Low-Income Energy Assistance 2025 Legislative Report — Washington State Department of Commerce (May 2025)
Summary
This May 2025 report to the Legislature from the Washington State Department of Commerce is the Low-Income Energy Assistance 2025 Legislative Report, required by RCW 19.405.120. It states that it assesses the work of 55 disparate utilities in Washington to provide low-income energy assistance, and that most utility energy assistance programs are not open to all low-income households and do not provide comparable benefits to similarly situated households. It reports that no county in Washington has a utility program participation rate above 50% of eligible households under state law in 2023. Commerce says it evaluates the tradeoffs of additional mechanisms of assistance but does not make recommendations.
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“Low-Income Energy Assistance 2025 Legislative Report — Washington State Department of Commerce (May 2025).”
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Low-Income Energy
Assistance 2025 Legislative
Report
Report required pursuant to RCW 19.405.120
May 2025
Report to the Legislature
ENERGY DIVISION Director Joe Nguyễn
Acknowledgments
This report benefits greatly from the contributions
of Washington community members, electric
utilities, and low-income advocates who have
participated in well over two dozen community
meetings and follow-up conversations to discuss
low-income energy assistance in the state over the
past couple years. Their time, thoughtfulness,
openness and honesty contributed mightily to this
report.
Additional thanks to the National Consumer Law
Center for its work to compile data on the impacts
of energy insecurity and energy burden on low-
income households.
Washington State Department of Commerce
Jennifer Grove, Assistant Director, Energy Division
Glenn Blackmon, Policy Director, Energy Division
Austin Scharff, Policy Specialist, Energy Utilities
and Markets, Energy Division
Amelia Fujikawa, Research and Data Analyst,
Energy Division
1011 Plum St. SE
P.O. Box 42525
Olympia, WA 98504-2525
www.commerce.wa.gov
For people with disabilities, this report is available on
request in other formats. To submit a request, please
call 7-1-1 and ask to be connected to 360-725-4000.
LOW-INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE 2
Table of contents
Executive summary...................................................................................................................................... 4
Overview of current programs ...................................................................................................................... 7
The human impact ..................................................................................................................................... 11
Alternatives ............................................................................................................................................... 13
Conclusion ................................................................................................................................................ 17
Appendix A: Definitions.............................................................................................................................. 18
Appendix B: Summary of Washington’s principal low-income energy bill assistance laws ........................... 19
Appendix C: Summary of utility actions and plans ...................................................................................... 20
Appendix D: Utility program participation by county .................................................................................... 22
Appendix E: Utility actions from 2020 to 2022 ............................................................................................ 25
Appendix F: Energy burden data ................................................................................................................. 55
LOW-INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE 3
Executive summary
Background
RCW 19.405.120 requires Washington electric utilities make energy assistance 1 programs and funding
available to low-income households. Electric utilities must demonstrate progress in providing assistance
pursuant to assessments and plans conducted under the law. To the extent practicable, priority must be given
to low-income households with a higher energy burden.
This report is the second report to the Legislature under Sec. 120, the first being the Low-Income Energy
Assistance 2023 Legislative Report, 2 and follows Commerce's Statewide Monthly Low-Income Energy
Assistance Program Design per legislative request. 3 The Department of Commerce's Low-Income Energy
Assistance 2023 Legislative Report found low-income households across Washington have significant energy
assistance need, 4 and far too often do not have access to programs and funding crucial to maintaining
affordable home energy bills.
This work aligns with the goals of the Clean Energy Transformation Act (CETA) (Chapter 288, Laws of 2019),
which provides safeguards to maintain affordable rates and reliable service. It also requires an equitable
distribution of the benefits from the transition to clean energy for all utility customers and adds and expands
energy assistance programs for low-income customers.
Section 120 of CETA is interpreted to mean that all utilities should provide accessible energy assistance
programs for all eligible customers in Washington. Based on our analysis, including content from written plans
from utilities and public meetings, this is not occurring. To bring the state into alignment with Sect. 120 of
CETA, this report analyzed the patchwork of utility programs and suggests policy alternatives to ensure
equitable access to utility support for every eligible household in Washington.
Legislative mandate
Sec. 120 requires Commerce to submit a biennial report to the Legislature that:
(i) Aggregates information into a statewide summary of energy assistance programs, energy burden, and
energy assistance need
(ii) Identifies and quantifies current expenditures on low-income energy assistance; and
1 Energy assistance: Assistance to reduce household energy burden, such as bill assistance, energy efficiency, weatherization, or
distributed energy resource programs, such as solar plus storage.
2 The Low-Income Energy Assistance 2023 Legislative Report was informed by four public workshops and comment periods and over a
dozen technical advisory group meetings with utilities and low-income advocates, whose primary roles were to ensure the integrity of
the data in the report.
3 The Statewide Monthly Low-Income Energy Assistance Program Design report was informed by nearly a dozen local listening
sessions and workshops with low-income households and community organizations across the state, and nine public workshops and
eight public comment periods to co-create program design principles, refine the recommended program design, and explore
alternatives with utilities, low-income advocates, and the public.
4 Energy assistance need: The amount of funding needed to reduce home energy bills of a low-income household to 6% of its gross
income. Energy burden and assistance need do not include transportation costs.
LOW-INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE 4
(iii) Evaluates the effectiveness of additional optimal mechanisms for energy assistance including, but not
limited to, customer rates, a low-income specific discount, system benefits charges, and public and
private funds.
The law also requires Commerce assess mechanisms to prioritize energy assistance toward low-income
households with a higher energy burden. This is the second report to satisfy these requirements. 5
Key findings
This report provides required assessment of the work of 55 disparate utilities in Washington to provide low-
income energy assistance per utility reporting requirements and compares that information to the agency
interpretation that the law requires access for all people in Washington.
Energy burden and assistance need are fundamentally basic household affordability issues. Monthly energy
bill assistance is a crucial tool to ensuring low-income households can afford to turn on the lights, heat and
cool their living spaces, power medical devices, charge cellphones, and cook food. An inability to afford home
power can lead to harmful curtailment, disconnections, housing instability, rationing of food and medicine, and
negative physical and mental health effects. Forward-looking plans from utilities indicate many low-income
households statewide will not have access to crucial assistance programs to sustainably mitigate these
harms. Per statute, Commerce evaluates the tradeoffs of additional mechanisms of assistance in this report;
however, it does not make recommendations.
To date, most utility energy assistance programs are not open to all low-income households and do not
provide comparable benefits to similarly situated households. While utilities are making incremental
changes, there is sparse evidence to support significant transformations of programs and household
outcomes across consumer-owned utilities. Customer participation rates in assistant programs in investor-
owned utilities remain below 40% – and for some investor-owned utilities below 15% – as of Sept. 30,
2024. Electric utility energy assistance programs in 2023 served roughly 1 in 5 (20%) of low-income
households eligible for energy assistance under state law (RCW 19.405.020) and administrative rule (WAC
190-40-030), despite significantly higher levels of energy assistance need statewide.
No county in Washington has a utility program participation rate above 50% of eligible households under
state law (RCW 19.405.020) and administrative rule (WAC 190-40-030) in 2023.
Utility programs serve a significantly smaller share of low-income households compared to individual
statewide programs with similar eligibility criteria, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Current trends and utility plans anticipate low-income households statewide will not have access to crucial
monthly bill assistance programs with uniform benefit levels for similarly situated households.
Alternatives to the utility-by-utility approach
Low-income monthly energy bill assistance targeted to addressing energy assistance need should not be
restricted by time or place in Washington.
The most complete way to address the patchwork of energy assistance programs would be to create a
statewide low-income energy assistance program. That was discussed at length in the Low-Income Energy
Assistance 2023 Legislative Report, and is highlighted in this report. Within the existing model of utility-based
5 Low-Income Energy Assistance 2023 Legislative Report (wa.gov)
LOW-INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE 5
programs, equitable results could be improved by offering monthly energy bill assistance programs that are
open to all low-income households.
It is important that any future approach to monthly low-income energy assistance allows all low-income
households to access monthly bill assistance, provides uniform benefit levels for similarly situated
households, targets energy assistance need, considers the human experience of accessing assistance
programs, and does not restrict access to assistance by time or place.
LOW-INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE 6
Overview of current programs
There are 55 unique energy utilities in Washington, and they all manage their own programs for bill assistance.
Of these, nearly all low-income energy bill assistance programs fail to align with state law (RCW 19.405.020)
and administrative rule (WAC 194-40-030). Most programs funded through utility operations have additional
non-income eligibility criteria, such as disability or age, that deny many low-income households access to
monthly bill assistance. Many of the programs rely on donations, which are insufficient to meet energy
assistance need.
There are two types of electric utilities in Washington:
Investor-owned utilities (IOUs) serve about 44% of residential electric utility customers. They include
Avista Corp, PacifiCorp and Puget Sound Energy (PSE). The Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC
or Commission) regulates investor-owned utilities within the state and has broad jurisdiction over its
utilities as the economic regulator. The Commission’s jurisdiction and authority are enumerated under
RCW Title 80.
