(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. (2) "Account holder" means the individual in whose name a utility account is established. (3) "Utility" means an electric company, an electricity supplier, a gas company, a gas supplier, a sewage disposal company, a water company, or any combination of these companies. (b) If an account holder's surviving spouse presents to a utility the account holder's death certificate and their marriage certificate or a State or federal tax return filed jointly by the account holder and the surviving spouse in the immediately preceding year, the utility shall, without requiring any further information, other than updated contact information, or imposing any fee or penalty: (1) temporarily keep the account open for a period of not less than 6 months and, during that time, treat the surviving spouse as a joint holder of the account; or (2) transfer the account to the surviving spouse. (c) Notwithstanding subsection (b)(1) of this section, a utility may: (1) in accordance with any other applicable law, impose a fee or penalty or terminate an account for nonpayment; or (2) at the request of the surviving spouse, close the account.
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