Relating to landlord notification of delinquency notices sent by utilities and landlords’ ability to use security deposits to satisfy delinquent utility accounts

This bill provides that if a customer of a public utility is a tenant, and if the owner or landlord of the property or premises has made a written request for notice to the public utility, the notice of delinquency for nonpayment of account sent to the customer shall also be sent to the landlord, the owner, or the designee of the owner or landlord. The notice shall be sent to the landlord, owner, or designee within days after the notice of delinquency is sent to the customer.1 that furnish gas by piped distribution system or electricity to the public for compensation, water by piped distribution system to the public for compensation, or sanitary sewage or storm water drainage disposal by piped collection system to the public for compensation. The bill also applies to electric public utilities having fewer than 10,000 customers, municipally owned utilities furnishing gas or electricity, gas public utilities having fewer than 2,000 customers, and city utilities or enterprise services. The bill provides that the landlord may withhold from security deposit amounts as reasonably necessary to pay for delinquent utility accounts the tenant was responsible to pay during the tenancy.