Consumer-owned utilities (COUs) serve about 56% of residential electric utility customers. COUs include
roughly 24 public utility districts, 17 municipal utilities and 17 cooperatives providing electricity to retail
customers. They have their own locally elected governing boards and are primarily self-regulated under
their respective statutory frameworks.
Households with similar incomes and resources receive very different assistance levels depending on which
utility serves them. This pattern is little changed from results in Commerce's 2023 Legislative Report and a
more recent survey of utility webpages in March 2024 included in Commerce's Statewide Monthly Low-Income
Energy Bill Assistance Report.
Layered over the patchwork of utility programs to provide low-income energy burden assistance is the Low-
Income Housing Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), a federal block grant program, and a few relatively
small state programs that offer limited assistance to low-income households.6 These programs are designed
to meet crisis needs of low-income households.
Utility assistance programs
In 2023:
Electric utilities spent $100 million on low-income energy assistance programs.
The programs yielded $68 million in bill reductions for an estimated 170,659 households.
Donations collected by electric utilities amounted to another $2.8 million in bill reductions.
6 In 2024 Commerce implemented a one-time allocation by the Legislature of Climate Commitment Account funds. Commerce provided
$200 payments to help low-income and moderate-income households with the clean energy transition. These funds were distributed as
credits on customers' utility bills. However, purpose of the credits was not to address household energy burden but instead to costs of
the clean energy transition, notably transportation energy costs. The program had income eligibility criteria that included households
that are not low-income, and assistance was for a one-time flat $200, which is not sufficient to address the energy assistance needs of
most energy burdened low-income households nor is it targeted to households in greatest need.
LOW-INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE 7
Utilities that supply only natural gas to households also have energy assistance programs. These programs
are estimated to have delivered about $1.7 million in energy assistance. LIHEAP and state programs
collectively amounted to around $91 million in assistance for electric and natural gas households in 2023.
Most energy programs are direct bill assistance programs, and their bill reductions are conservatively
assumed to be reflected in the household responses of the American Community Survey. Therefore, the
analysis of the Department of Energy's Low-Income Energy Affordability Data (LEAD) Tool 7 yields an annual
energy assistance need of $275 million to reduce low-income home energy bills to 6% of household income
statewide. 8 If most of the bill assistance was not reflected in the DOE LEAD Tool, energy assistance need
would be smaller but still significant: greater than $150 million statewide.
Energy burden reductions and program participation rates are the principal metrics to evaluate the success of
low-income energy assistance programs. They are the outcomes of programmatic inputs, such as program
availability, accessibility, visibility, rigorous evaluations, clear and consistent communications, and funding.
Low participation rates compared to comparable statewide
programs
While there are differences across geography and communities served, electric utilities share low program
participation rates despite the significant energy burden of low-income customers. Electric utility energy
assistance programs served no more than 1 in 5 (20%) low-income households eligible for energy assistance
under state law and administrative rule, despite high levels of energy assistance need statewide.
Commerce took a duplicate count 9 of utility program participants by county and compared it to the number of
low-income household units at 80% of the area median income minus the number of subsidized rental housing
units in each county.10
The duplicate count of utility program participants likely overestimates the number of households enrolled in
utility programs. Of all Washington counties:
32 out of 39 (87%) have enrollment rates below 25%
21 of 39 counties (61%) have participation rates below 15%
No county has over 50% of low-income households enrolled in utility energy assistance programs
The agency compared the performance of utility programs to individual statewide programs with similar
eligibility criteria, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The data shows that in
2023, there were three households served by SNAP for every household enrolled in a utility energy assistance
program, despite SNAP having more restrictive income eligibility than what is laid out in state law and
administrative rule for utility low-income energy assistance programs. These calculations likely overestimate
7 The DOE LEAD Tool is based on American Community Survey responses from households about their home energy costs, including
their last month's electric utility bill. Household energy costs are then extrapolated over the course of a year. DOE calibrates the energy
cost data using electric utility and natural gas utility survey data submitted by utilities to U.S. Energy Information Administration. This
fixes averages across geographic areas to match roughly utility reported data. For example, electricity expenditures by households
across Census tracts in a utility service area would be roughly equal to the average utility revenue by customer
8 Commerce calculations using U.S. Department of Energy Low-income Energy Assistance Data WA DOE LEAD Tool Data
9 A duplicate count means an individual household enrolled in more than one assistance program, such as a donation program and bill
discount program, are counted multiple times.
10 Subsidized rental housing units often consider home energy costs when determining housing subsidies. Households receiving
housing subsidies may still be energy burdened.
LOW-INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE 8
the number of households enrolled in utility programs, because households enrolled in more than one utility
program are counted multiple times unless Commerce could easily identify potential duplicate counts.
The SNAP data is unduplicated, meaning even if three people living in one household were individually enrolled
in SNAP. they would be counted as one household. Commerce subtracted the number of subsidized rental
housing units in each county from the unduplicated SNAP count to adjust for households that would be eligible
for SNAP, but who may have their energy burden already accounted for through subsidized housing programs.
The ratio of SNAP participants to utility program participants varies significantly across counties. Appendix D
shows the percentage of utility program participants compared to SNAP participants by county. These
numbers overestimate the number of households enrolled in utility programs, because households enrolled in
more than one utility program are counted multiple times. Commerce subtracted the number of subsidized
rental housing units in each county from the unduplicated SNAP count to adjust for households that would be
eligible for SNAP, but who may have their energy burden already accounted for through subsidized housing
programs. Statewide, there are more than half a million additional households being served by SNAP than by
utility energy assistance programs.
Table A: Utility program expenditures and participation
2023 2020
Households served 170,659 166,911
Utility spending on programs $100 million $95 million
Total bill reductions $68 million $69 million
Commerce continues to be a resource to support utilities in identifying national best practices in social service
program designs to help address program accessibility and energy assistance needs of their customers. This
includes:
• Hosting workshops for utilities and low-income advocates to share knowledge about implementation
successes and challenges across the state, and develop best practices in bill assistance program
design principles that could be adapted for their own programs
• Providing biennial summaries of utility program successes, challenges, and plans to facilitate utilities
learning from one another
• Compiling and sharing national best practices in social service program designs
• Sharing the thoughts of low-income households across the state about what they say would be helpful
for energy assistance program designs
• Exploring possibilities of sharing SNAP household level data with utilities per their request
Additionally, the agency compiles and convenes biennial workshops to review energy burden and energy
assistance need data for utilities to improve utility efforts to serve low-income households with energy
assistance.
Commerce remains dedicated to helping utilities and advocates work together to identify gaps and improve
energy assistance program outcomes for households.
LOW-INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE 9
Income eligibility
The Clean Energy Transformation Act (RCW 19.405.020) and administrative rule (WAC 190-40-030) define a
household as low-income if its income does not exceed the higher of 80% of area median income (AMI) or
200% of the federal poverty level (FPL), adjusted for household size. In Seattle, a household of four makes
$110,950 at 80% AMI;11 in Spokane, it's $78,300. 12
The three investor-owned utilities – Puget Sound Energy, Avista Corp., and PacifiCorp – offer energy bill
assistance programs open to all low-income households as defined in state law. As their regulator, the UTC
required them to apply the state definition of low-income to their programs.
Nearly all of the low-income energy bill assistance programs offered by consumer-owned utilities use more
restrictive eligibility standards than the definition of low-income in statute (RCW 19.405.020) and
administrative rule (WAC 194-40-030). As an example, the income standard used by Seattle City Light is 70% of
state median income (SMI). This is a higher income level than the 200% FPL standard, but it is significantly
less than 80% of AMI as defined in state law and administrative rule. This has resulted in findings by the State
Auditor for several utilities.
11 Seattle Housing Authority
12 City of Spokane Aera Median Income
LOW-INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE 10
The human impact
Powering home heating and cooling, lighting, and appliances is an everyday necessity and key component of
the cost of living. As defined in WAC 194-40-030, a household is burdened when its energy bills exceed 6% of
its gross income. This calculation reflects that shelter costs should not exceed 30% of income and utility costs
should not exceed 20% of those shelter costs. Therefore, an affordable energy burden should be at or below
6% of household income (30% x 20% = 6%). This formula stresses the interconnection between housing and
home energy costs in determining housing affordability and cost of living.
According to data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2018-2022), and
calibrated by the U.S. Department of Energy and National Renewable Energy Laboratory, more than 270,000
low-income households in Washington (25% of low-income households) are energy burdened.
Energy burdened low-income households spend, on average, $1,016 more than 6% of their household income
on home energy bills annually. The cumulative annual statewide energy burden of low-income households is
$275 million.
