretion, extend the duration of a
certification for up to 12 months.
new text end

new text begin (e) A certificate may be renewed, provided that the renewal complies with this
subdivision. A certification may be renewed by the same or another medical professional
who meets the qualifications of paragraph (b).
new text end

new text begin (f) A customer whose account is in arrears must contact and enter into a payment
agreement with the utility. The payment agreement must consider a customer's financial
circumstances and any extenuating circumstances of the household. The payment
agreement may, at the discretion of the utility, contain a provision by which the utility
forgives all or a portion of the amount in which the account is in arrears, which, if
implemented, extinguishes individual liability for the amount forgiven.
new text end