ACTION ALERT (Please contact your Representatives today in support of HB 272!)

House Bill 272 is expected to receive a vote on the House floor on Monday, March 1, 2021.  We need all KRWA members to contact their state representatives TODAY!

House Bill 272, which would create a new section of KRS Chapter 278 to allow water districts and water associations to charge a late payment fee of 10% of the amount billed. This is a long-standing business practice for most businesses and utilities that is being specifically eliminated as an option in recent orders issued by the Kentucky Public Service Commission. Nearly all districts and associations (98%) have late payment penalties in their tariffs now. This bill, if it becomes law, would prohibit PSC from modifying, rejecting, or suspending late payment charges established by tariff.

HB 272 also creates a new section of KRS Chapter 39A to prohibit departments or officers of state government during a declared emergency from issuing any order that conflicts with the classification by the United States Department of Homeland Security of employees of utilities and other entities subject to KRS Chapters 58, 65, 74, 76, 96, 220, 278, or 279 as essential or critical infrastructure workers; prohibit any current or future order issued by any department or officer of state government during a declared emergency from remaining in or taking effect that would prohibit or impair a municipal utility from terminating service for a customer's non-payment of a utility bill or assessing or collecting penalties for non-payment.

For more information, visit our Legislative Liaison page.