Most energy-burdened households in Washington are in urban counties, but rural counties have a higher
percentage of households that are energy-burdened:
• There are 178,388 energy burdened low-income households in urban counties, with a total energy
burden of $180 million. This represents 1 in 6 (about 17%) low-income households in urban counties.
• There are 92,528 energy burdened households in rural counties with a total energy burden of $95
million. This represents almost 2 in 5 (38%) low-income rural households.
Appendix D provides this information for each county.
Based on this research, Ferry County has the highest percent of energy-burdened low-income households
(81%).
The rural utility dilemma
Making each utility responsible for meeting the energy assistance need in its service territory poses funding
challenges for Washington's small and rural utilities, particularly those with a disproportionate share of low-
income households. Fully addressing the low-income energy burden through utility rates for these rural utilities
could result in other households becoming energy burdened.
The effect of energy burden and energy insecurity on low-income
households
Energy is an essential need, and residential energy bills disproportionately affect home affordability and
household budgets of low-income households. Commerce and the National Consumer Law Center (NCLC)
LOW-INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE 11
recently reviewed national, regional, and state studies and surveys of the impacts on energy burden and energy
insecurity 13 on low-income households.14 Findings include:
Energy burdened 15 households are more likely to forgo necessities due to their home energy bill
• Energy burdened low-income households are more likely to forgo necessities, such as food and
medicine, to pay their energy bills.
• Forgoing necessities to keep the lights on and the refrigerator running show that uninterrupted access
to electricity service is prioritized by low-income households, even above other goods and services.
• Utility service affordability challenges force low-income households to face the "heat or eat" dilemma,
which presents serious threats to public health, as low-income households are forced into food
insecurity, forgo medical services and medicines, and maintain unhealthy indoor temperatures.
Energy burden increases the likelihood of households receiving disconnection notices and experiencing an
involuntary loss of service and inability to operate indoor heating or cooling equipment
• Disconnection notices often create acute stress, particularly for low-income seniors, single parents, and
people with disabilities.
• Involuntary loss of essential utility service is inconvenient and disruptive to everyday activities, and it
can result in avoidable, devastating tragedies such as house fires from improvised heating methods
and sometimes deadly inability to use medical equipment, such as respirators.
• Loss of electricity service and refrigeration can result in loss of perishable food that can worsen pre-
existing financial challenges (the cost of food replacement) and food insecurity challenges.
Energy burdened households are more likely to be in arrears
• There is a clear relationship between household income, excess energy burden, and utility past due
balances.
• Low-income, energy burdened households have been shown to be more likely to carry utility arrears,
and also to carry higher average past due balances than their higher-income, non-energy burdened
counterparts.
• Excessive energy burdens lead to borrowing through credit cards, payday loans, and other financial
products that push low-income households further into poverty.
• Past-due utility bills are one of the most frequent sources of collections items in consumer credit
reports. For years, utilities were one of the most common reasons consumers used payday loans.16
Energy burden negatively impacts physical and mental health
• High energy burdens can have mental health impacts, such as chronic stress, anxiety and depression,
which are associated with the fear and uncertainty around access to energy, the complexities of
navigating energy assistance programs, and the inability to control energy costs.
Climate change and extreme weather will exacerbate the above identified problems. 17
13 Energy insecurity is defined by the U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Information Administration Residential Energy Consumption
Survey as the likelihood a household will be unable to meet its home energy needs. It can be measured using a number of metrics,
such as: frequency of forgoing or reducing basic needs like food or medicine to pay home energy bills; frequency of keeping home at an
unhealthy temperature due to home energy bills; frequency of receiving a disconnection notice. (Commerce's 2024 Low Income Energy
Assistance Program Design Report)
14 Commerce's 2024 Low Income Energy Assistance Program Design Report
15 Energy burdened: When a household's residential energy bills exceed 6% of its gross income.
16 Commerce's 2024 Low Income Energy Assistance Program Design Report
17 Ibid.
LOW-INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE 12
Alternatives
Sec. 120 instructs Commerce to evaluate the effectiveness of additional mechanisms for energy assistance.
These mechanisms follow two different approaches to energy assistance:
• The utility-by-utility approach retains electric utilities as administrators of energy assistance programs
and focuses on reforming programs.
• The statewide approach would have a statewide entity administer energy assistance. Each program
has many variations.
This report updates the discussion of additional mechanisms in the Low-Income Energy Assistance 2023
Report with the recommended statewide program design discussed in the Statewide Monthly Low-Income
Energy Assistance Report. In-depth discussions of additional mechanisms under a utility-by-utility approach
can be found in the Low-Income Energy Assistance 2023 Legislative Report and Statewide Monthly Low-
Income Energy Assistance Program Design report.
Utility-by-utility approach summary
Under the utility-by-utility approach, without changes in Sect. 120 under CETA, there will likely only be
incremental adjustments for people who need assistance now. Additional mechanisms under this approach
aim to reinforce Washington's patchwork of energy assistance programs through either layering additional
policies on top of the existing patchwork of utility programs or providing supplementary funding to utilities.
The alternative mechanisms under this approach aim to provide additional information to address and resolve
individual problems by adding more policy layers or functionality to the state's patchwork of programs or push
more funding through programs. In practice, the reasons why utility programs have low program participation
rates are more nuanced, complex, and sometimes structural than these options suggest.
Tracking the many potential barriers to program access and harmonizing programs across more than 50
utilities will require a significant increase in state oversight and requirements.
The alternative, a statewide approach, would provide equitable support to every low-income household in
Washington.
Statewide monthly energy bill assistance program summary
The other approach, the statewide approach, would have a statewide entity administer energy assistance.
The Legislature, in Sec. 129(34) of Chapter 475, Laws 2023, directed Commerce to recommend a design of a
statewide low-income energy assistance program to provide universal access to home energy assistance and
meet energy assistance need. 18 The Legislature asked Commerce for this recommendation because of the
high level of energy assistance need, low participation rates in utility programs, and fragmentation of programs
and communications across Washington's electric utilities.
The recommended program design was developed with input from more than 300 low-income households
and nearly 100 community organizations from across Washington. The design incorporates principles
18 Universal access means all low-income household can access the program.
LOW-INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE 13
created with input from nine workshops with utilities and statewide advocacy organizations, local
knowledge of administrators of statewide social service programs and national best practices.
The recommended program design provides efficient, equitable, and quality monthly low-income bill
assistance programs to low-income households statewide. It begins with the recognition that people
should not have to work hard to identify and access assistance, and that Washington's residents are
diverse people that deserve a system that supports equal access to resources.
The recommended program design provides universal access to low-income monthly bill assistance with
uniform benefits targeted to address energy assistance need for similarly situated households.
The program would have one name and brand to be universally recognizable to low-income households
and the community organizations that serve them.
It would maintain income eligibility criteria under existing law and administrative rule, which accounts for
differences in cost of living across the state.
The program would offer a monthly income-tiered bill discount with benefit amounts targeted to address
energy assistance need. It provides a graduated benefit level that decreases as household income rises.
There would be no sudden drops in benefits (benefit cliffs) or arbitrary income thresholds.
Consistent communication about program eligibility, and enrollment across utility service territories would
facilitate sharing about the program by word of mouth and direct referrals. There would be no wrong door
for accessing assistance – households can enroll online, over the phone, or in person at any community
organization offering assistance to low-income households.
The program builds on existing relationships and forges new ones with households and community-based
organizations through consistent, co-created communications and community outreach plans that respect the
unique needs of households and communities. The program would support education about the benefits of
conservation and help connect households to other social services and energy programs.
The program would partner with organizations that serve underrepresented communities and administrators
of other energy services, such as the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program and energy efficiency and
weatherization programs.
The recommended program design embeds ongoing program evaluations with metrics to track equitable
access, effective delivery, and compassionate integrity of the program.
The design intentionally reduces the inefficiencies of administering more than 50 separate monthly bill
assistance programs across Washington's electric utilities; rationalizes and simplifies the accumulated layers
of policy and process; and brings in new technology and user-friendly, human-centered design to provide
increased awareness and accessibility to monthly bill assistance for low-income households.
Variations on a statewide approach
Voluntary opt-out for utilities
An alternative design would be to allow utilities to opt out of a statewide low-income energy assistance
program. An opt-out provision could reduce the costs of a statewide program by reducing the number of
households covered by it. Any discussion of an opt-out provision should consider the impact on that utility's
low-income households. An opt-out provision could leave households with an energy assistance program that
is less visible, less accessible, and less effective in meeting energy assistance need. It could even result in
those households receiving no monthly energy bill assistance at all. An opt-out mechanism would not ensure
universal access, uniform benefits, or human-centered, user-friendly program options for low-income
households.
LOW-INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE 14
Conditional opt-out for utilities
The Legislature could adopt a statewide program for low-income households served by small- and medium-
sized utilities, and provide large utilities the option to administer their own programs. It would address the
funding dilemmas faced by small utilities and provide better access to low-income monthly energy assistance
programs for households served by all utilities. A conditional opt-out would allow utilities that offer equivalent
bill assistance programs and do not suffer from potential funding constraints to retain their programs. This
approach would do better at ensuring universal access, uniform benefits, and human-centered, user-friendly
program options for low-income households in rural parts of the state, but fragmentation and broken
communications may remain without a singular program available to all low-income households.
