Text: HF02527 Text: HF02529 Text: HF02500 - HF02599 Text: HF Index Bills and Amendments: General Index Bill History: General Index
PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. Section 216A.102, Code 2001, is amended to read 1 2 as follows: 1 3 216A.102 ENERGYCRISISASSISTANCE FUND. 1 4 1. An energycrisisassistance fund is created in the 1 5 state treasury. Moneys deposited in the fund shall be used to 1 6 assist low-income families who qualify for the low-income 1 7 heating energy assistance program to avoid loss of essential 1 8 heating, to assist low-income customers with weatherization 1 9 measures to improve energy efficiency related to winter 1 10 heating and summer cooling, and to supplement the energy 1 11 assistance received under the federal low-income heating 1 12 energy assistance program for the payment of winter heating 1 13 electric or gas utility bills. 1 14 2. The fund may receive moneys including, but not limited 1 15 to, the following: 1 16 a. Moneys appropriated by the general assembly for the 1 17 fund. 1 18b. Moneys credited to the fund under section 473.11.1 19c. After July 1, 1988, unclaimed patronage dividends of1 20electric cooperative corporations or associations shall be1 21applied to the fund following the time specified in section1 22556.12 for claiming the dividend from the holder.1 23d.b.The fund may also receive contributionsMoneys 1 24 credited to the fund from customer contribution funds 1 25establishedunder section 476.66. 1 26 c. Any other moneys available to, obtained, or accepted by 1 27 the division for placement in the fund. 1 28 3. Under rules developed by the division of community 1 29 action agencies of the department of human rights, the fund 1 30 may also be used to negotiate reconnection of essential 1 31 utility services with the energy provider. 1 32 4. Notwithstanding section 12C.7, subsection 2, interest 1 33 or earnings on moneys deposited in the energy assistance fund 1 34 shall be credited to the fund. Notwithstanding section 8.33, 1 35 moneys remaining in the energy assistance fund at the end of a 2 1 fiscal year shall not revert but shall remain available for 2 2 the purposes intended. 2 3 Sec. 2. Section 476.1A, Code Supplement 2001, is amended 2 4 by adding the following new subsection: 2 5 NEW SUBSECTION. 8. Filing a study of assessment of 2 6 potential energy and capacity savings available from actual 2 7 and projected customer usage by applying commercially 2 8 available technology and improved operating practices to 2 9 energy-using equipment and buildings. 2 10 Sec. 3. Section 476.1B, subsection 1, Code Supplement 2 11 2001, is amended by adding the following new paragraph: 2 12 NEW PARAGRAPH. o. Filing a study of assessment of 2 13 potential energy and capacity savings available from actual 2 14 and projected customer usage by applying commercially 2 15 available technology and improved operating practices to 2 16 energy-using equipment and buildings. 2 17 Sec. 4. Section 476.1C, subsection 1, unnumbered paragraph 2 18 2, Code 2001, is amended to read as follows: 2 19 Gas public utilities having fewer than two thousand 2 20 customers shall be subject to the assessment of fees for the 2 21 support of the Iowa energy center created in section 266.39C 2 22 and the center for global and regional environmental research 2 23 created by the state board of regents,andshall file energy 2 24 efficiency plans and energy efficiency results with the board, 2 25 and shall file a study of assessment of potential energy and 2 26 capacity savings available from actual and projected customer 2 27 usage by applying commercially available technology and 2 28 improved operating practices to energy-using equipment and 2 29 buildings. The energy efficiency plans as a whole shall be 2 30 cost-effective. The board may waive all or part of the energy 2 31 efficiency filing requirements if the gas utility demonstrates 2 32 superior results with existing energy efficiency efforts. 2 33 Sec. 5. Section 476.6, subsection 19, paragraphs a and b, 2 34 Code Supplement 2001, are amended to read as follows: 2 35 a. Gas and electric utilities, whether or not required to 3 1 be rate-regulated under this chapter, shall file energy 3 2 efficiency plans with the board. An energy efficiency plan 3 3 and budget shall include a range of programs, tailored to the 3 4 needs of all customer classes, including residential, 3 5 commercial, and industrial customers, for energy efficiency 3 6 opportunities. The plans shall include programs for qualified 3 7 low-income persons including a cooperative program with any 3 8 community action agency within the utility's service area to 3 9 implement countywide or communitywide energy efficiency 3 10 programs for qualified low-income persons. Rate-regulated gas 3 11 and electric utilities shall utilize Iowa agencies and Iowa 3 12 contractors to the maximum extent cost-effective in their 3 13 energy efficiency plans filed with the board. 