Title
Review of Utilities Assistance Program (UAP)
Body
As Utilities costs increase, the burden on lower income households becomes increasingly difficult to manage. The “Energy Assistance Program” was originally intended to provide heating assistance to low-income customers through the winter months. In 2015 the program was expanded to provide year around assistance to Senior Citizens (over 65), to add water to eligible services, and one-time assistance to households demonstrating unusual and unanticipated hardship. Accordingly, the program was renamed the “Utilities Assistance Program”. In 2019, further expansion of the program was approved to include year-round assistance to account holders qualified through the Social Security Administration as disabled or eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). This change also expanded the assistance program to include sewer charges.
DPU General Rule 18 (GR-18) currently allows for assistance to be provided in one-time lump sums for immediate financial hardships such as layoffs, cut in hours or income, medical expenses, major home or auto repairs, etc. The maximum of these one-time assistance payments is $350 per qualifying event. Winter or Yearly assistance provides up to 30% of the customer’s average bill for electric, gas, water, and sewer charges. The minimum assistance provided is $15 per month and the maximum is $125 per month. To apply for general assistance or one-time assistance, customers are asked to complete an online form, consisting of approximately 15-20 questions. These questions include address, account number, customer ID number, contact information, and simple income information. For the winter or yearly assistance, additional information is requested to prove income qualifications are met.
The UAP is funded entirely through voluntary contributions from customers. Funding has been relatively static for several years. Normally the fund maintains a balance of around $25K to $30K, with the most significant donations received during the COVID 19 Pandemic. In FY2023 there has been a rise in the requests for assistance, bringing the balance down to a little over $15K. Further expansion of the program would diminish the balance in the fund unless additional contributions are collected. Los Alamos is a generous community, and it is staff’s opinion that with additional publicity about the program and the need, contributions sufficient to fund the proposed changes could be available. Staff has recently created a bill insert regarding the importance of the program and how a customer may donate. There is also a “Donate Now” button on the website for those interested in making one-time donations to the UAP fund. Staff feels these efforts, and future efforts will provide funding sufficient to continue the program.
Staff was requested to provide an update regarding the performance of the program and is seeking guidance on requested revisions to the current program.
Alternatives
If no guidance is provided, staff will continue to apply GR-18 as currently stated.
Fiscal and Staff Impact
None
Attachments
A - UAP Presentation
B - GR-18 Utilities Assistance Program