HOUSE BILL REPORT

EHB 2667

BYRepresentatives Phillips, Nutley, Nelson, Holland, Wang, Hankins, Wineberry and Anderson

Changing provisions relating to low-income home energy assistance and creating a joint select committee on low-income home energy assistance.

House Committe on Energy & Utilities

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (11)

      Signed by Representatives Nelson, Chair; H. Myers, Vice Chair; Hankins, Ranking Republican Member; Bennett, Cooper, Jacobsen, Jesernig, May, R. Meyers, Miller and S. Wilson.

House Staff:Fred Adair (786-7113)

AS PASSED HOUSE FEBRUARY 13, 1990

BACKGROUND:

Winter heating expenses can be overwhelming in some cases for low-income persons, sometimes exceeding mortgage or rent payments. Among the programs to bring relief is one wherein the supply of heating energy cannot be cut off between November 15 and March 15 if the low-income person follows prescribed steps.

This program does not provide a subsidy.  Rather, it allows for reduced energy payments in the winter, but any difference between the reduced winter payments and the cost of service must be made up in the summer (along with paying current bills).

The program was implemented in 1984, renewed in 1986, and currently expires on June 30, 1990.  It received limited use initially and even less over the years.  However, the measure is considered by many to have greatly increased awareness of the low-income home heating problem and promoted the establishment of other programs.

Principal financial assistance for low-income persons in meeting home heating energy bills has come from the federal low-income home energy assistance program and the state's Energy Matchmakers program (deriving from oil overcharge settlement moneys).  Both of these programs are declining significantly in available funding, but the needs of low-income people are not. Other extant programs are not of the scope and magnitude of these receding programs. Systematic study to develop new or revised programs to supplant the receding ones has been suggested.

SUMMARY:

The winter heat shutoff moratorium program is continued for one year with slight modification.

A joint select committee on low-income home heating service policies and programs is created to review programs in this and other states and elsewhere and make recommendations to the Legislature by November 1, 1990, on new or revised programs to provide home heating energy assistance for low-income persons.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

Effective Date:The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Kathy Kreiter, Department of Community Development; Arnold Livingston, Senior Citizen Lobby; David Girard, Evergreen Legal Services and Puget Sound Council of Senior Citizens; Mike Ryherd, Washington Low-Income Housing Congress; and Ron Newbry, Pacific Power & Light Company.

House Committee - Testified Against:      No one.

House Committee - Testimony For:    The moratorium program itself was little used, but it prompted a number of other assistance programs and benefits.  However, the low-income home heating program is a larger issue, heightened at this time by declining assistance funding but a growing need.  There is need to study the problem broadly to develop adequate solutions.  A working group of state agencies, utilities, and low-income interest groups has worked throughout the past year to develop this bill.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None.