3 14 b. A gas and electric utility, whether or not required to 3 15 be rate-regulated under this chapter, shall assess potential 3 16 energy and capacity savings available from actual and 3 17 projected customer usage by applying commercially available 3 18 technology and improved operating practices to energy-using 3 19 equipment and buildings. The utility shall submit the 3 20 assessment to the board. Upon receipt of the assessment, the 3 21 board shall consult with the energy bureau of the division of 3 22 energy and geological resources of the department of natural 3 23 resources to develop specific capacity and energy savings 3 24 performance standards for each utility. The utility shall 3 25 submit an energy efficiency planwhichthat shall include 3 26 economically achievable programs designed to attain these 3 27 energy and capacity performance standards. 3 28 Sec. 6. Section 476.20, subsections 2 and 3, Code 2001, 3 29 are amended to read as follows: 3 30 2. a. The board shall establish rules requiring a 3 31 regulated public utility furnishing gas or electricity to 3 32 include in the utility's notice of pending disconnection of 3 33 service a written statement advising the customer that the 3 34 customer may be eligible to participate in the low income home 3 35 energy assistance program or weatherization assistance program 4 1 administered by the division of community action agencies of 4 2 the department of human rights. 4 3 b. The written statement shalllistinclude the following 4 4 information: 4 5 (1) The address and telephone number of the local agency 4 6whichthat is administering the customer's low income home 4 7 energy assistance program and the weatherization assistance 4 8 program.The written statement shall also state4 9 (2) A statement that the customer is advised to contact 4 10 the public utility to settle any of the customer's complaints 4 11 with the public utility, but if a complaint is not settled to 4 12 the customer's satisfaction, the customer may filethea 4 13 complaint with the board.The written statement shall include4 14the4 15 (3) The address and phone number of the board. 4 16 (4) If the notice of pending disconnection of service 4 17 applies to a residence, the written statement shall advise 4 18 that the disconnection does not apply from November 1 through 4 19 April 1for a resident who is a "head of household", as4 20defined by law, and who has been certified to the public4 21utility by the local agency which is administering the low4 22income home energy assistance program and weatherization4 23assistance program as being eligible for either the low income4 24home energy assistance program or weatherization assistance4 25program, and that if such a resident resides within the4 26serviced residence, the customer should promptly have the4 27qualifying resident notify the local agency which is4 28administering the low income home energy assistance program4 29and weatherization assistance programif the customer meets 4 30 the conditions described in subsection 3, paragraph "b". 4 31 c. The board shall establish rules requiring that the 4 32 written notice contain additional information as it deems 4 33 necessary and appropriate. 4 34 3. a. The board shall establish rules which shall be 4 35 uniform with respect to all public utilities furnishing gas or 5 1 electricity relating to disconnection of service. This 5 2 subsection applies both to regulated utilities and to 5 3 municipally owned utilities and unincorporated villages which 5 4 own their own distribution systems, and violations of this 5 5 subsection subject the utilities to civil penalties under 5 6 section 476.51. 5 7A qualified applicant for the low income home energy5 8assistance program or the weatherization assistance program5 9who is also a "head of household", as defined in section5 10422.4, subsection 7, shall be promptly certified by the local5 11agency administering the applicant's program to the5 12applicant's public utility that the resident is a "head of5 13household" as defined in section 422.4, subsection 7, and is5 14qualified for the low income home energy assistance program or5 15weatherization assistance program. Notwithstanding subsection5 161, a5 17 b. A public utility furnishing gas or electricity shall 5 18 not disconnect service from November 1 through April 1 to a 5 19 residencewhich has a resident that has been certified under5 20this paragraphwhere the customer currently is, or has been at 5 21 any time during the previous twelve months, a participant in 5 22 any state or federal assistance program that uses, as an 5 23 eligibility criterion, income at or below one hundred eighty- 5 24 five percent of the most recent federal poverty guidelines 5 25 published by the United States department of health and human 5 26 services, or whose projected adjusted gross income due to a 5 27 demonstrated change in economic circumstances would make the 5 28 customer eligible for such state or federal assistance. The 5 29 public utility may perform income verification. 