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Seaneen M Wilson CPUC – Division of Water & Audits

Assessment of Water Low-Income Assistance Programs and Alternatives January 2008 LIOB Meeting Oakland, CA. Seaneen M Wilson CPUC – Division of Water & Audits. Widespread Support Exists for Water Low-Income Programs. California Public Utilities Commission

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Seaneen M Wilson CPUC – Division of Water & Audits

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  1. Assessment of Water Low-Income Assistance Programs and AlternativesJanuary 2008 LIOB MeetingOakland, CA Seaneen M Wilson CPUC – Division of Water & Audits

  2. Widespread Support Exists for Water Low-Income Programs • California Public Utilities Commission • National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners • American Water Works Association • Review of Energy and Telecommunications Programs

  3. Low-Income Water Assistance Programs Have Improved in Past Few Years • Income Guidelines based on Energy CARE • Certification, Verification, and Recertification • Estimating Low-Income Eligibility in California • Use of U.S. Census and American Community Survey Data • Estimating Participation Rates • Recent Historical Costs of Low-Income Programs Provided by Class A Water Utilities • Unique to Each Utility • Assistance Programs Offered to All Class A Water Utility Customers • Assistance with Bill-Paying and when Shut-Off is Imminent

  4. Water Affordability for Residents of Multi-Family Housing • California • Public Utilities Code 739.8 in part states “The Commission shall consider and may implement programs to provide rate relief for low-income ratepayers.” • Water service provided to Multi-Family Housing is not sub-metered. • Programs in Other Jurisdictions • No Stand-Alone Water utility provides assistance to residents of Multi-Family Housing. • Combined Energy & Water utilities, such as the LADWP, are able to offer assistance to residents of Multi-Family Housing using water.

  5. Alternatives for Improving Existing Programs • Pooling Program • Surcharge to Support Low-Income Program Based on Meter Size • Standardized Discount to Qualifying Water Utility Customers • Alternative Billing Methods • Assistance when Shut-Off is Imminent • Leveraging of Assistance Programs offered by Energy and Water Utilities • Automatic Enrollment in Assistance Program • Assistance Provided Based on a Sliding Income Scale with Diminishing Discounts • Voluntary Assistance from Other Ratepayers, Businesses, and Community Organizations

  6. Alternatives for Improving Existing Programs (cont.) • Assistance with Leak Repair and Installation of Low-Flow Plumbing Fixtures • Acquisition of Small Water Utilities by Larger Water Utilities • Encourage Participation in Other Utility Assistance Programs • Working with Community Based Organizations to Increase Awareness of Assistance Programs • Should a LIHEAP Program be Offered to Water Utility Customers? • Increase Outreach Effort to Low-Income Customers • Alternatives for Low-Income Residents of MFHU

  7. Cost of Low-Income Assistance Programs to Remaining Customers • In part, PU Code 739.8 requires that: • We determine the ability of non-participating customers to pay for the assistance program, and • Assess the cost-effectiveness of the program. • Balance Benefits of Assistance Program to Qualifying Low-Income Customers with Cost of Program to Non-Qualifying Customers.

  8. Water Conservation OII • The Commission has instituted I.07-01-002 in order to address: • Development and expansion of water conservation programs • How to pay for programs, and • The effect on & provision to low-income customers (Phase II) • Issues that may include: • Effect of Conservation Rate Design on Low-Income Customers • Providing Specific Notice of Conservation programs to Low-Income Customers • Provision of Low-Flow Plumbing Fixtures at Little or No Cost to Low-Income Customers

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