Title
Utility Assistance Programs Update
Recommended Action
Receive briefing and provide feedback to staff
Report
Issue:
Briefing and discussion on utility rate assistance programs.
Staff Contact:
Jesse Barham, Public Works Water Resources Director, 360.753.8164
Gary Franks, Public Works Waste ReSources Director, 360.753.8780
Mike Vessey, Public Works Drinking Water Director, 360.753.8318
Presenters:
Jesse Barham, Public Works Water Resources Director
Background and Analysis:
The City has two utility assistance programs: Lifeline Rates and Helping Neighbors are available for eligible residential customers. Utility Billing staff regularly advise customers on these programs and suggest applying if customers are eligible.
Utility Assistance Programs
* Lifeline Rate Program - Established in 1990 and assists qualified utility customers with a 50% discounted rate. Customers must be low income and disabled or low income and over age 62. This is typically $83 savings per month or approximately $1,000 annually. The City uses the criteria of 50% below the Thurston County median income based on household size as published by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to determine eligibility for the Lifeline Rate program. Currently that is $45,100 gross annual income for a household of two. The program is administered by our City Utility Billing staff. Customers on the program must re-apply annually since the income levels are updated every June/July. Currently there are 258 participants on the program (1.2% of total customers). 208 are qualified by income and age and 49 are qualified by income and disability. The estimated cost (revenue not collected) of the current participants is approximately $258,000 across all the utilities.
Staff is updating the disability proof of eligibility documentation for this program for renewals and new qualifications.
* Helping Neighbors Program - Established in July 2021 and came to fruition with the policy g...
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