Large utilities would need to meet other criteria to ensure consistent services to households. These
requirements include:
• Meeting existing statutory income eligibility requirements
• Providing an income tiered bill discount
• Tying benefits in each tier to an approximation of benefits required to meet energy assistance need
• Ensuring benefit level under each tier complies with a standard methodology established by rule
• Completing a biennial low-income energy assistance needs assessment
• Offering streamlined eligibility, including categorical eligibility and self-attestation
• Conducting significant outreach and submitting annual reports with results of outreach efforts
• Coordinating programs with community-based organizations, including those specifically serving
historically marginalized communities
• Conducting reasonable and good faith efforts to attain approval for program design, outreach, and
enrollment campaign plans from low-income advisory groups, according to guidelines established by
Commerce for consumer-owned utilities or UTC for investor-owned utilities
• Reporting program participation rates along with information currently submitted under Sec. 120 on a
biennial basis
• Matching or exceeding program participation rates of SNAP; if not, the Legislature could require
underperforming utility bill assistance programs be phased out and the low-income households served
by those utilities would be covered by the statewide monthly low-income energy assistance program
This alternative statewide approach would likely fragment services between large utilities, and medium and
small utilities; however, it would reduce the patchwork of utility programs significantly.
Funding mechanisms
The Legislature requested Commerce review funding mechanisms in its evaluation of additional mechanisms
of assistance. These funding mechanisms were summarized in the Low-Income Energy Assistance 2023
Legislative Report. Table B summarizes potential funding sources. A mix of these funding sources may be
used to fund programs and balance tradeoffs across the different funding sources.
Table B: Summary of potential funding sources
Potential funding
Benefits Drawbacks Other
source
Utilities with a disproportionate
Each utility pays for the energy
Ratepayers share of low-income customers
burden of its customers
may not be able to operate
LOW-INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE 15
Potential funding
Benefits Drawbacks Other
source
effective programs without
Does not impact the state budget significant rate hikes
Difficult if not impossible to
address energy burden from
multiple fuel sources if they are
delivered from different utilities
Potential rate impacts to
households that do not participate
in the program
Requires legislative appropriation
Avoids utility rate base
Fluctuations in cap-and-invest
revenues
Potential supplement for other
Climate Commitment
funding sources
Account Risk of funding not being
consistently allocated
Fewer competing priorities
compared to the state general fund
CCA revenues are designed to
decline over time
Competition for scarce tax dollars
Avoids utility rate base Requires legislative appropriation
State General Fund
Potential supplement for other Cyclical economic dynamics
funding sources
Risk of funding not being
consistently allocated
Everyone contributes to low-
Hard to include non-utility energy, income energy assistance
such as firewood and propane
Potential net transfer from some
Dedicated funding that avoids
Dedicated account could be utilities to other utilities
legislative appropriation
System benefits subject to legislative change in
charge 19 purpose Uncertain if households served by
Spreads costs across high and
utilities providing the most energy
low-income areas of the state
Potential rate impacts to assistance today would spend
households that do not participate more on energy assistance or less
in the program if subject to a system benefits
charge
19 A systems benefit charge is a statewide uniform charge, such as a percentage of revenue or an amount per unit of energy, assessed
on energy services to fund energy assistance programs.
LOW-INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE 16
Conclusion
As written, Sec. 120 envisioned utilities offering multiple programs and providing funding that was open to all
low-income households. However, the law did not anticipate the many barriers low-income households could
encounter accessing programs, including the limited number of places they can access programs and lack of
monthly bill assistance for households. It did not anticipate a variety of benefit levels for similarly situated
households, and did not consider the human experience of accessing social service programs. In addition, it
overlooked the challenges faced in Washington's rural utilities, where a disproportionate share of households
need assistance, and the program design needs of low-income households. Perhaps most importantly, it did
not foresee the difficulties fragmented program delivery poses for households and most community
organizations. 20 These challenges are exacerbated by utilities that limit access to bill assistance programs by
adopting income eligibility criteria beyond state law and administrative rule or require additional non-income
eligibility criteria, such as age and disability status. Commerce has and remains dedicated to convening
utilities and low-income advocates and sharing program design best practices and the thoughts of low-income
households on what program designs would best serve them. Commerce will continue to collect and
aggregate energy burden and energy assistance need data and continue to explore alternative ways to
increase program participation rates in utility programs.
Sec. 120 increased transparency into programmatic gaps and shortfalls of utility programs and highlighted
alternative mechanisms for assistance that may better meet the needs of low-income households. However,
the law will not likely drive significant changes across utilities and will leave low-income households without
access to low-income monthly bill assistance with uniform benefit levels for similarly situated households. If
the law is successful, rural utilities with a disproportionate share of low-income households will likely
experience rate hikes, which may push more households into energy assistance need. At the same time, these
households are experiencing significant energy assistance need and energy insecurity.
There are significant constraints on the existing utility-by-utility approach that limit the capacity to scale
programs to serve eligible households, and ensure timely, human-centered service delivery and uniform benefit
levels for similarly situated low-income households across 55 utilities.21
This report includes a summary of different options developed both through the Statewide Monthly Low-
Income Energy Assistance Program Design report along with program variations. Each approach can be
evaluated on its merits of effectiveness, cost, and durability. Ultimately, it is important that any future approach
to monthly low-income energy assistance allows low-income households access to monthly bill assistance,
provides uniform benefit levels for similarly situated households, targets energy assistance need, considers
the human experience of accessing assistance programs, and does not restrict access to assistance by time
or place.
20 Commerce's 2024 Low Income Energy Assistance Program Design report
21 Ibid.
LOW-INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE 17
Appendix A: Definitions
Energy burdened: When a household's residential energy bills exceed 6% of its gross income.
Energy assistance: Assistance to reduce household energy burden, such as bill assistance, energy efficiency,
weatherization, or distributed energy resource programs, such as solar plus storage.
Energy assistance need: The amount of funding needed to reduce home energy bills of a low-income
household to 6% of its gross income. Energy burden and assistance need do not include transportation costs.
Energy insecurity: The likelihood a household will be unable to meet its home energy needs. It can be
measured using a number of metrics, such as:
• Frequency of forgoing or reducing basic needs like food or medicine to pay home energy bills
• Frequency of keeping home at an unhealthy temperature due to home energy bills
• Frequency of receiving a disconnection notice
Low-income: Household incomes that do not exceed the higher of 80% of area median income (AMI) or 200%
of the federal poverty level (FPL), adjusted for household size.
LOW-INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE 18
Appendix B: Summary of Washington’s principal low-
income energy bill assistance laws
RCW The law says: The law does not:
Make programs and funding available and
74.38.070
Public utility districts and municipalities may provide accessible for low-income households
(1979, 1980,
assistance to low-income seniors and other low-
1988, 1990, 1998,
income households on a non-discriminatory basis Limit utility programs to seniors or customers
2002)
with disabilities
Ensure every low-income household has access
to monthly bill assistance
Ensure low-income households at one utility
receive a comparable level of assistance to
households of another utility
Prioritize funding to households with greater
assistance need
Addresses the full energy burden of low-income
households and puts the obligation of addressing Track progress based on program participation
energy assistance need directly on electric utilities rates and reductions in energy burden
Electric utilities must make energy assistance Conduct third-party low-income needs
19.405.120 programs and funding available to households assessments that examine disproportionate
(2019) outcomes on historically marginalized groups
Electric utilities must submit data and assessments
of their programs to Commerce on a biennial basis Establish statutory goals related to household
outcomes, such as program participation rates
Commerce submits a summary report to Legislature and reductions in energy burden
on a biennial basis
Ensure rural utilities with a disproportionate share
of low-income households can meet energy
assistance need without rate hikes
Provide assistance in the preferred languages of
households beyond written translation
Extend assistance to households when they sign
up for electric or natural gas service
Apply to consumer-owned utilities
Achieve statutory goals specific to household
Requires investor-owned utilities propose low- outcomes, such as program participation rates
income discount rates to the UTC, after seeking input
from advisory groups. Conduct third party low-income energy assistance
80.28.068
need assessments
(2021)
Programs must be delivered with community action
agencies or other community organizations, and with Extend assistance to households when they sign
streamlined eligibility rules up for electric or natural gas service
Provide service in the preferred languages of
households
LOW-INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE 19
Appendix C: Summary of utility actions and plans
Commerce reviewed utility actions since 2020 and their future plans submitted as part of their Sec. 120
reporting. The grouping of the past actions and future plans were made available to the data advisory group
and the public, with both groups encouraged to suggest revisions.
