CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.

Senate Bill 0512

By Senator Cowin 11-443A-98 1 A bill to be entitled 2 An act relating to a refund of excess utility 3 payments; requiring the Comptroller to provide 4 a refund to certain utility customers who paid 5 more under a uniform rate structure than those 6 customers would have paid under a modified 7 stand-alone rate structure; requiring the 8 Public Service Commission to notify utility 9 customers who are eligible for a refund; 10 providing requirements for applying for a 11 refund; requiring the Comptroller to verify 12 eligibility for a refund; providing for the 13 refund of utility payments to be funded from 14 the Public Service Commission Regulatory Trust 15 Fund; providing an appropriation; providing an 16 effective date. 17 18 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 19 20 Section 1. (1) The Comptroller shall provide a refund 21 to utility customers in this state who paid more for water and 22 sewer services between September 15, 1993, and January 23, 23 l996, under the uniform rate structure imposed pursuant to 24 Order No. PSC-93-0423-FOF-WS of the Public Service Commission 25 than the amount such customers would have paid under the 26 modified stand-alone rate structure approved on remand in 27 Docket No. 920199-WS of the Public Service Commission. The 28 refund amount for each eligible utility customer shall equal 29 the amount paid in excess of the modified stand-alone rate, 30 plus interest. 31 1 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. Florida Senate - 1998 SB 512 11-443A-98 1 (2) The Public Service Commission shall notify by mail 2 each utility customer who is eligible for a refund under this 3 section and who resides in the state. The notice must include 4 instructions for filing an application for the refund. An 5 eligible utility customer must file a refund application with 6 the Comptroller by July 1, 1999, or shall forfeit eligibility 7 for the refund. The Comptroller shall verify an applicant's 8 eligibility and shall mail the refund in a timely manner if 9 the applicant is found eligible. An amount of less than $10 10 shall not be refunded. 11 (3) The amount necessary to fund the refund of utility 12 payments provided under this section is appropriated from the 13 Public Service Commission Regulatory Trust Fund. 14 Section 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a 15 law. 16 17 ***************************************** 18 SENATE SUMMARY 19 Provides for utility customers who paid more for water and sewer services under a uniform rate structure between 20 September 15, 1993, and January 23, 1996, than the amount the customers would have paid under a modified 21 stand-alone rate structure to be eligible for a refund of the excess amount. Provides for the Comptroller to issue 22 the refund. Requires that an eligible utility customer apply for the refund before July 1, 1999, or forfeit 23 eligibility. Appropriates moneys from the Public Service Commission Regulatory Trust Fund to pay the refunds. 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 2