54-7-13.6 - Low-income assistance program.
54-7-13.6. Low-income assistance program.
(1) As used in this section, "eligible customer" means an electrical corporation or a gascorporation customer:
(a) that earns no more than:
(i) 125% of the federal poverty level; or
(ii) another percentage of the federal poverty level as determined by the commission byorder; and
(b) whose eligibility is certified by the Utah Department of Community and Culture.
(2) A customer's income eligibility for the program described in this section shall berenewed annually.
(3) An eligible customer may not receive assistance at more than one residential locationat any one time.
(4) Notwithstanding Section 54-3-8, the commission may approve a low-incomeassistance program to provide bill payment assistance to low-income residential customers of:
(a) an electrical corporation with more than 50,000 customers; or
(b) a gas corporation with more than 50,000 customers.
(5) (a) (i) Subject to Subsection (5)(a)(ii), low-income assistance program funding fromeach rate class may be in an amount determined by the commission.
(ii) Low-income assistance program funding described in Subsection (5)(a)(i) may notexceed 0.5% of the rate class's retail revenues.
(b) (i) Low-income assistance program funding for bill payment assistance shall beprovided through a surcharge on the monthly bill of each Utah retail customer of the electricalcorporation or gas corporation providing the program.
(ii) The surcharge described in Subsection (5)(b)(i) may not be collected from customerscurrently participating in the low-income assistance program.
(c) (i) Subject to Subsection (5)(c)(ii), the monthly surcharge described in Subsection(5)(b)(i) shall be calculated as an equal percentage of revenues from all rate schedules.
(ii) The monthly surcharge described in Subsection (5)(b)(i) may not exceed $50 permonth for any customer, adjusted periodically as the commission determines appropriate forinflation.
(6) (a) An eligible customer shall receive a billing credit on the monthly electric or gasbill for the customer's residence.
(b) The amount of the billing credit described in Subsection (6)(a) shall be determined bythe commission based on:
(i) the projected funding of the low-income assistance program;
(ii) the projected customer participation in the low-income assistance program; and
(iii) other factors that the commission determines relevant.
(c) The monthly billing credit and the monthly surcharge shall be adjusted concurrentlywith the final order in a general rate increase or decrease case under Section 54-7-12 for theelectrical corporation or gas corporation providing the program or as determined by thecommission.
Amended by Chapter 324, 2010 General Session