Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that creates a program to provide payment assistance to individuals whose income does not exceed 150% of the poverty line in order to decrease the percentage of income spent on utility bills to under 6%.

Highlights:

-Notes that utility companies have committed to paying $22 million to fund the low-income assistance program (Sec. 13). -Creates the Percentage of Income Payment Plan, which provides mandatory payment assistance to low-income residential utilities customers (Sec. 18). -Requires participants in the program to have an income no more than 150% of the poverty level (Sec. 18). -Caps assistance at $150 per month and $1800 annually (Sec. 18). -Specifies that the program shall provide enough assistance so that a participant is responsible for spending, at most, 6% of their income on energy bills (Sec. 18). -Allows the department to terminate an individual’s participation in the program if their utility bill is over 45 days late (Sec. 18).

Full Bill Text