A bill aimed at giving consumers a break from high energy bills, is the first of the legislative session to head to the governor's desk.

Senate Bill 172 hopes to ease the sticker shock of power bills by letting utilities spread out billing to help ratepayers keep the lights on.

Republican state Senator Philip Wheeler of Pikeville says he brought the bill after hearing ratepayers, especially those in eastern Kentucky, complain that their monthly energy bills had more than doubled.

The bill passed the Senate last week.

State Representative Patrick Flannery of Olive Hill carried the bill on the House floor yesterday.

Very simply what this does it it's very consumer friendly.

Give some help to consumers when there is a sudden spike in the cost of energy, what you have and sometimes very extreme weather conditions, prices go up substantially, sometimes double and will triple in the cost.

And when that happens, it obviously causes, a very significant increase, for next month or the following months.

Bill.

This bill would allow up for the Public Service Commission when there is a request from the provider to spread that cost out over several month period, making it more affordable for the consumer.

If there are no more questions, I move passage of Senate Bill 172.

And Senate Bill 172 did pass, and it's now on the governor's desk.

It would become law once it's signed.