Relating to the low-income home energy assistance program eligibility requirements

This bill relates to the low-income home energy assistance program (LIHEAP) eligibility requirements. LIHEAP is a federally funded program designed to help low-income households pay for home heating and cooling costs by providing financial assistance to cover a portion of their energy bills, particularly during crisis situations such as potential utility disconnections. LIHEAP eligibility is based in part on household income. Current income-based eligibility requires a household to have gross income equal to or less than 150 percent of the federal poverty level applicable to the family size of the household (FPL), or equal to or less than percent of the state median income, whichever is lower. The bill defines “electric utility” as any person, partnership, business association, or corporation, domestic or foreign, owning or operating any facilities for furnishing, for compensation, electricity to the public in this state. The bill requires the department of health and human services (HHS) to amend its rules so that a household is eligible for LIHEAP if the household’s gross income is equal to or less than 250 percent of the FPL, the household resides in an electric utility service territory that increased the rate for furnishing electricity between July 1, 2023, and July 1, 2025, and the household meets non-income-based requirements for LIHEAP. _____ increased the rate for furnishing electricity in the electric utility service area in which the household is located. The bill requires HHS to assess a fee on electric utilities in an amount necessary to cover the increased costs to implement LIHEAP due to increased LIHEAP eligibility. A nonprofit electric utility (NEU) may assess a fee on ratepayers who are not participating in LIHEAP to pay for the cost of the fee HHS assesses on the NEU, but shall not assess such a fee on a ratepayer participating in the program. A for-profit electric utility shall not assess a fee on any ratepayer to pay for the cost of the fee HHS assesses on the for-profit electric utility.