House File 347 - Introduced HOUSE FILE BY COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE (SUCCESSOR TO HSB 92) Passed House, Date Passed Senate, Date Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays Approved A BILL FOR 1 An Act establishing an energy utility assessment and resolution 2 program for certain persons with low incomes who have or need 3 a deferred payment agreement to address home energy utility 4 costs and making an appropriation. 5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 6 TLSB 1064HV 82 7 jp/sh/8 PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. NEW SECTION. 216A.104 ENERGY UTILITY 1 2 ASSESSMENT AND RESOLUTION PROGRAM. 1 3 1. The general assembly finds that provision of assistance 1 4 to prevent utility disconnections will also prevent the 1 5 development of public health risks due to such disconnections. 1 6 The division shall establish an energy utility assessment and 1 7 resolution program administered by each community action 1 8 agency for persons with low incomes who have or need a 1 9 deferred payment agreement or are in need of an emergency fuel 1 10 delivery to address home energy utility costs. 1 11 2. A person must meet all of the following requirements to 1 12 be eligible for the program: 1 13 a. The person is eligible for the federal low=income home 1 14 energy assistance program. 1 15 b. The person is a residential customer of an energy 1 16 utility approved for the program by the division. 1 17 c. The person has or is in need of a deferred payment 1 18 agreement to address the person's home energy utility costs. 1 19 d. The person is able to maintain or regain residential 1 20 energy utility service in the person's own name. 1 21 e. The person provides the information necessary to 1 22 determine the person's eligibility for the program. 1 23 f. The person complies with other eligibility requirements 1 24 adopted in rules by the division. 1 25 3. The program components shall include but are not 1 26 limited to all of the following: 1 27 a. Analysis of a program participant's current financial 1 28 situation. 1 29 b. Review of a program participant's resource and money 1 30 management options. 1 31 c. Skills development and assistance for a program 1 32 participant in negotiating a deferred payment agreement with 1 33 the participant's energy utility. 1 34 d. Development of a written household energy affordability 1 35 plan. 2 1 e. Provision of energy conservation training and 2 2 assistance. 2 3 f. A requirement that a program participant must make 2 4 uninterrupted, regular utility payments while participating in 2 5 the program. 2 6 4. The division shall implement accountability measures 2 7 for the program and require regular reporting on the measures 2 8 by the community action agencies. 2 9 5. The division shall implement the program statewide, 2 10 subject to the funding made available for the program. 2 11 6. This section is repealed on July 1, 2010. 2 12 Sec. 2. ENERGY UTILITY ASSESSMENT AND RESOLUTION PROGRAM 2 13 == APPROPRIATION. There is appropriated from the general fund 2 14 of the state to the division of community action agencies of 2 15 the department of human rights for the fiscal year beginning 2 16 July 1, 2007, and ending June 30, 2008, the following amount, 2 17 or so much thereof as is necessary, to be used for the purpose 2 18 designated: 2 19 For implementation of the energy utility assessment and 2 20 resolution program in accordance with section 216A.104, as 2 21 enacted by this Act: 2 22 .................................................. $ 1,000,000 2 23 EXPLANATION 2 24 This bill creates an energy utility assessment and 2 25 resolution program for certain persons with low incomes who 2 26 have or need a deferred payment agreement to address home 2 27 energy utility costs. The bill establishes a legislative 2 28 finding that the provision of assistance to prevent utility 2 29 disconnections will prevent certain public health risks. The 2 30 program is established in the division of community action 2 31 agencies of the department of human rights in new Code section 2 32 216A.104. 2 33 Individual eligibility requirements and program components 2 34 are specified in the bill. The program is to be administered 2 35 by each community action agency and each agency must report on 3 1 accountability measures identified by the division. 3 2 The bill includes an appropriation of $1 million for fiscal 3 3 year 2007=2008 to implement the program. 3 4 The program is repealed in three years on July 1, 2010. 3 5 LSB 1064HV 82 3 6 jp:nh/sh/8