Subchapter A. UNIVERSAL SERVICE AND ENERGY CONSERVATION REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
Sec.
62.1. Statement of purpose and policy.
62.2. Definitions.
62.3. Universal service and energy conservation program goals.
62.4. Universal service and energy conservation plans.
62.5. Annual residential collection and universal service and energy conservation program reporting requirements.
62.6. Evaluation reporting requirements.
62.7. NGDCs with less than 100,000 residential accounts.
62.8. Public information.
The provisions of this Subchapter A issued under the Natural Gas Choice and Competition Act, 66 Pa.C.S. § 2203(8), unless otherwise noted.
The provisions of this Subchapter A adopted December 15, 2000, effective December 16, 2000, 30 Pa.B. 6430, unless otherwise noted.
The requirements of 66 Pa.C.S. § 2203(8) (relating to standards for restructuring of natural gas utility industry) mandate that the Commission ensure universal service and energy conservation policies, activities and services for residential natural gas customers are appropriately funded and available in each NGDC territory. This subchapter requires covered NGDCs 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 NGDC 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 affordable natural gas service.
(2) To provide for affordable natural gas service by making available payment assistance to low-income customers.
(3) To help low-income customers conserve energy and reduce residential utility bills.
This section cited in 52 Pa. Code § 62.7 (relating to NGDCs with less than 100,000 residential accounts).
(a) Each NGDC shall select, after conferring with the Commission’s Bureau of Consumer Services, an independent third-party to conduct an impact evaluation of its universal service and energy conservation programs and to provide a report of findings and recommendations to the Commission and NGDC.
(b) The first impact evaluation will be due beginning August 1, 2004, on a staggered schedule. Subsequent evaluation reports shall be presented to the NGDC and the Commission at no more than 6-year intervals.
(c) To ensure an independent evaluation, neither the NGDC nor the Commission shall exercise control over recommendations contained in the independent evaluation report. The NGDCs may provide the Commission with a companion report that expresses where they agree or disagree with independent evaluation report content or recommendations. This section cited in 52 Pa. Code § 62.7 (relating to NGDCs with less than 100,000 residential accounts).
(a) Beginning June 1, 2003, each NGDC with less than 100,000 accounts shall report to the Commission every 3 years the following information in lieu of the requirements in § § 62.4—62.6 (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) Number of services or benefits provided to low-income residential customers.
(5) 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 NGDC 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.
§ 62.1. Statement of purpose and policy.
§ 62.2. Definitions.
CAP benefits—The average CAP bill, average CAP credits and average arrearage forgiveness, as applicable.
CAP credits—The difference between the amount billed at the standard residential rate and the amount billed at the CAP rate.
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 natural gas utility services.
CARES benefits—The number of referrals and number of customers accepted into CARES.
CARES—Customer Assistance and Referral Evaluation Services—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.
Classification of accounts—Accounts are classified by the following categories: all residential accounts and confirmed low-income residential accounts.
Collection operating expenses—Expenses directly associated with collection of payments due for residential accounts.
Confirmed low-income residential account—Accounts where the NGDC has obtained information that would reasonably place the customer in a low-income designation. This information may include receipt of LIHEAP funds (Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program), self-certification by the customer, income source or information obtained in § 56.97(b) (relating to procedures upon rate-payer or occupant contact prior to termination).
Direct dollars—Dollars which are applied to a CARES customer’s natural gas utility account, including all sources of energy assistance applied to utility bills such as LIHEAP, hardship fund grants, and local agencies’ grants.
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 helps low-income customers to conserve energy and reduce residential energy bills.
Low-income customer—A residential utility customer whose gross household income is at or below 150% of the Federal poverty guidelines. Gross household income does not include the value of food stamps or other noncash income.
NGDC—Natural gas distribution company—A natural gas distribution company as defined in 66 Pa.C.S. § 2202 (relating to definitions).
Outreach referral contacts—An address and telephone number that a customer would call or write to apply for the hardship fund. Contact information should be specific to each county in the NGDC’s service territory, if applicable.
Payment rate—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 that have payment arrangements.
Successful payment arrangements—A payment arrangement in which the agreed upon number of payments have been made in full in the preceding 12 months.
Universal service and energy conservation—The term as defined in 66 Pa.C.S. § 2202.
§ 62.3. Universal service and energy conservation program goals.
§ 62.6. Evaluation reporting requirements.
§ 62.7. NGDCs with less than 100,000 residential accounts.
§ 62.8. Public information
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