The summary of past actions since the enactment of CETA show investor-owned utilities and Mason County
PUD No. 3 (four utilities, or 7% of all utilities) are making significant revisions to their programs, including
aligning their bill assistance programs with the eligibility criteria set in CETA and substantially bolstering their
programs on multiple fronts. The majority of programs are either making tweaks, incrementally increasing
existing programmatic efforts or funding, or maintaining programs or evaluating what to do.
Program element Summary issues with Washington's patchwork of programs
Availability Only three utilities offer monthly bill assistance programs open to all low-income households.
Most programs are not open to all low-income households. Many programs are not sufficiently
Accessibility
funded to meet energy assistance need, and many are not realistic options for some households.
Barriers to program access often extend beyond programmatic eligibility requirements to include
significantly different application requirements, varied and often limited enrollment processes,
Visibility
often incomplete information about eligibility and application requirements, and other barriers to
understanding and enrolling.
Where utility programs exist, there is a general lack of awareness about programs among
Clear and consistent households and community organizations, perhaps because there is no singular program
communications applicable to or recognized by households, compared to statewide programs open to all low-
income households.
Rigorous program evaluations Communications and outreach are disjointed across utility service territories, and complicated by
and metrics overlapping service territories and sometimes multiple energy utility providers per household.
Most utilities do not track program participation rates or do not feel confident enough with their
Adequate funding
estimates to report participation rates to Commerce.
Utility past actions summary
Categories of past actions Count Percent
Utilities making incremental
changes or tweaking 18 33%
programs
Utilities planning to maintain
programs or evaluating what 12 22%
to do
Broad and deep reforms 4 7%
Created first program or
4 7%
programs
Not enough information 2 4%
No information submitted 15 27%
LOW-INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE 20
Utility plans do not demonstrate a break from past trends, and do not signal significant transformation of
assistance programs. The portion of utilities making tweaks or incrementally increasing programmatic efforts
or funding, maintaining programs, or evaluating what to do is relatively unchanged.
Table I: Summary of utility plans
Plans Utility count Percent
Utilities making incremental changes or tweaking programs 22 40%
Utilities maintaining programs or evaluating what to do 19 35%
Broad and deep reforms 2 3%
Created first program or programs 1 2%
No information submitted 11 20%
These plans forecast uneven progress across Washington's utilities, with few expected changes from the
status quo for low-income households statewide. This is concerning because of the significant levels of need,
low program participations rates, and absence of monthly bill assistance programs in many parts of the
state.
LOW-INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE 21
Appendix D: Utility program participation by county
State law and administrative rule define low-income as household incomes that do not exceed the higher of
80% AMI or 200% FPL, adjusted for household size. In most cases, 80% AMI is higher than 200% FPL, adjusted
for household size. In only a few counties is 200% FPL higher than 80% AMI for some household sizes.
Commerce compared duplicate utility program participant data to the number of low-income households
identified by the 5-year American Community Survey (2017-2022) in each county at or below 80% AMI.
Commerce subtracted the number of subsidized rental housing units from the total number of eligible
households, because subsidized housing programs often consider home energy costs when determining
housing subsidies.
These numbers likely overestimate the number of households enrolled in utility programs, because households
enrolled in more than one utility program are counted multiple times. This data indicates program participation
in utility low-income energy assistance programs is roughly 20%.
Difference in the Difference between
2023 duplicate utility
2023 duplicate utility number of 2023 Low-Income Units at
program participants /
program participants / unduplicated SNAP 80% AMI (ACS 2017-
County Low-Income Units at
2023 unduplicated participants and 2023 2022) and 2023
80% AMI (ACS 2017-
SNAP households duplicate utility duplicate utility
2022)
program participants participants
Adams 42% 1,218 32% 1,286
Asotin 41% 1,771 31% 2,457
Benton 19% 13,134 12% 18,477
Chelan 21% 4,239 10% 8,654
Clallam 14% 5,789 7% 10,481
Clark 13% 33,309 7% 60,730
Columbia 58% 74 15% 517
Cowlitz 1% 14,262 1% 14,981
Douglas 0% 4,588 0% 4,577
Ferry 18% 1,469 21% 1,138
Franklin 13% 7,594 10% 8,331
Garfield 5% 673 8% 411
Grant 10% 7,777 6% 11,211
Grays Harbor 30% 5,999 20% 9,157
Island 47% 1,787 13% 9,339
Jefferson 27% 1,655 10% 5,116
LOW-INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE 22
Difference in the Difference between
2023 duplicate utility
2023 duplicate utility number of 2023 Low-Income Units at
program participants /
program participants / unduplicated SNAP 80% AMI (ACS 2017-
County Low-Income Units at
2023 unduplicated participants and 2023 2022) and 2023
80% AMI (ACS 2017-
SNAP households duplicate utility duplicate utility
2022)
program participants participants
King 79% 18,393 23% 170,420
Kitsap 18% 13,035 8% 30,178
Kittitas 29% 2,206 11% 6,135
Klickitat 13% 2,869 12% 2,904
Lewis 19% 7,846 15% 9,363
Lincoln 36% 778 25% 1,209
Mason 31% 6,562 35% 5,211
Okanogan 0% 5,415 0% 6,770
Pacific 18% 2,480 12% 3,775
Pend Oreille 5% 2,216 5% 2,124
Pierce 19% 69,883 13% 94,040
San Juan 93% 40 17% 2,303
Skagit 34% 7,526 22% 11,233
Skamania 9% 1,232 6% 1,777
Snohomish 41% 23,351 14% 82,956
Spokane 44% 29,485 28% 48,908
Stevens 47% 2,574 30% 4,999
Thurston 29% 16,801 16% 31,340
Wahkiakum 13% 480 8% 778
Walla Walla 20% 3,908 11% 6,756
Whatcom 45% 7,822 19% 24,068
Whitman 71% 743 19% 6,854
Yakima 21% 26,733 20% 24,341
LOW-INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE 23
LOW-INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE 24
Appendix E: Utility actions from 2020 to 2022
This content is published exactly as it was shared with Commerce. There has not been any editing.
Broad and deep reforms
Avista
Low-Income: Avista contracts out to a third party evaluator to conduct a Process Evaluation every other year
and an Impact Evaluation annually. These recommendations are analyzed internally and program changes are
made as appropriate. Evaluators review data and project documentation as well as customer, CAA, and project
manager interviews. In most instances, Avista's Low-Income Weatherization program received realization
rates of 99% or above.
FUNDING
Bill Assistance
- Order No. 05 in Docket Nos. UE-150204 and UG-150205 (Consolidated) established a five-year plan and true-
up schedule which required Avista to file revisions to Schedules 92 and 192 by August 15th of each year, to
increase LIRAP funding by seven percent, with annual funding increases beginning effective October 1, 2016,
to continue through October 1, 2019. Order 09 in Docket Nos. UE-190334 et. al. then extended the five-year
funding plan through Avista’s next general rate case (GRC). In compliance with these aforementioned orders,
Avista filed its annual seven percent rate increase, and its true-up of the estimated revenues collected for
LIRAP to the actual collections for the prior October to September LIRAP program year, on July 31, 2020.
- Docket No. U-200281, the Commission’s Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, which it adopted in its Order
01, included a Revised Term Sheet that set forth various requirements, such as the provision of additional
funding for bill assistance programs and creation of additional customer programs to help support COVID-19
recovery efforts for Avista’s low-income customers.
- Many funds beyond LIRAP were expanded or developed anew in response to the financial impacts of the
COVID-19 pandemic. These include CARES Act funds, expanded LIHEAP allowances, American Rescue Plan
Act funds, and the Department of Treasury’s Rental Assistance Program (that includes provisions for utilities).
Another such funding option made available to Avista customers during the 2020-2021 program year to help
address the unprecedented economic strain brought on by the pandemic was the Company’s COVID-19 Debt
Relief Program (Debt Relief). COVID-19 Debt Relief began in April 2021, with a budget totaling $6,517,040,12
and provided assistance via two separate grant types: an Automatic Grant and a Forgiveness Grant. For the
Automatic Grant, see "Programs" tab column K. The second element to the Debt Relief offering was available
to residential customers at or below 200% FPL, but without a history of receiving income-qualifying assistance,
were encouraged to contact their local Agencies to apply for a Forgiveness Grant. Forgiveness Grants provided
eligible customers with up to $2,500 to pay their past due balance via a one-time grant.
Low-Income Weatherization
Funding remained steady at $3m annually since 2020-2022. In 2023, funding increased to $4m to serve more
low-income customers who need weatherization projects to help increase energy efficiency in their homes,
while reducing their bills. The Program is anticipated to receive another increase in 2024 and 2025 biennial
budget of $4.25 million annually or $8.5 million for those two years.
LOW-INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE 25
MARKETING & OUTREACH
Bill Assistance
- Avista outreach was suspended for a period of time due to COVID-19 while the team strategized about how
outreach could still be conducted while protecting staff and public safety. During this time, energy saving
items along with information on billing and payment options and bill assistance were dropped off at food
banks and provided to partners for their clients, reaching approximately 7k households.
