AN ACT Relating to reduced utility rates for certain low income persons; amending RCW 74.38.070 and 80.28.080; and adding a new section to chapter 80.28 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1. Section 1, chapter 116, Laws of 1979 as amended by section 1, chapter 160, Laws of 1980 and RCW 74.38.070 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any county, city, town, municipal corporation, or quasi municipal corporation providing utility services may provide such services at reduced rates for low income senior citizens, low income disabled veterans, and low income blind or disabled citizens: PROVIDED, That, for the purposes of this section, "low income senior citizen," "low income disabled veteran," and "low income blind or disabled citizen" shall be defined by appropriate ordinance or resolution adopted by the governing body of the county, city, town, municipal corporation, or quasi municipal corporation providing the utility services except as provided in subsection (2) of this section. Any reduction in rates granted in whatever manner to low income senior citizens, low income disabled veterans, and low income blind or disabled citizens in one part of a service area shall be uniformly extended to low income senior citizens, low income disabled veterans, and low income blind or disabled citizens in all other parts of the service area.

(2) For purposes of implementing this section by any public utility district((,)):

(a) "Low income senior citizen" means a person who is sixty-two years of age or older and whose total income, including that of his or her spouse or cotenant, does not exceed the amount specified in RCW 84.36.381(5)(b)((~~, as now or hereafter amended~~));

(b) "Low income disabled veteran" means any person whose total income including that of his or her spouse or cotenant does not exceed the amount specified in RCW 84.36.381(5)(b), who is a veteran as defined under RCW 41.04.005 with a service-connected disability rating from the veterans administration and: (i) Has lost the use of both hands or one foot; (ii) was captured and incarcerated for more than twenty-nine days by an enemy of the United States during a period of war with the United States; (iii) has become blind in both eyes as the result of military service; or (iv) is rated by the veterans administration and is receiving service-connected compensation at the one hundred percent rate that is expected to exist for more than one year; and

(c) "Low income blind or disabled citizen" means any person who is a recipient of social security income as provided under Public Laws 92-603 and 93-66 and whose total income including that of his or her spouse or cotenant does not exceed the amount specified in RCW 84.36.381(5)(b).

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 80.28 RCW to read as follows:

(1) The utilities and transportation commission shall adopt rules for authorizing reduced utility charges and rates for low-income disabled veterans and low-income blind or disabled citizens by utilities regulated under chapter 80.28 RCW. The commission shall consider low-income rates and charges upon request of any county, city, town, public service company, the public counsel, or upon its own motion.

(2) Any reduction in charges and rates granted to low-income citizens in one part of a service area shall be uniformly extended to low-income citizens in all other parts of the service area.

(3) Notification of special rates or charges established under this chapter shall be provided annually and upon initiation of utility service to all persons receiving utility services. Information on cost shifts caused by the establishment of special rates or charges shall be included in the notification.

Sec. 3. Section 80.28.080, chapter 14, Laws of 1961 as amended by section 116, chapter 154, Laws of 1973 1st ex. sess. and RCW 80.28.080 are each amended to read as follows:

No gas company, electrical company or water company shall charge, demand, collect or receive a greater or less or different compensation for any service rendered or to be rendered than the rates and charges applicable to such service as specified in its schedule filed and in effect at the time, nor shall any such company directly or indirectly refund or remit in any manner or by any device any portion of the rates or charges so specified, or furnish its product at free or reduced rates except to its employees and their families, and its officers, attorneys, and agents; to hospitals, charitable and eleemosynary institutions and persons engaged in charitable and eleemosynary work; to indigent and destitute persons; to low-income disabled veterans and low-income blind or disabled citizens as defined in RCW 74.38.070; and to national homes or state homes for disabled volunteer soldiers and soldiers' and sailors' homes: PROVIDED, That the term "employees" as used in this paragraph shall include furloughed, pensioned and superannuated employees, persons who have become disabled or infirm in the service of any such company; and the term "families," as used in this paragraph, shall include the families of those persons named in this proviso, the families of persons killed or dying in the service, also the families of persons killed, and the surviving spouse prior to remarriage, and the minor children during minority of persons who died while in the service of any of the companies named in this paragraph: AND PROVIDED, FURTHER, That water companies may furnish free or at reduced rates water for the use of the state, or for any project in which the state is interested.

No gas company, electrical company or water company shall extend to any person or corporation any form of contract or agreement or any rule or regulation or any privilege or facility except such as are regularly and uniformly extended to all persons and corporations under like circumstances.