Municipally owned utilities; authorize to accept electronic payments and to absorb transaction fees in its rate base.

SB 2070 allows Mississippi municipalities to authorize their publicly owned utilities (such as water, electricity, or gas systems) to accept electronic payments like credit or debit cards. The bill requires utilities to absorb any transaction fees from these payments by including them in their rate base, meaning customers won’t pay extra fees for using electronic methods - instead, the cost is covered through standard utility rates. This change directly affects municipal utilities and their customers by simplifying payment options without adding separate charges. It does not alter existing service rates or require new customer fees.