February 2, 2024 - Introduced by Representatives Sortwell, Donovan, Green, O’Connor and Ortiz-Velez. Referred to Committee on Energy and Utilities.
AB1060,,22An Act to amend 196.372 (1) (b); and to create 66.0627 (8) (as) and 196.372 (4) of the statutes; relating to: assistance to replace customer-side water service lines containing lead. AB1060,,33Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau Under current law, if approved by the Public Service Commission, a water public utility may provide financial assistance, defined as a grant, loan, or a combination thereof, to the owner of property to which water utility service is provided (water customer) for the purpose of assisting the water customer in replacing customer-side water service lines containing lead if 1) the city, town, or village has enacted an ordinance permitting the water public utility to do so and requiring water customers to replace any customer-side water service lines containing lead, and 2) the utility-side water service line and the water main pipe that are connected to the customer-side water service line do not contain lead or the lead-containing portion of that line or pipe is replaced at the same time as the customer-side water service line is replaced.
This bill specifies that “financial assistance” under this program is funded from utility rates. Also under the bill, a utility may, without PSC approval, administer a municipal program to assist water customers in complying with a city, village, or town ordinance requiring the replacement of customer-side water service lines containing lead and to provide municipal grants or loans to water customers for that purpose, provided the utility does not give financial assistance to water customers under the program.
Under the bill, if a political subdivision makes a loan to an owner of a premises for the purpose of replacing customer-side water service lines and collects the amounts due under the loan as a special charge, the political subdivision must provide the owner of the premises with an annual notice that includes 1) the loan term, 2) the current year for which the property owner is paying the special charge and the amount owed for that year, and 3) the current loan balance.
For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.
AB1060,,44The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows: AB1060,15Section 1. 66.0627 (8) (as) of the statutes is created to read: AB1060,,6666.0627 (8) (as) If a political subdivision makes a loan under par. (ag) and collects the loan repayments as a special charge under par. (am), the political subdivision shall provide the owner of the premises with an annual notice that includes all of the following: AB1060,,771. The loan term. AB1060,,882. The current year for which the owner of the premises is paying the special charge and the amount owed for that year. AB1060,,993. The current loan balance. AB1060,210Section 2. 196.372 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read: AB1060,,1111196.372 (1) (b) “Financial assistance” means a grant, loan, or combination thereof that is funded from utility rates. AB1060,312Section 3. 196.372 (4) of the statutes is created to read: AB1060,,1313196.372 (4) Municipal ordinance assistance. (a) In this subsection, “water customer” means an owner of property to which a water public utility provides water utility service. AB1060,,1414(b) Notwithstanding sub. (3), a water public utility may, without commission approval, administer a municipal program to assist water customers in complying with a city, village, or town ordinance requiring the replacement of customer-side water service lines that contain lead and to provide municipal grants or loans to water customers for that purpose, provided the utility does not give financial assistance to water customers under the program.
