Amendment #53 to H5151

No mass Save Fees for Low-Income

Mr. Vaughn of Wrentham moves to amend the bill By adding the following sections:

“SECTION XXX. Chapter 164 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after Section 151 the following new section:

Section 152 (a) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, no electric distribution company or gas distribution company shall assess or collect any public benefit charge, as defined in subsection (d) from a low-income residential customer, as defined in subsection (c).

(b) This section shall apply to public benefit energy charges assessed on:

(1) electric energy consumption measured in kilowatt-hours;

(2) natural gas consumption measured in therms or equivalent units; and

(3) any other energy consumption unit used for the recovery of public benefit program costs, including but not limited to delivered fuels where such charges are authorized by law or regulation.

 (c) For the purposes of this section, “Low-income residential customer” shall mean a residential electric or gas customer who:

(1) is enrolled in, or determined eligible for, any means-tested assistance program including but not limited to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), MassHealth, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC), Special Supplemental Nutrition program for Women, Infants, and Children or Veterans Chapter 115 benefits or any successor program thereto; or

(2) resides in a household with an income of $65,000 or less.

 (d) For the purposes of this section, “public benefit energy charge” shall mean any charge listed on utility bills as “Public Benefits” to fund programs, including but not limited to: Energy Efficiency Charge, Residential Assistance Charge, Renewable or Clean Energy Programs, Distributed Solar Charge, and Electric Vehicle Charge.

SECTION XXX. (a) Within 180 days of the effective date of this act, The Department of Public Utilities shall initiate proceedings to revise utility tariffs and billing practices to ensure compliance with section 24 of chapter 25”

Additional co-sponsor(s) added to Amendment #53 to H5151

No mass Save Fees for Low-Income