- Avista pursued the ability to make LIRAP available to those residing on tribal land, thus engaging the Spokane
Tribe of Indians Health & Human Services LIHEAP department to become administrators of LIRAP. Prior to this
partnership, those residing on the reservation who were senior and/or receiving disability income or needed
emergency assistance would have had to contact Rural Resources to apply for those programs. Beginning in
2021, customers can now apply with the local LIHEAP department on the tribal reservation to receive
assistance.
- In an effort to engage hard-to-reach and underserved customers to distribute funds through the Company's
COVID-19 Debt Relief Program, Avista worked creatively with CAAs to develop a Community Partner Network
(CPN). CPN organizations, which include representation from entities that serve marginalized communities
such as rural, immigrant, tribal, or people of color, are recognized as trusted sources for help and support
among their communities. The Company looked to the CAAs to establish partnerships with such organizations
that provide aid to underserved populations, in order to develop these networks through which they could
engage their clients for the Debt Relief program.
- To raise awareness of the availability of financial relief for customers economically affected by the pandemic,
the Company executed a robust promotional campaign that sought to connect with customers – specifically
those who had a past due balance – through a variety of mediums including digit, print, and social media
advertisements along with emails to customers and flyers to Agencies and community organizations.
Outreach also included a proactive call campaign conducted by a specialized group of CSRs who attempted to
reach approximately 6,903 customers whose accounts were more than 90 days past due. In instances where
the customer could not be contacted by phone, voicemails were left, emails were sent, and, in some instances,
Avista staff visited customers at their home to ensure awareness of the various payment options and
assistance programs available. Supporting these efforts, and for broader reach, was a marketing campaign the
Company called Power of Compassion, that included print, digital and social media advertisements.
- To safeguard customer and community safety, the company had to pivot standard outreach strategies during
the pandemic. These new strategies included: hosting virtual Energy Assistance days; mailing kits to
customers (approx. 1,400 distributed via mail); sending Business Reply Cards (BRC) to all customers with past
due balances to return and request a free home energy kit and Energy Guide; dropping energy kits off at food
banks and other community-oriented organizations, such as the regional health district, early childhood
learning centers and an affordable living complex, throughout the Company’s service area (estimated that
approximately 4,983 customers received the conservation education materials and information through these
partnerships during the 2021-22 program year).
Low-Income Weatherization
LOW-INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE 26
- Outreach during the pandemic was problematic early on. Emerging from the pandemic around 2022, Avista
cautiously revamped outreach activities to ensure public and staff safety and well-being. Outreach options
including mailing energy efficiency kits and dropping up energy efficiency items to food banks, which included
program flyers. To serve customers in a safe manner, the outreach team dropped off energy-saving items and
information at food banks, participated in mobile food bank drive-through events, and partnered with
community-based organizations to provide home energy kits to their clients. In many instances, the previous
program managers for the Low-Income Weatherization program as well as Bill Assistance promoted both
programs when appropriate.
- With the program delivery modifications, Avista conducted only one energy assistance day in 2022 with
limited participation and a small number of workshops.
- In addition to providing the traditional path to serving income-qualified customers with energy efficiency,
Avista also continued to partner with a local community action agency in Spokane County to provide no-cost
weatherization services to all residents of a resident-owned mobile home community.
--As mentioned in the Outreach Assessments tab, customers who participate in the Low-Income
Weatherization program are often referred through Avista's partner community action agencies as recipients
of various bill assistance programs. Avista often provides referrals each year from its customers service
department and the company's Customer Assistance Referral and Evaluation Services program.
- Other referrals are the result of various outreach events Avista hosted or was invited to attend through
workshops, energy fairs, and mobile and general outreach efforts. Each method included demonstrations and
distribution of low- and no-cost materials with a focus on energy efficiency, conservation tips, and measures,
and information regarding energy assistance that may be available through CAA's.
PROGRAM DESIGN
Bill Assistance
- To improve the equitability of the distribution of LIRAP funds and based on discussions with Commission
Staff and other interested parties, the Company agreed to allow electric revenue to be used for natural gas
heat customers if those same customers also use Avista electric service. Of the total LIRAP assistance grants
issued, approximately 64% were electric and 36% were natural gas.
- To provide support and assistance to customers who had been adversely affected by the pandemic
financially, the Company requested, and received subsequent approval, to implement a temporary COVID-19
Hardship Grant in April 2020.
- To provide ease in access to the RDP, a referral process was put in place to connect Rate Discount
candidates identified by Avista Customer Service Representatives (CSRs) directly to the Agencies to initiate
the application process. In March 2021, a team of Avista employees and agency representatives from Rural
Resources and SNAP met to improve the business process for RDP referrals, with the primary goal of this work
being to improve the overall effectiveness of the referrals. At the time, only 16% of customers referred to the
Agencies were enrolled in the RDP. To increase participation and efficacy, the process was streamlined for
both the CSRs and the Agencies. This, combined with additional communication and training regarding the
program, resulted in an increase of referral effectiveness to 22% as of September 30, 2021.
LOW-INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE 27
- The LIRAP Arrearage Management Program (AMP) launched in April 2021 and provides relief for residential
customers with incomes between 51-200% FPL who have an unmanageable past-due balance (arrears) on
their account. Through the AMP, customers in this income range can receive a benefit that covers 90% of their
arrears as an incentive for regular, on-time payments from the time of enrollment. Upon enrollment, the 10% of
the arrears the customer is responsible for is amortized over a 12-month period. For each on-time, in-full
payment the customer makes on their portion of the arrears and their current bill, 1/12th of their arrears will be
forgiven. The intent of this offering is to encourage payment behavior of regular, on-time payments, while also
reducing the burden a past due balance places on customers. The AMP can also be offered to customers in
instances where energy and emergency assistance have already been utilized yet there is still a need for
assistance with unpaid arrears.
- In the wake of COVID-19, Avista’s LIRAP was set to have an exorbitant carryover balance for the 2021-2022
program year due to the many other funding sources being provided to the Agencies to assist customers. To
decrease this balance and further provide assistance to customers in need, the Automatic Hardship Grant was
recommended and supported by Avista’s Energy Assistance Advisory Group (EAAG) as a one-time grant for
Avista customers who (1) had an account 60+ days past-due, (2) had a past-due balance larger than $100, and
(3) had not received LIRAP or Project Share assistance during the current program year. On August 22, 2022,
Avista provided grants to 8,689 customers meeting these criteria.
Low-Income Weatherization
- The company continues to gather information and data about where these customer groups reside and how
the weatherization message is best delivered. This occurs through a variety of ways, including input from the
Company's Equity Advisory Group, Energy Efficiency Advisory Group, use of its Named Communities Map
derived from the Department of Health's Health Disparities Map, and the use of the data to assist in locating
Avista customers with high energy burdens.
PROGRAM EVALUATION
Bill Assistance
In February of 2021, Avista hired a full-time Bill Assistance Program Data Analyst to enhance how we were
collecting and evaluating data for bill assistance programs in order to support program design, implementation
and improvements as necessary. The Data Analyst provides interested parties, both internal and external, with
regular reports (monthly, quarterly, annually) on individual program performance, funding distribution,
participant demographics, saturation, and more.
Low-Income Weatherization
As stated before, Avista uses a 3rd party to conduct an impact evaluation and program evaluation of this
program. Avista takes these recommendations to modify its program to continuously improve its design and
effectiveness to serve the low-income customer within Avista's service territory. Avista continues to revisit its
unit energy savings (UES) assumptions for measures as part of its annual business planning process. Avista
also continues to re-evaluate the units used to set program participation goals for a given year.
Mason County PUD No 3
Several changes have been made to the district’s Programs between 2020 and 2022.
LOW-INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE 28
1) A new program called the Low-Income Energy Assistance Grant specifically developed to comply with the
Clean Energy Transformation Act (CETA) was implemented in October 2022. In the program, qualified
applicants receive $325 credit applied to their account. Two of the eligibility requirements include meeting the
low-income definition in CETA and having an energy burden at or above six percent (6%). Program
implementation was a large undertaking since the income verification screening and administration of the
program was going to all be handled in house. The policy for the program was set, however the staff
thoroughly questioned the parameters penciled in the process pathway to meet the requirements in a
thoughtful and reasonable way while focusing on reducing barriers whenever possible. This meant
documenting process, engaging with customers, community-based organizations, and supervisors to
ultimately find what works. This work is important to recognize because it likely would not have been as
successful if it was administered by a third party. Many applicants could have been denied when a change in
the process would have fixed the issue. An example of this in action is the policy requirement to provide
supporting documentation of income. In the first couple of months of the program, some applicants showed
extenuating circumstances in which they were not able to provide proof of income or had no income. To
mitigate this barrier and provide the much-needed assistance, two new forms were developed: a Self-
Declaration of Household Income and a Self-Declaration of No Income. This way the applicant can execute an
attestation to reflect their income for the year and use it as the supporting documentation. Adjustments such
as this were made multiple times until the final process was determined. A full-time staff position was created
to focus on this program.
