ALABAMA UTILITY RATE ASSISTANCE

• Since 1991, the major electric power company and two gas companies have waived the monthly customer service charge, about $8 per month, for SSI, Medicaid and TANF recipients.  Costs are recovered through residential ratepayers served by these utilities; estimated cost is between $0.04 to $0.06 per month per customer.  About 33,000 households benefit from the waiver annually.

LEVERAGING

2001: $2.3 million
2000: $2.4 million
1999: $2.4 million
1998: $2.6 million
1997: $3 million
1996: $3 million
1995: $3.1 million
1994: $ 3.2 million
1993: $3.1 million
1992: $2.7 million
1991: $2.2 million