PA PUC Allocates Unspent Consumer Ed $ for Low Income

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) on December 1 approved proposals submitted by seven electric and natural gas companies to transfer nearly $15 million in unspent utility consumer-education funds to help low-income families in their service territories this winter using Universal Service Programs. The Commissioners cited energy costs that are as much as 40 percent higher as the reason for the move.

The Commission approved proposals submitted by Allegheny Power, Metropolitan Edison Company, Pennsylvania Electric Company, PG Energy, PPL Electric Utilities Corp., PPL Gas Utilities Corp., and T.W. Phillips Gas and Oil Company to transfer most of the funding to their Universal Service Programs such as Customer Assistance Programs (CAPs) or Low-Income Usage Reduction Programs (LIURPs). However, $100,000 will be provided in the form of a grant to a community-based organization, $1 Energy Fund.

CAPs are programs that reduce low-income customers’ bills either through percentage of income or percentage of bill payment plans or though rate discounts. LIURPs provide energy efficiency measures ranging from insulation to furnace repair and replacement. Pennsylvania’s electric and gas utilities spent nearly $240 million on low-income rate assistance and energy efficiency programs during 2004. More information is available in Report on 2004 Universal Service Programs and Collection Performance of the Pennsylvania Electric Distribution and Natural Gas Distribution Companies, the Commission’s latest annual summary on the universal service and collection performance of the largest electric and gas distribution companies.

Source: PAPUC press release

Page Last Updated: December 7, 2005