7409 - Universal service and energy conservation. - Pennsylvania Statutes

§ 7409. Universal service and energy conservation. (a) General rule.--Electric cooperative corporations shall ensure that universal service and energy conservation policies, activities and services that they provide as of the effective date of this chapter to assist customers who are low-income to afford electric service are appropriately funded and available within their territories. Such activities shall be funded by nonbypassable, competitively neutral cost-recovery mechanisms that fully recover the costs of universal service and energy conservation services. (b) Definition.--As used in this section, the term "universal service and energy conservation" shall mean policies, protections and services that help low-income customers to maintain electric service, including customer assistance programs and policies and services that help low-income customers to reduce or manage energy consumption in a cost- effective manner, such as the low-income usage reduction programs and customer education.