Brief Description: Allowing public utility districts to disburse low-income energy assistance contributions.

Sponsors: By Representatives Fromhold, Curtis, Moeller, Orcutt, Wallace, Dunn, Santos and Simpson.

House Committee on Technology, Energy & Communications
Senate Committee on Water, Energy & Telecommunications

Background:

Low-Income Heating and Energy Assistance Program.
The Low-Income Heating and Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is a federally funded block grant that provides money to help low-income households make home heating more affordable, avoid shutoff of utility services during the winter, and maintain a warm, safe and healthy environment for households with young children, the elderly, and the disabled. The LIHEAP payments are made to energy companies in most cases, or directly to clients to help pay a portion of home heating costs. The Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development (Department) administers federally funded energy assistance programs for the state.

Voluntary Contributions to Assist Low-Income Customers.
Public utility districts (district) are municipal corporations authorized under Washington statute to conserve the water and power resources of Washington and to supply public utility service, including water and electricity for all uses. As part of its regular customer billings, a district may request voluntary contributions to assist qualified low-income residential customers of the district in paying their electricity, water, and sewer bills.

All funds received by the district in response to such requests are transmitted to the Department or to a charitable organization within the district's service area. These funds are used solely to supplement assistance to low-income residential customers of the district in paying their electricity bills.

The Department or charitable organization is responsible for determining which of the district's customers are qualified for low-income assistance and the amount of assistance to be provided to those who are qualified.

Disbursal of Voluntary Contributions.
All assistance provided by these voluntary contributions is disbursed by the Department or charitable organization. Where possible, the district will be paid on behalf of the customer. When direct vendor payment is not feasible, a check will be issued jointly payable to the customer and to the district.

The availability of funds for assistance to a district's low-income customers as a result of voluntary contributions must not reduce the amount of assistance for which the district's customers are eligible under the federally funded energy assistance programs administered by the grantee of the Department within the district's service area.

Summary:

Voluntary Contributions to Assist Low-Income Customers.
A district is allowed to retain funds received, determine which of the district's customers are qualified for low-income assistance, calculate the amount of assistance to be provided to those who are qualified, and disburse assistance funds to those who qualify.

Votes on Final Passage:

House   93   1
Senate   48   0

Effective: July 22, 2007