Minnesota Session Laws - 1983, Regular Session

  

                         Laws of Minnesota 1983 

                        CHAPTER 176--H.F.No. 140
           An act relating to public utilities; requiring public 
          utilities to consider customer schedule needs when 
          reading nonaccessible meters; proposing new law coded 
          in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 216B. 
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
    Section 1.  [216B.075] [PUBLIC UTILITY METER READING; 
ACCOMMODATION OF CUSTOMER SCHEDULING NEEDS.] 
    Notwithstanding any other provision of rule or policy to 
the contrary, every public utility providing natural gas or 
electricity at retail shall make a reasonable effort to obtain 
readings at least once every 18 months from nonaccessible 
meters.  Readings shall be obtained at times that meet the needs 
of customer schedules.  Utilities shall make a reasonable effort 
to provide evening and Saturday or Sunday meter reading service 
at no extra charge to a customer whose work or other schedule 
makes a business hour reading of meters a hardship.  Utilities 
may refuse to read a customer's meter during nondaylight hours 
if such activity could threaten the safety of the utility 
meter-reading employee.  
    A utility may also allow a customer to self-read the 
customer's meter for periods of time not to exceed 18 months, 
provided that the customer is reminded periodically of the 
potentially serious financial consequences of errors in 
self-reading.  
    A utility may terminate service to a customer who refuses 
to allow a utility company employee access to a nonaccessible 
meter for a period of 18 months or more. 
    Approved May 19, 1983