The Georgia

Public Service Commission has approved new rules requiring gas marketers

to provide timely, fair and accurate bills.

Thousands of

consumer complaints over late natural gas bills sparked the action, according

to a PSC press release.

The rules require

marketers to mail bills within 45 days after the distribution company

reads the customer's meters. If the marketer fails to do so, it must allow

the customer a "reasonable time" to pay the charges, at least

as long as the period of time it took to send the bill.

Marketers may

not charge interest on any of the late bill amounts and can't disconnect

gas service during this period.

Customers are

still responsible for paying for any gas used, though.

The rules spell

out required items that must be printed on each gas bill, including time

of the billing period, cost per unit of the specific quantity of gas used,

interstate capacity charge, exact amount of the base charge, any customer

service charge and any credits or balance owed.

Bills also

must include a toll-free number for customer service "in a clear

and conspicuous place."

Marketers also

have to give notice of any new customer service charges 25 days before

they take effect, and the notice must be in "clear and conspicuous"

language.

The commission

can levy fines of up to $15,000 for violation of the rules, and an additional

maximum of $10,000 for each day the violation continues. A marketer that

repeatedly or willfully violates the rules can have its license suspended

or revoked.