5 30 Sec. 7. Section 476.66, Code 2001, is amended to read as 5 31 follows: 5 32 476.66 CUSTOMERCONTRIBUTION FUNDCONTRIBUTIONS FOR THE 5 33 ENERGY ASSISTANCE FUND. 5 34 1. The utilities board shall adopt rules which shall 5 35 require each electric and gas public utility toestablish ado 6 1 all of the following: 6 2 a. Collect contributions for the energy assistance fund, 6 3 whose purposes shall include thereceivingreceipt of 6 4 contributions to assistthe utility'sall gas and electric 6 5 low-income customers with weatherization measures to improve 6 6 energy efficiency related to winter heating and summer 6 7 cooling, and to supplement the energy assistance received 6 8 under the federal low-income heating energy assistance program 6 9 for the payment of winter heating electric or gas utility 6 10 bills. Contributions collected pursuant to this provision 6 11 shall be credited to the energy assistance fund established in 6 12 section 216A.102. 6 132. The rules shall require each utility to periodically6 14 b. Periodically notifyitscustomers of the availability 6 15 and purpose of the fund andtoprovide them with forms on 6 16 which they can authorizethetheir utility to bill their 6 17 contribution to the fund on a monthly basis. 6 183.2. The rules shall permit the following: 6 19 a. The fundtomay accept matching funds from persons or 6 20 organizations who wish to provide assistance for customers of 6 21 the utility. 6 224.b.TheA utility may be reimbursed by the fund for the 6 23 administrative costs of the billings, disbursements, notices 6 24 to customers, and financial recordkeeping. However, such 6 25 reimbursement shall not exceed five percent of the total 6 26 revenues collected. 6 275.3. Theutilitydivision of community action agencies of 6 28 the department of human rights shallestablish a board or6 29committee todetermine the appropriate distribution of the 6 30 funds.The board or committee shall include representatives6 31from community or regional organizations which are active in6 32assisting citizens with payment of their winter heating bills.6 336.a. The rules established by the utilities board shall 6 34 require an annual report to be filed foreachthe fund. The 6 35 utilities board shall compile an annual statewide report of 7 1 the fund results. 7 2 b. The division of community action agencies of the 7 3 department of human rights shall prepare an annual report of 7 4 the unmet need for energy assistance and weatherization. 7 5 c. Both reports shall be submitted to the appropriations 7 6 committees of the general assembly on the first day of the 7 7 following session. 7 87. Existing programs to receive customer contributions7 9established by public utilities shall be construed to meet the7 10requirements of this section. Such plans shall be subject to7 11review by the utilities board. If determined not to be in7 12compliance with the provisions of this section, they shall be7 13given until July 1989 to modify their operation so as to be in7 14compliance.7 15 EXPLANATION 7 16 This bill relates to energy, by providing for submission of 7 17 energy reports by certain utilities, expanding the 7 18 applicability of the moratorium on utility disconnections 7 19 during the winter, and providing energy assistance for low- 7 20 income consumers. 7 21 The bill amends Code section 476.6 to provide that all gas 7 22 and electric utilities shall file energy efficiency plans and 7 23 studies of assessment of potential energy savings with the 7 24 utilities board. Currently, all utilities file the energy 7 25 efficiency plans, but only the rate-regulated gas and electric 7 26 utilities file the studies of assessment of potential energy 7 27 savings. Related amendments are made to Code sections 476.1A, 7 28 476.1B, and 476.1C, which address board authority over 7 29 electric cooperatives, municipal utilities, and certain gas 7 30 utilities. 7 31 The bill amends Code section 476.20 to provide that the 7 32 moratorium on disconnection applies to any customer who 7 33 currently is or has been at any time during the last 12 months 7 34 a participant in a state or federal assistance program that 7 35 uses income eligibility at or below 185 percent of the federal 8 1 poverty guidelines, rather than just for low-income home 8 2 energy assistance program (LIHEAP) participants. The bill 8 3 provides that the utility may perform income verification. 8 4 The bill amends Code section 476.66 to provide that 8 5 customer contributions collected to assist low-income persons 8 6 with heating bills should be credited to a single fund, the 8 7 energy assistance fund, rather than the current customer 8 8 contribution funds managed by each utility. Utilities are 8 9 still required to periodically notify customers of the 8 10 availability of the energy assistance fund, and may be 8 11 reimbursed for certain administrative costs. The division of 8 12 community action agencies, department of human rights, shall 8 13 determine the distribution of the fund, which is created in 8 14 Code section 216A.102 as amended. The primary source of 8 15 moneys for the energy assistance fund is customer 8 16 contributions, but moneys may also be appropriated by the 8 17 general assembly and be received from other sources. The fund 8 18 provides that interest earned on moneys in the fund remains in 8 19 the fund, and moneys in the fund do not revert at the end of 8 20 the fiscal year. 8 21 LSB 5559YH 79 8 22 jj/sh/8
Text: HF02527 Text: HF02529 Text: HF02500 - HF02599 Text: HF Index Bills and Amendments: General Index Bill History: General Index
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