SF 1460

as introduced - 86th Legislature (2009 - 2010) Posted on 02/09/2010 02:21am

A bill for an act
relating to energy; providing rights to low-income customers of delivered home
heating fuel vendors; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes,
chapter 325E.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [325E.0271] LOW-INCOME CUSTOMER RIGHTS; DELIVERED
HEATING FUEL.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin For the purpose of this section, the terms defined in this
subdivision have the meanings given them.
new text end

new text begin (a) "Low-income customer" means a person receiving assistance from the Low
Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) who contracts with a vendor for
the delivery of liquid propane gas, or number one or number two fuel oil for residential
heating purposes.
new text end

new text begin (b) "Vendor" means a dealer or distributor of liquid propane gas, or number one or
number two fuel oil. Vendor includes an agent or affiliate of the dealer or distributor.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Payment plans and purchasing options. new text end

new text begin (a) Vendors who offer budget
billing or other time-payment plans and keep-fill, prebuy, and summer-fill programs must
offer these programs to all customers, including low-income customers.
new text end

new text begin (b) If a low-income customer requesting a delivery has an outstanding balance with
a current vendor, the vendor shall divide any LIHEAP or other customer payment so that
75 percent of the payment is applied to the current delivery and 25 percent is applied to
past due balances.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Cold weather deliveries. new text end

new text begin From October 15 to April 15, a vendor must
continue to provide minimum fuel deliveries to all existing customers who are not
delinquent on an outstanding home heating fuel bill with the vendor as of October 15.
A minimum fuel delivery for 250- to 500-gallon tanks is 150 gallons. A minimum fuel
delivery for 500- to 1,000-gallon tanks is 300 gallons. No minimum delivery fees shall
be charged to a customer. If the customer cannot make the full payment at the time of a
delivery required by this subdivision, the customer must enter into and make reasonably
timely payments under a mutually acceptable payment agreement with the vendor that
is based on the financial resources and circumstances of the household; provided that, a
vendor may not require a customer to pay more than ten percent of the household income
toward current and past bills. Interest may not be charged a customer who makes timely
monthly payments under a payment agreement.
new text end