Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

BILL AS INTRODUCED                                                       H.668
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                                       H.668
 Introduced by Representatives Stebbins of Burlington, Cordes of Lincoln,
                Torre of Moretown, Anthony of Barre City, Campbell of St.
                Johnsbury, Cole of Hartford, Headrick of Burlington, Hyman of
                South Burlington, Leavitt of Grand Isle, Logan of Burlington,
                McGill of Bridport, Mrowicki of Putney, Mulvaney-Stanak of
                Burlington, Pouech of Hinesburg, Sims of Craftsbury,
                Templeman of Brownington, and Troiano of Stannard
 Referred to Committee on
 Date:
 Subject: Utilities; electric; rates; low-income ratepayers
 Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to require the
 Public Utility Commission to propose in the form of draft legislation a low-
 income electric ratepayer protection program that is funded on a statewide
 basis.
    An act relating to the Low-Income Electric Ratepayer Protection Act
 It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
 Sec. 1. SHORT TITLE
    This act shall be known as the “Low-Income Electric Ratepayer Act.”
                                                                      VT LEG #373240 v.2
     BILL AS INTRODUCED                                                          H.668
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 Sec. 2. 30 V.S.A. § 209c is amended to read:
 § 209c. ELECTRICITY AFFORDABILITY PROGRAM
    (a) The Public Utility Commission shall design a new proposed electricity
 affordability low-income electric ratepayer protection program in the form of
 draft legislation. The program shall be developed with the aid of an electricity
 affordability program collaborative. The collaborative, composed of
 representatives from the electric utilities, residential customers, consumer
 representatives, low-income program representatives, representatives from
 programs for elders, the Department of Public Service, the Agency of Human
 Services, and other stakeholders identified by the Commission, shall aid in the
 development of an electricity affordability program, as well as requirements
 for the implementation and funding of the program. The proposed electricity
 affordability program will be presented to the Vermont General Assembly in
 the form of draft legislation for consideration in January 2007 2025.
    (b) The proposed electricity affordability low-income electric ratepayer
 protection program shall provide assistance in the payment of electricity bills
 for eligible low-income residential customers served by electric companies
 subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission so that no household at or below
 60 percent of State median income pays more than 10 percent of monthly
 income on electricity if the household heats with electricity and not more than
 six percent if the household does not heat with electricity.
                                                                       VT LEG #373240 v.2
     BILL AS INTRODUCED                                                        H.668
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    (c) In developing the electricity affordability program, the Commission
 shall review the successes and administrative burdens of similar programs in
 operation in other states and consider the following goals, which shall be
 afforded equal weight in formulating the program The program shall:
       (1) the need to provide payment assistance to low-income customers at
 and below 150 percent of the federal poverty level be administered on a
 statewide basis by a State agency or an entity supervised by the Commission;
       (2) use the need for automatic screening and enrollment methods of
 eligible customers by means of information obtained from existing means-
 tested financial assistance programs administered by other Vermont agencies
 such as food stamps, Medicaid, LIHEAP, or TANF; and
       (3) the need to design a program that is funded by all customer classes
 in an equitable and reasonable manner and that results in the reimbursement of
 net incremental costs incurred by electric utilities to implement the program,
 taking into consideration the benefits as well as the costs be funded on a
 statewide basis; and
       (4) include arrearage forgiveness.
    (d) The Commission shall consider alternative means of funding the
 program, including a voluntary additional monthly payment option available to
 all ratepayers, a surcharge on non-low-income ratepayers that use high VT LEG #373240 v.2
    BILL AS INTRODUCED                                                   H.668
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 volumes of electricity, and any other funding mechanism deemed appropriate
 by the Commission.
 Sec. 3. REPEAL
   30 V.S.A. § 218(e) is repealed.
 Sec. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE
   This act shall take effect on passage.
                                                                 VT LEG #373240 v.2
Statutes affected: 
As Introduced: 30-209c, 30-218(e), 30-218