2) The Project Share Program income eligibility was changed effective October 2022 to align with the CETA
definition of low income.
Changes made since 2022 as well as any plans for the district’s Programs are listed in question #2.
PacifiCorp
PacifiCorp proposed revisions to the Low Income Bill Assistance (LIBA) bill discount program filed under
Docket UE-210533 on July 2, 2021, and WUTC approved proposed tariff revision effective August 1, 2021. The
changes included the following:
1) LIBA program offer three discount tiers based on income qualifications and expanded income threshold for
the Tier 3 discount level to the greater of 80% AMI or 200% FPL.
2) Changed the method of calculating discount from applying credit to monthly usage in excess of 600 kWh to
a straight percentage discount of net monthly bill
3) Eliminated annual cap to allow program enrollment to all income qualified customers.
The expansion of the income guideline and removal of annual enrollment cap significantly increased program
participation.
For Low Income Weatherization program, PacifiCorp submitted a filing with the Commission on December 21,
2021, to make changes to Schedule 114 and received approval for the following effective February 1, 2022:
1) Increase funds available for repairs from 15 percent to 30 percent. The change designed to mitigate or
reduce number of homes deferred due to required repairs before weatherization work commence.
2) Permit installation of electric heat to replace permanently installed electric heat, space heaters or any fuel
source except natural gas with adequate combustion air as determined by the Agency. The changes are
LOW-INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE 29
designed to promote the installation of electric heat and minimize use of wood heat, solid fuels, or natural
draft equipment in specific applications where combustion safety (and indoor air quality) cannot be
maintained.
3) Expanded income guideline to align with WAC 194-40-030 definition of low income
Puget Sound Energy, Inc.
PSE WAP:
Program staff continued to adaptively manage LIW in response to COVID-19 related challenges in 2021.
Challenges included program delays, production impacts, and safety protocols required by Commerce for
partnering agencies. The LIW program also demonstrated continuous improvement by partnering with internal
and external stakeholders to develop a Phase 2 Low Income Needs Assessment (LINA) report, which was
released in December 2021. This report was the qualitative complement to the LINA Phase 1 report released
October 2020. PSE developed an action plan in response to the LINA Phase 2 report recommendations with a
timeline for implementation and continued to make progress on the action plan through 2022 in partnership
with PSE bill assistance programs, the Energy Project, and community action agencies. Examples of progress
include but are not limited to, planning and the launch of a dedicated LIW PSE landing page, transcreation,
participated in “Ask an Expert” events where we directly answered customer questions in a webinar format 2x
annually, and worked with marketing and communications to strategically target customers who would be
likely candidates for the program. Despite both program and production delays related to COVID-19, PSE
demonstrated progress by launching a marketing and outreach campaign in the last quarter of the year. The
campaign targeted 10 high needs census blocks in south King County, identified through the PSE LINA Phase
1 report, and consisted of targeted messaging via email and social media. Program staff were able to
establish educational and awareness partnerships with 10 trusted, local community-based organizations as a
result of this campaign.
PSE HELP: In 2020 PSE removed the LIHEAP “exhausted rule”, which required that customers eligible for
LIHEAP receive LIHEAP prior to receiving PSE HELP. Additionally, during the pandemic years, the agencies
allowed for mailed in documents and over the phone appointments rather than requiring in person documents
and appointments. 10/1/21 PSE raised the income eligibility from 200% Federal Poverty Line to 200% Federal
Poverty Line or 80% Area Median Income, whichever is greater. This change greatly increased the number of
customers eligible for the program. PSE also raised the minimum grant amount from $100 to $250, providing
greater assistance to each HELP recipient. In 2022, PSE adapted its grant calculation formula to better fit that
new availability of the program and also added in a 15% supplemental gas usage into the calculation to inflate
the grant in advance of anticipated large rate increases.
PSE HELP (Temp. AMP): This program did not exist between 2020 and 2022.
PSE WHF: At the end of 2018, PSE added the ability for customers to donate to the Warm Home Fund with
their one time or recurring online payment. This resulted in an average sustained increase in donations of
almost $500K per year (2018-2023). In 2021, PSE also changed the eligibility to align with CETA definition and
increased the available funding amounts from $300 to $600 per customer. Additionally, currently, there is also
no requirement to have a disconnect notice to receive assistance from WHF, as long as the customer has
already received assistance from PSE HELP or is waiting and potentially up for disconnection.
LOW-INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE 30
PSE BDR: While this program was not live in 2020-2022, in 2022 PSE began design and collaboration work with
internal and external stakeholders on the Bill Discount Rate project in preparation of launching the program
October 1, 2023.
PSE Community Solar Income-Qualified:
PSE launched the program in October 2021 with the first solar project site at Olympia High School. In 2022,
three more projects were opened for subscription.
Specific to assistance programs, PSE’s digital presence has evolved, focusing on reaching vulnerable
populations who will benefit from accessing assistance programs. As a result of this more targeted digital
presence, the PSE.com assistance pages were visited 739,537 times between January 2023 and September
28th, 2023. For the same time period in 2022 pages were visited 505,632, as compared to 130,090 in 2021.
Tweaked or retooled programs
Cowlitz PUD No 1
1. Warm Neighbor - Brought in house in end of 2020 to help better serve our customers and made slight
funding changes during this time. This change will lead to streamlining the experience for customers by
offering a one-stop shop for all Cowlitz PUD programs, leading to less confusion, and faster application
processing times.
2. SDDR - CAP still administered during this time but we increased the discount rates in 2022 from 15% to 20%
and 25% to 30%.These increased benefits will further reduce the energy burden of program participants.
Inland Power & Light Company
Before 2020, Inland did not have a direct bill assistance program or an insulation program. When members
called in needing help, they were directed to a third party that could provide assistance. In 2022, inland
launched it's insulation program, this program installed attic insulation in homes to qualifying members. In
2023, Inland continued the insulation program and added the direct bill assistance program.
Orcas Power & Light Coop
During the period of 2020-2022, OPALCO identified new program needs due to the COVID pandemic and
implemented additional bill assistance programs, upheld the Governor's moratorium on disconnections and
budgeted additional funding to the existing assistance programs. The partnership with the three Community
Resource Centers in the County deepened and OPALCO contracted with them to provide direct service to our
members in need of energy assistance.
Seattle City Light
To unify recordkeeping and provide customers with a single form to apply for bill assistance, Seattle City Light
and Seattle Public Utilities created “Utility Assistance Programs Automation,” an Enterprise Content
Management system. This provided our customers with the opportunity to apply for our programs online,
including uploading financial eligibility documentation.
Snohomish PUD No 1
LOW-INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE 31
i. We have added several auto-enrolment partner agencies to streamline the enrolment process, with more
underway
ii. We have added geospatial data to our conservation potential assessment so we can get more granular with
program participation
iii. We continue to partner with local and national groups to advocate for more direct utility funding through
Federal and state packages.
Incrementally increased funding, outreach, eligibility, or benefits
Benton County PUD No 1
Benton PUD made multiple changes between 2020 and 2022 and plans to continue to make changes as
necessary.
Low Income conservation funding was increased from $230,000 (CAC $80,000.00, BPUD Low Income
Conservation Weatherization Program $150,000.00) in 2020 to $300,000.00 in 2022 (CAC $200,000.00, BPUD
Low Income Conservation Weatherization Program $100,000.00). Funding for the BPUD Low Income
Conservation Weatherization was decreased and applied to the CAC contract to help leverage more state
matchmaker funds to enable CAC to help more customers.
In mid 2020 we started implementing service order processes through our CIS system to better track locations
of where conservation measures were being installed.
In October of 2021 we changed how our approved contractor list worked. Prior to October of 2021 we required
two separate contractors, one for the regular residential program and one for the low-income program. By
requiring two separate contracts we noticed it limited the number of contractors low income customers could
choose from to install conservation measures. We decided to combine the contracts into one giving our low
income customers are much larger contractor network to choose from.
Benton PUD also increased rebates for Heat pumps from $3,800 to $6,200, DHPs from $3,800 to $4,400, and
insulation from $1.25 / sq ft to $3.00 / sq ft.
At the end of 2020, we also started managing Helping Hands donations through a feature of our Customer
Information System. This allows customers to self-enroll in the program through our app. It also offered the
new option to round up their bill every month to the nearest dollar. Previously the only options were a one time
donation or a fixed dollar amount every month. Another improvement to the Helping Hands program was
related to amount of assistance for each customer. Donations were increasing but fewer customers were
applying for the assistance. We worked with CAC to determine that the assistance amount was smaller
compared to the larger sums available through LIHEAP, state COVID assistance, and state arrearage funding.
