By Emmanuel T. Erediano
[email protected]
Variety News Staff
SENATE Vice President Corina L. Magofna last week introduced Senate Bill 24-58, which would further empower the Commonwealth Public Utilities Commission to protect ratepayers from billing errors and surprise charges.
The bill, co-sponsored by Sen. Paul A. Manglona and Sen. Manny Gregory T. Castro, proposes requiring the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation to conduct quarterly reconciliations of all estimated customer billings and submit reconciliation reports to the CPUC. It would also mandate that CUC promptly adjust over-billings and under-billings.
S.B. 24-58 authorizes the CPUC to enforce the measure by imposing administrative fines on CUC. If CUC fails to correct billing errors, the CPUC can assess escalating penalty fees for repeated violations.
According to S.B. 24-58, the bill is about fairness, transparency, and accountability in utility billing. It aims to address estimated electric and water bills that are not reconciled promptly, which can lead to compounded errors, surprise charges, and financial hardship for families and small businesses.
“Because utilities are essential services with no alternatives for customers, accurate and timely billing is fundamental to public trust. Delayed corrections not only harm ratepayers but may also create financial and accounting concerns for the utility itself,” the bill states.
Magofna said S.B. 24-58 is necessary because estimated billing errors can result in surprise charges. Estimated billing occurs when a ratepayer’s bill is calculated without an actual meter reading. She said it is sometimes necessary, but it must be corrected promptly.
If a ratepayer is overbilled, S.B. 24-58, if enacted, will allow the customer to receive a full credit in the next billing cycle. If the ratepayer is under-billed, the correct amount is still owed to CUC, but late fees caused by delayed reconciliation cannot be charged.
Magofna assured that the bill will not raise utility rates. She said it specifically prohibits penalties from being passed on to ratepayers.
She also reiterated that repeated violations by CUC, once the bill becomes law, could trigger higher penalties, independent audits, management performance reviews, and reporting to the CUC board of directors. “The bill is not necessarily anti-CUC; it is pro-accountability and pro-ratepayer. Strong internal controls protect both customers and the utility’s long-term stability,” Magofna said.
Variety was unable to get a comment from CUC.
Emmanuel “Arnold” Erediano has a bachelor of science degree in Journalism. He started his career as police beat reporter. Loves to cook. Eats death threats for breakfast.
