HCS HB 635 -- SERVICES BY UTILITIES

SPONSOR:  Rector (Threlkeld)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on
Communications, Energy, and Technology by a vote of 20 to 0.

Under current law, electric, gas, and heating utilities are
prohibited from offering heating, ventilating, and air
conditioning (HVAC) services unless the company was providing
these services for the five years prior to August 28, 1998.  This
substitute clarifies that the exemption only applies to areas
being served on a regular basis prior to August 28, 1993.  The
substitute also requires utilities to comply with the same state
and local requirements as other HVAC contractors and authorizes
the Attorney General to enforce pertinent statutes.

FISCAL NOTE:  Not available at time of printing.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that utilities are competing unfairly
with contractors by not following the intent of the law.
Statutes should be strengthened with regard to grandfathering and
enforcement provisions.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Threlkeld; Missouri
Coalition for Fair Competition; Keeven Cooling Company; and
Arnold Stove and Fireplace Center.

OPPONENTS:  Those who oppose the bill say that the law should not
be changed.  It was thoroughly negotiated as a fair balance
between utilities and contractors during its original passage in
1998.

Testifying against the bill were Laclede Gas Company; Missouri
AFL-CIO; and Paper, Allied Industrial, Chemical, and Energy
Workers Local 5 and 6.

Terry Finger, Senior Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
Last Updated July 25, 2003 at 10:12 am