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[Utah Code Table of Contents]
[TITLE 54. Table of Contents]
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.
1977
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) (a) The six members shall be appointed by the governor with the consent of the Senate.
(b) Except as required by Subsection (2)(c), as terms of current committee members expire, the governor shall appoint each new member or reappointed member to a four-year term.
(c) Notwithstanding the requirements of Subsection (2)(b), the governor shall, at the time of appointment or reappointment, adjust the length of terms to ensure that the terms of committee members are staggered so that approximately half of the committee is appointed every two years.
(d) When a vacancy occurs in the membership for any reason, the replacement shall be appointed for the unexpired term.
(3) Members shall 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.
(4) (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.
2002
54-10-3 Per diem and expenses of members - Meetings.
(1) (a) Members shall receive no compensation or benefits for their services, but may receive per diem and expenses incurred in the performance of the member's official duties at the rates established by the Division of Finance under Sections 63A-3-106 and 63A-3-107 .
(b) Members may decline to receive per diem and expenses for their service.
(2) The committee may hold monthly meetings, and may hold
such other meetings, at such times and places as the chair
and a majority of the committee may determine.
1996
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.
1977
54-10-4.5 Representation of electric power utility by committee prohibited.
The Committee of Consumer Services shall not represent,
assist, or be an advocate on behalf of any city or municipal
electric power utility.
2000
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.
1995
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.
1977
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.
1995
