Resolution Supporting States Establish Transparency with the Cost of Legislation Affecting Regulated Utilities Be Shown as Line Items on Consumer Bills
| Model Bill Info | |
|---|---|
| Bill Title | The Public Employee Rights and Authorization Act |
| Date Introduced | August 9, 2018 |
| Date Finalized | September 18, 2018 |
| Type | Model Policy |
| Status | Final |
| Task Forces | Energy, Environment and Agriculture |
Creating Resolution Supporting States Establish Transparency with the Cost of Legislation Affecting Regulated Utilities Be Shown as Line Items on Consumer Bills
Model Resolution
<p>WHEREAS, hidden costs of taxes, fees, and government imposed regulations are anathema to the very core of our system of government, to our beliefs of how a free people are to be treated, and to the intent of our various state constitutions; and
WHEREAS, the system of state public utility commissions was established to provide the benefit of avoided cost of duplicate infrastructure investment in certain critical services such as electricity, and natural gas, while protecting consumers from predatory pricing by government established monopolies; and
WHEREAS, public utility commissions are required to operate in the most transparent way to approve pricing policies of regulated utilities to a “just and reasonable” standard; and
WHEREAS, energy costs impact every facet of our economy, and the availability of reliable electricity is the critical resource needed to bring people out of the hardships of poverty, such as, the rate of infant mortality, life expectancy, literacy, education, and general standard of living, according to the “United Nations Human Development Index”; and
WHEREAS, policies that raise the cost of energy fall primarily on the poorest members of our society with 30 percent of the population spending between 22 percent and 70 percent of their after tax income on energy, according to the U. S. census “Current Population Survey”; and
NOW, THEREFORE, LET IT BE RESOLVED that (state legislature) hereby urges the adoption of any legislated action targeting utilities, and thereby affecting regulated utility rates, be shown as a line item on consumer utility bills.
