35-A §3214. Needs-based low-income assistance - Maine Statutes

Title 35-A: PUBLIC UTILITIES HEADING: PL 1987, C. 141, PT. A, §6 (NEW)

Part 3: ELECTRIC POWER HEADING: PL 1987, C. 141, PT. A, §6 (NEW)

Chapter 32: ELECTRIC INDUSTRY RESTRUCTURING HEADING: PL 1997, C. 316, §3 (NEW)

§3214. Needs-based low-income assistance

1. Policy. In order to meet legitimate needs of electricity consumers who are unable to pay their electricity bills in full and who satisfy eligibility criteria for assistance, and recognizing that electricity is a basic necessity to which all residents of the State should have access, it is the policy of the State to ensure adequate provision of financial assistance.

[ 1997, c. 316, §3 (NEW) .]

2. Low-income assistance. In order to continue existing levels of financial assistance for low-income households and to meet future increases in need caused by economic exigencies, the commission shall:

A. Receive funds collected by all transmission and distribution utilities in the State at a rate set by the commission in periodic rate cases; and [1997, c. 316, §3 (NEW).]

B. Set initial funding for programs based on an assessment of aggregate customer need in periodic rate cases. The funding formula may not result in assistance being counted as income or as a resource in other means-tested assistance programs for low-income households. To the extent possible, assistance must be provided in a manner most likely to prevent the loss of other federal assistance. [1997, c. 316, §3 (NEW).]

[ 1997, c. 316, §3 (NEW) .]

3. Special rate. Nothing in this section may be construed to prohibit a transmission and distribution utility from offering any special rate or program for low-income customers that is not in effect as of the effective date of this chapter, subject to the approval of the commission.

[ 1997, c. 316, §3 (NEW) .]

4. Financial support. If the Legislature appropriates from the General Fund financial support for households and individuals receiving assistance under this section, the commission may not terminate the assistance provided by transmission and distribution utilities unless the General Fund source has completely replaced such assistance. The commission may adjust the assistance provided pursuant to this section based on the amount of any financial support from the General Fund and may reinstitute assistance subsequent to any termination of assistance if the commission finds that the General Fund source no longer completely replaces such assistance.

[ 1997, c. 316, §3 (NEW) .]

5. Ensuring equitable treatment for persons with certain disabilities. If the commission establishes or approves one or more low-income assistance programs under subsection 2 or 3 that result in similarly situated persons receiving different levels of assistance depending solely upon which transmission and distribution utility service territory they reside in, the commission shall by rule establish an equitable-treatment program consistent with this subsection.

A. The equitable-treatment program must be available to any person who:

(1) Is eligible for benefits under the transmission and distribution utility's low-income assistance program established in accordance with subsection 2; and

(2) Provides documentation from a doctor that the person for health reasons needs an oxygen pump or ventilator at least 8 hours each day. [2007, c. 97, §1 (AMD).]

B. The equitable-treatment program must be designed to ensure that the low-income assistance benefits provided under this section to persons who qualify under paragraph A mitigate, to an extent that is reasonably equivalent in each transmission and distribution utility territory, electric charges associated with the operation of an oxygen pump or ventilator. The commission may not reduce any assistance provided under any low-income assistance program established under subsection 2 in order to satisfy the requirements of this paragraph. [2007, c. 97, §2 (AMD).]

C. The commission shall establish an administratively simple and inexpensive method of administering the equitable-treatment program. [2005, c. 132, §1 (NEW).]

D. Reasonable costs incurred by a transmission and distribution utility in implementing any program established by the commission under this subsection are just and reasonable expenses for rate-making purposes. [2005, c. 132, §1 (NEW).]

E. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. [2005, c. 132, §1 (NEW).]

[ 2007, c. 97, §§1, 2 (AMD) .]

6. Annual report. The commission shall include in its annual report pursuant to section 120, subsection 7 a report on low-income assistance programs established or approved under subsection 2 or 3 and any equitable-treatment program established pursuant to subsection 5. The report must, at a minimum, include:

A. For each month of the program year, the number of participants enrolled in low-income assistance programs, the number receiving oxygen pump benefits and the number receiving ventilator benefits; [2007, c. 97, §3 (NEW).]

B. For each month of the program year, the dollar amount of low-income assistance program benefits, the dollar amount of oxygen pump benefits and the dollar amount of ventilator benefits; and [2007, c. 97, §3 (NEW).]

C. An assessment of the effectiveness of the oxygen pump benefit and the ventilator benefit with regard to covering only those electric charges directly related to use of an oxygen pump or ventilator by the program participant. [2007, c. 97, §3 (NEW).]

[ 2009, c. 122, §14 (AMD) .]

SECTION HISTORY

1997, c. 316, §3 (NEW). 2005, c. 132, §1 (AMD). 2007, c. 97, §§1-3 (AMD). 2009, c. 122, §14 (AMD).