New rules to protect consumers from utility billing mistakes

The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission has adopted new rules to protect consumers from utility billing mistakes.

The rules would limit the time energy companies can issue a retroactive bill to six months, and require regulated companies to identify and fix certain billing errors within 60 days.

The rules are designed to prevent consumers from having to repay large amounts of money to a utility and reduce billing errors.

The rules also require utilities to develop and maintain procedures for prompt identification, repair and replacement of inaccurate and broken meters.

The UTC regulates private, investor-owned electric and natural gas utilities in Washington state.

The Associated Press

This story was originally published March 29, 2016 at 1:37 PM with the headline "New rules to protect consumers from utility billing mistakes."