Subchapter C. UNIVERSAL SERVICE AND ENERGY CONSERVATION REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
Sec.
54.71. Statement of purpose and policy.
54.72. Definitions.
54.73. Universal service and energy conservation program goals.
54.74. Universal service and energy conservation plans.
54.75. Annual residential collection universal service and energy conservation program reporting requirements.
54.76. Evaluation reporting requirements.
54.77. Electric distribution companies with less than 60,000 residential accounts.
54.78. Public information.
The provisions of this Subchapter C issued under the Public Utility Code, 66 Pa.C.S. § 501; and the Electricity Generation Customer Choice and Competition Act, 66 Pa.C.S. § 2801—2812, unless otherwise noted.
The provisions of this Subchapter C adopted August 7, 1998, effective August 8, 1998, 28 Pa.B. 3793, unless otherwise noted.
Section 2804(9) of the code (relating to standards for restructing of electric industry) mandates that the Commission ensure universal service and energy conservation policies, activities and services for residential electric customers are appropriately funded and available in each EDC territory. This subchapter requires covered EDCs to establish uniform reporting requirements for universal service and energy conservation policies, programs and protections and to report this information to the Commission.
The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
(a) The Commission will determine if the EDC meets the goals of universal service and energy conservation programs.
(b) The general goals of universal service and energy conservation programs include the following:
(1) To protect consumers’ health and safety by helping low-income customers maintain electric service.
(2) To provide for affordable electric service by making available payment assistance to low-income customers.
(3) To assist low-income customers conserve energy and reduce residential utility bills.
This section cited in 52 Pa. Code § 54.77 (relating to electric distribution companies with less than 60,000 residential accounts).
(a) Each EDC shall have an independent third-party conduct an impact evaluation of its universal service and energy conservation programs and provide a report of findings and recommendations to the Commission and EDC.
(b) The first impact evaluation will be due beginning October 31, 2002, on a staggered schedule. Subsequent evaluation reports shall be presented to the EDC and the Commission at no more than 6 year intervals.
(c) To ensure an independent evaluation, neither the EDC nor the Commission shall exercise control over content or recommendations contained in the independent evaluation report. The EDCs may provide the Commission with a companion report that expresses where they agree or disagree with independent evaluation report content or recommendations.
(d) An independent third-party evaluator shall conduct the impact evaluation. This section cited in 52 Pa. Code § 54.77 (relating to electric distribution companies with less than 60,000 residential accounts); and 52 Pa. Code § 69.265 (relating to CAP design elements).
Beginning March 1, 2000, each EDC with less than 60,000 accounts shall report to the Commission every 3 years the following information in lieu of § § 54.74—54.76 (relating to universal service and energy conservation plans; annual residential collection and universal service and energy conservation program reporting requirements; and evaluation reporting requirements):
(1) The universal service and energy conservation plan.
(2) Expenses associated with low-income customers.
(3) A description of the universal service and energy conservation services provided to low-income residential customers.
(4) The number of services or benefits provided to low-income residential customers.
(5) The dollar amount of services or benefits provided to low-income residential customers.
The Commission will annually produce a summary report on the universal service performance of each EDC using the statistics collected as a result of these reporting requirements. The reports will be public information. The Commission will provide the reports to any interested party and post the reports on the Commission’s Internet Website.
§ 54.71. Statement of purpose and policy.
§ 54.72. Definitions.
CAP—Customer Assistance Program—An alternative collection method that provides payment assistance to low-income, payment troubled utility customers. CAP participants agree to make regular monthly payments that may be for an amount that is less than the current bill in exchange for continued provision of electric utility services.
CAP benefits—The average CAP bill, average CAP credits and average arrearage forgiveness.
CARES—A program that provides a cost-effective service that helps selected, payment-troubled customers maximize their ability to pay utility bills. A CARES program provides a casework approach to help customers secure energy assistance funds and other needed services.
CARES benefits—The number and kinds of referrals to CARES.
Classification of accounts—Accounts are classified by the following categories: all residential accounts and confirmed low-income residential accounts.
Code—The Public Utility Code, 66 Pa.C.S. § § 101—3316.
Collection operating expenses—Expenses directly associated with collection of payments due for residential accounts.
Confirmed low-income residential account—Accounts where the EDC has obtained information that would reasonably place the customer in a low-income designation.
Direct dollars—Dollars which are applied to a CARES customer’s electric utility account, including all sources of energy assistance applied to utility bills such as LIHEAP, hardship fund grants and local agencies’ grants.
EDC—Electric distribution company—The public utility providing facilities for the jurisdictional transmission and distribution of electricity to retail customers, except building or facility owners/operators that manage the internal distribution system serving the building or facility and that supply electric power and other related electric power services to occupants of the building or facility.
Energy assistance benefits—The total number and dollar amount of LIHEAP grants.
Hardship fund—A fund that provides cash assistance to utility customers to help them pay their utility bills.
Hardship fund benefits—The total number and dollar amount of cash benefits or bill credits.
Impact evaluation—An evaluation that focuses on the degree to which a program achieves the continuation of utility service to program participants at a reasonable cost level and otherwise meets program goals.
LIURP—Low-income usage reduction program—An energy usage reduction program that assists low-income customers conserve energy and reduce residential energy bills.
Low-income customer—A residential utility customer whose household income is at or below 150% of the Federal poverty guidelines.
Outreach referral contacts—Addresses and telephone numbers that a customer would call or write to apply for the hardship fund. Contact information should be specific to each county in the EDC’s service territory, if applicable.
Payment rate—Payment rate is the total number of full monthly payments received from CAP participants in a given period divided by the total number of monthly bills issued to CAP participants.
Payment troubled—A household that has failed to maintain one or more payment arrangements in a 1-year period.
Residential account in arrears—A residential account that is at least 30 days overdue. This classification includes all customer accounts which have payment arrangements.
Successful payment arrangements—A payment arrangement in which the agreed upon number of payments have been made in full in the preceeding 12 months.
Universal service and energy conservation—Policies, protections and services that help low-income customers to maintain electric service. The term includes customer assistance programs, termination of service protection and policies and services that help low-income customers to reduce or manage energy consumption in a cost-effective manner, such as the low-income usage reduction programs, application of renewable resources and consumer education.
§ 54.73. Universal service and energy conservation program goals.
§ 54.76. Evaluation reporting requirements.
§ 54.77. Electric distribution companies with less than 60,000 residential accounts.
§ 54.78. Public information.
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