Utilities won’t be able to up a customer’s rates because of how they read meters if a bill sponsored by Sen. Charlie Dean (R--Ocala) becomes law. Dean says some of his constituents saw higher bills after a utility in his area extended its meter reading period. The longer time bumped customers' usage up into a more costly pay bracket. Dean says his bill would prevent that.
“The extension to a billing cycle can exceed no more than 7 days and no higher rates for customers can occur because of the extension. This does not apply to a change in the billing cycle due to a state of emergency issued by the governor,” Dean says.
Dean’s bill passed the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government Wednesday. It has one more committee before reaching the Senate floor.
