State regulators set limits on retroactive billing by utilities

Washington regulators approved new rules to protect utility customers from getting saddled with high energy bills based on inaccurate meter readings.

When customers have been undercharged because of company errors, utilities can only collect six months of retroactive payments. The new rules were adopted Monday by the state Utilities and Transportation Commission.

“Burdening an unsuspecting customer with a bill going back several years is unacceptable,” David Danner, the commission chairman, said in a news release.

The new rules should reduce the number of retroactive bills, he said. The new rules also require companies to correct some billing errors within 60 days.

The rules apply to investor-owned electric and natural gas utilities, such as Avista Utilities, which are regulated by the state.

It’s still important for utility customers to check their bills monthly for discrepancies, said Anna Gill, a commission spokeswoman.

If there’s a large drop in the billing amount, it could be a sign that the meter is malfunctioning, she said.