BACKGROUND
On August 4, 2016, the FCC released an order in response to petitions by Edison Electric Institute and the American Gas Association allowing utility companies to make robocalls and send automated texts, concerning matters closely related to the utility service, to customers who provide their telephone numbers. The TCPA is codified at section 227 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended. See 47 U.S.C. § 227. The FCC’s decision in its entirety can be obtained at: https://www.fcc.gov/document/blackboardedison-tcpa-declaratory-ruling.
QUICK FACTS
Utility companies can provide notification to the telephone number provided by the customer about:
- planned or unplanned service outages or service restoration;
- confirmation of service restoration or lack of service;
- meter work, tree trimming, or other field work that directly affects the customer’s utility service;
- eligibility for subsidized or low-cost services; and
- potential brown-outs due to heavy energy usage.