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Statute
54-10-1. Definitions
For the purpose of this act:
(1) "Residential consumer" is a customer or user of a natural gas, electric or telephone utility who maintains a permanent place of abode within the state of Utah.
(2) "Small commercial consumer" is a person or entity conducting a business or agriculture, or other enterprise in the state of Utah having less than 25 employees or a gross income less than $1,000,000 annually.
54-10-2. Committee of consumer services created - Members - Terms - Qualifications - Appointment - Organization.
(1) (a) There is created within the Division of Public Utilities of the Department of Commerce a Committee of Consumer Services.
(b) All members shall maintain their principal place of abode within Utah.(2) The six members shall be appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the Senate to five-year terms and represent the following geographic and consumer interests:
(a) one member shall be from Salt Lake City, Provo, or Ogden;
(b) one member shall be from a city other than Salt Lake City, Provo, or Ogden;
(c) one member shall be from an unincorporated area of the state;
(d) one member shall be a low-income resident;
(e) one member shall be a retired person;
(f) one member shall be a small commercial consumer;
(g) one member shall be a farmer or rancher who uses electric power to pump water in his farming or ranching operation; and
(h) one member shall be a residential consumer.(3) (a) No more than three members of the committee shall be from the same political party.
(b) The governor shall designate one member as chair of the committee.
54-10-3. Per diem and expenses of members - Meetings
Members of the committee of consumer services shall be paid a per diem and expenses as provided by law. The committee may hold monthly meetings, and may hold such other meetings, at such times and places as the chairperson and a majority of the committee may determine.
54-10-4. Duties and responsibilities of committee.
The committee of consumer services shall have the following duties and responsibilities:
(1) The committee shall assess the impact of utility rate changes and other regulatory actions on residential consumers and those engaged in small commercial enterprises in the state of Utah.
(2) The committee shall assist residential consumers and those engaged in small commercial enterprises in appearing before the Public Service Commission of the state of Utah.
(3) The committee shall be an advocate on its own behalf and in its own name, of positions most advantageous to a majority of residential consumers as determined by the committee and those engaged in small commercial enterprises, and may bring original actions in its own name before the Public Service Commission of this state or any court having appellate jurisdiction over orders or decisions of the Public Service Commission, as the committee in its discretion may direct.
54-10-4.5. Representation of electric power utility by committee prohibited - Duties.
The committee of consumer services shall not represent, assist, or be an advocate on behalf of any city or municipal electric power utility.
54-10-5. Residential and small commercial representative - Duties.
(1) The governor shall appoint, with the concurrence of the committee of consumer services, a qualified person in the field of public utilities who may carry out the policies and directives of the committee of consumer services.
(2) This person shall:(a) represent residential and small commercial consumers of natural gas, electric, or telephone utilities in Utah; and,
(b) represent the interests of residential and small commercial consumers, as directed by the committee of consumer services.
54-10-6. Review of public utility accounting procedures and expenditures.
The committee of consumer services, as it deems desirable, may request the division of public utilities to review accounting procedures and expenditures of natural gas, electric or telephone utilities.
54-10-7. Attorney from attorney general's office to represent committee
The attorney general shall assign not less than one attorney to the committee of consumer services of the department of commerce to represent the committee of consumer services. It shall be the duty of such attorney to represent the committee of consumer services at all hearings or other proceedings affecting the services, rates or charges of natural gas, electric or telephone utilities in the state of Utah. He or she may prosecute all actions which the committee of consumer services deems necessary to enforce the rights of residential and small commercial consumers of such utilities.
