Bill Text: MN HF2466 | 2013-2014 | 88th Legislature | Engrossed
Bill Title: Low-income residential electric customer programs regulated.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-03-04 - Second reading [HF2466 Detail]
Download: Minnesota-2013-HF2466-Engrossed.html
1.2relating to public utilities; regulating low-income residential electric customer
1.3programs;amending Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 216B.16, subdivision 14.
1.4BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.5 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 216B.16, subdivision 14, is amended to
1.6read:
1.7 Subd. 14. Low-income electric rate discount. A public utility shall fund an
1.8affordability program for low-income customersin an amount based on a 50 percent electric
1.9rate discount on the first 400 kilowatt-hours consumed in a billing period for low-income
1.10residential customers of the utility at a base annual funding level of $8,000,000. The annual
1.11funding level shall increase in the calendar years subsequent to each commission approval
1.12of a rate increase for the public utility's residential customers by the same percentage as the
1.13approved residential rate increase. Costs for the program shall be included in the utility's
1.14base rate. For the purposes of this subdivision, "low-income" describes a customer who is
1.15receiving assistance from the federal low-income home energy assistance program. The
1.16affordability program must be designed to target participating customers with the lowest
1.17incomes and highest energy costs in order to lower the percentage of income they devote
1.18to energy bills, increase their payments, lower utility service disconnections, andlower
1.19 decrease costs associated with collection activities on their accounts. For low-income
1.20customers who are 62 years of age or older or disabled, the program must, in addition to
1.21any other program benefits, include a 50 percent electric rate discount on the first 400
1.22kilowatt-hours consumed in a $15 discount in each billing period. For the purposes of this
1.23subdivision, "public utility" includes only those public utilities with more than 200,000
2.1residential electric service customers. The commission may issue orders necessary to
2.2implement, administer, and recover the costs of the program on a timely basis.
2.3EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective October 1, 2014.
1.3programs;amending Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 216B.16, subdivision 14.
1.4BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.5 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 216B.16, subdivision 14, is amended to
1.6read:
1.7 Subd. 14. Low-income electric rate discount. A public utility shall fund an
1.8affordability program for low-income customers
1.9
1.10
1.11funding level shall increase in the calendar years subsequent to each commission approval
1.12of a rate increase for the public utility's residential customers by the same percentage as the
1.13approved residential rate increase. Costs for the program shall be included in the utility's
1.14base rate. For the purposes of this subdivision, "low-income" describes a customer who is
1.15receiving assistance from the federal low-income home energy assistance program. The
1.16affordability program must be designed to target participating customers with the lowest
1.17incomes and highest energy costs in order to lower the percentage of income they devote
1.18to energy bills, increase their payments, lower utility service disconnections, and
1.19 decrease costs associated with collection activities on their accounts. For low-income
1.20customers who are 62 years of age or older or disabled, the program must
1.21
1.22
1.23subdivision, "public utility" includes only those public utilities with more than 200,000
2.1residential electric service customers. The commission may issue orders necessary to
2.2implement, administer, and recover the costs of the program on a timely basis.
2.3EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective October 1, 2014.
