HB 641: Public utilities; require electric supplier to hold the proposed discontinuation of electrical service to a residential customer who suffers from a serious illness in abeyance for a certain period of time

Currently, Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 46-3-11) bars electric suppliers from applying discriminatory rates or rules but does not specifically require a policy for handling shutoffs when a customer has a serious illness. This bill adds a new subsection to that law. Starting January 1, 2027, any electric supplier that serves residential customers would have to maintain a written policy covering how it handles discontinuation of service for customers who have a serious, life-threatening medical condition. To qualify, the customer must give the utility a written statement from a physician, county board of health, hospital, or clinic identifying the condition, its expected duration, and confirming that losing electric service would make the condition worse. Utilities would also have to give a copy of this written policy to any consumer or potential consumer who asks for it.

• Requires electric suppliers serving residential customers to maintain a written policy on delaying service shutoffs for customers with serious, life-threatening medical conditions, starting January 1, 2027.
• Requires customers to submit written certification from a physician, county board of health, hospital, or clinic describing the condition, its expected duration, and how losing power would worsen it.
• Requires electric suppliers to hand over a copy of the written policy to any consumer or potential consumer who requests it.
• Adds this requirement as a new subsection to Georgia's existing law on electric supplier conduct (O.C.G.A. § 46-3-11).

Residential electric customers with serious, life-threatening medical conditions, the physicians, county boards of health, hospitals, and clinics who provide certification letters, and electric suppliers across Georgia that serve homes, who must create and disclose these shutoff policies.

Households with a seriously ill family member would gain a documented process for slowing down electricity shutoffs, potentially preventing power loss during a medical crisis. Utilities would take on a new administrative duty to write, maintain, and share these policies with the public on request.

• Section 1 adds a new subsection (c) to O.C.G.A. § 46-3-11 requiring residential electric suppliers to have a written shutoff-delay policy for customers with serious, life-threatening conditions.
• The policy applies once a customer provides written certification from a physician, county board of health, hospital, or clinic naming the condition, its expected duration, and confirming service loss would worsen it.
• Electric suppliers must furnish the written policy to any consumer or potential consumer who requests it.
• The requirement takes effect January 1, 2027.
• Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-03-23Senate Read Second Time (Senado)
2. 2026-03-20Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (Senado)
3. 2026-03-09Senate Read and Referred (Senado)
4. 2026-03-06House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (Cámara de Representantes)
5. 2026-03-06House Third Readers (Cámara de Representantes)
6. 2026-02-18House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (Cámara de Representantes)
7. 2025-02-28House Second Readers (Cámara de Representantes)
8. 2025-02-27House First Readers (Cámara de Representantes)

• Marvin Lim (D, HD-098)Patrocinador principal
• Karen Mathiak (R, HD-082)
• William Werkheiser (R, HD-157)
• Karla Drenner (D, HD-085)
• Karen Lupton (D, HD-083)
• Kasey Carpenter (R, HD-004)
• Frank Ginn (R, SD-047)

1. AprobadaVotación: Cámara de Representantes6 de marzo de 2026

   134 a favor, 28 en contra (2 sin votar, 13 ausentes)

   Passage: House Vote #672

• utility shutoffs
• electric service
• public health
• consumer protection
• medical certification