Customers were choosing not to apply for the smaller amount. We increased the assistance amount to $300
for all households, regardless of family size, and realized a resulting increase in applicants for the 2023
program year. The 2023 change increased the number of recipients from 103 in 2022 to 157 in 2023, which is
a 52% increase.
Our COVID assistance program was initially launched with a three month application period (May 2021-July
2021). After seeing the initial success of the program and the impact on past due arrearage balances, the
application period was extended for a second phase to allow new applications through January 2022 in order
LOW-INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE 32
to have a larger impact and help more customers with their accumulated pandemic balances. We expanded
our Veteran/Active Military discount to include widows/widowers of these service members as well.
Douglas County PUD No 1
2022 was the first year we implemented our CETA Energy Assistance program. Since then we have evaluated
the reach and increased our outreach methods.
Ferry County PUD No 1
Other than to increase the income level for participation in the Senior Low-Income Discount Program, the Utility
conducted its own survey of actual customers to get a better feel for energy assistance needs.
Grays Harbor County PUD No 1
On December 22, 2021, Grays Harbor PUD (District) submitted their Clean Energy Implementation Plan that
included our plan to increase effectiveness, and provide continued assistance to our customers. The District's
mission is to serve our community with high value utility services at the lowest practical cost. During this
period the District established the following categories to improve customers awareness and expand District
outreach:
Education: This includes awareness of energy consumption and efficiency literacy topics, including how to
best operate equipment to minimize energy usage and understanding the importance of preventative.
Renters/Landlord Split Incentive: This is the difference in motivations between landlords, who own the property
and seek to minimize capital costs, and renters, who typically pay the utility bill.
Program Requirements and Income Limits: Seniors and others may need assistance, but may be unaware that
they qualify, or may be just beyond the limits of established programs.
Based on the above considerations, the District identified the following strategies to reduce the energy burden
to highly impacted communities and vulnerable populations in its service territory, some of which it has
already begun to implement:
1. Expand energy education. For many years, the District has participated in the County Fair, Home and Garden
Shows held at the Elma Fairgrounds, and the Ocean Shores Project Connect biennial event. The District has
offered presentations about residential energy efficiency and the various programs available to groups
including senior and homeowner associations as well as mobile home communities. The District continues to
broaden these efforts to increase awareness of low-income program offerings among a more diverse
audience by expanding their outreach to address needs of vulnerable populations in our communities.
2. Expand low-income program offerings communications. The District currently advertises its low-income
program offerings through several channels, including the District website, monthly newsletters, radio
programs, social media and local newspaper advertisements. The PUD website has a foreign language
translation feature and text to speech for visually imparied customers. The District continues to evaluate and
work towards offering additional translated print and website materials with the hope of reaching a broader
audience.
3. Low-Income program administration was moved in house.
LOW-INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE 33
Jefferson County PUD No 1
Between 2020-2022 JPUD increased the amount of the LI discount to mitigate the effect of rate increases.
Additionally the income eligibility level for the senior low-income program was increased.
Klickitat County PUD No 1
Between 2020 and 2022, KPUD undertook several initiatives to enhance the effectiveness of our programs: -
Building upon our compliant low-income weatherization program and low-income senior bill discount program,
we enhanced these efforts by offering increased rebate values for residential home upgrades and augmenting
the budget allocation for the senior program. - Conducting audits of annual high bills enabled us to identify
customers experiencing bills higher than the utility standard. We proactively reached out to these customers to
provide guidance and options for reducing their energy usage. - The implementation of our AMI meters
commenced during this period, providing us with real-time technology to identify energy consumption
problems promptly. We utilized this technology to offer educational training to our customers, empowering
them to identify areas of energy consumption within their homes. We anticipate that with additional data
reporting and analysis, informed by our energy needs assessment for vulnerable populations, we will further
refine our strategies for energy conservation and assistance. Following the recent State Audit, which has just
concluded, we have identified a few findings that were not addressed in time for implementation before 2024.
Specifically, we did not complete a cumulative assessment, failed to identify demand response targets, and did
not evaluate the most suitable program income base between AMI and FPL. To rectify these gaps, we plan to
engage a consultant to address these issues and implement necessary changes accordingly.
Lewis County PUD No 1
The PUD received $1.2 million in 2020 and $1.4 million in 2022 from the TransAlta Coal Transitions Board for
our low-income energy efficiency program. With these funds, we were able to continue offering our low-income
energy efficiency program focused on providing ductless heat pumps and weatherization. We held a
contractor training in 2022 aimed at increasing knowledge of the program to our participating contractor base
and to answer any questions about the program. Often, customers hear about the program through these local
contractors so increasing their knowledge of the program is important. Lewis County added a low-income
senior bill discount program in 2023.
Modern Electric Water Company
From 2020 to 2022, Modern enhanced accessibility, streamlining our application process for bill assistance
programs, making it easier for customers to access and navigate. We expanded our outreach by hiring a
communications coordinator and implementing targeted outreach campaigns. Our utility staff has worked
diligently to increase awareness of bill assistance programs among eligible customers, ensuring that those in
need are aware of the support available to them. Our staff has improved communication with our customers
regarding the availability of assistance programs and the offerings we have. We use clear and concise
communication strategies to effectively communicate program details, eligibility criteria, and application
procedures to our customers, reducing confusion and increasing participation rates. Modern's staff often
identifies trends and patterns in customer usage and payment behavior, allowing for more targeted and
efficient allocation of bill assistance resources to those who need it most. Our utility has forged strategic
partnerships with community organizations, social service agencies, and other stakeholders to leverage their
networks and resources in reaching underserved populations and maximizing the impact of bill assistance
offerings. When the opportunity arises, we gather input from customers and stakeholders, allowing for ongoing
refinement and improvement of bill assistance programs based on evolving needs and challenges. In addition
to providing bill assistance, our utility empowers our customers with the knowledge and skills needed to
LOW-INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE 34
manage their energy usage and expenses effectively, thereby promoting long-term financial stability and
resilience.
Parkland Light & Water Company
Project Round Up requirements and maximums changed after the end of Covid-19. We again provide
assistance to residences only who are 300% fpl, or have a life event causing hardship. The maximum pledge is
$300 per 12months. (down from $500 due to COVID-19).
We made changes to allow funding to be distributed to more applicants that qualify.
We have also began mailing applications and resource fliers to residences that have been identified by
collections.
Pend Oreille County PUD No 1
The Neighbors in Need Grant Program was modified January 1, 2022 to include the income verification
component so that program participation will qualify going forward.
Peninsula Light Company
Throughout the covid-19 pandemic, Peninsula Light Co. waived the Project Help application process and
immediately applied $400 billing assistance to electric accounts if a member verbally stated they were in need.
In 2022, Peninsula Light Co. increased its total household income guidelines to 225% FPL to allow for more
members to be eligible for billing asstance.
Skamania County PUD No 1
Between 2020 and 2022 Skamania PUD increased the channels in which customers were reached. The District
has expanded it's outreach through a local organization (local church) and Klickitat County publication. The
District expanded the eligibility criteria to include all low income individuals and not exclusively those over the
age of 65.
Tacoma Power
For energy efficiency programs:
Low income certification has been streamlined where eligibility is automatic for customers currently approved
for Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) or Bill Credit Assistance Plan (BCAP). This
reduces need for a complete and redundant Low Income certification process.
For utility bill assistance programs:
Low income certification has been streamlined where eligibility is automatic for customers currently approved
for Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). In addition, customers enrolled in the Bill Credit
Assistance Plan automatically receive a credit each month equal to the amount of the fixed customer charge.
Tacoma Power has also entered into Memorandum of Understanding (MOUs) with multiple agencies who
work with United Ways Centers For Strong Families to provide financial education along with other valuable
resources for limited income households. Customers who complete a free consultation with a certified
financal coach also receive a one-time credit applied to their utility account.
LOW-INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE 35
Began a program or programs
Benton Rural Electric Assn
Implemented a new Bill Assistance Program in January of 2022 called Power to Care. Benton REA members
can voluntarily contibute by rounding up their bills, a set monthly donation or a one time donation. Benton REA
also contributes to the program and to date and contributed more than $42,000. Benton REA has made some
changes to how we administer our programs, particularly with the income based energy efficiency programs
and has went from no participation to a moderate level of participation. Benton REA has implemented a
strategtic communication plan to promote our income based programs, which has resulted in increases to all
Benton REA programs. Included in our communications plan is a focus on reaching the spanish speaking
population.
Big Bend Electric Coop, Inc
From 2020-2022 Big Bend Electric Cooperative has implemented two low-income programs for co-op
members. We implemented a low-income energy assistance program that is operated and maintained entirely
in-house. This is a short-term emergency assistance plan that credits $200 per calendar year to eligible
households. This program has been well received by our members and has continued to increase participation
numbers each year.
Marketing methods have been adjusted to include radio ads, distributing flyers at area food banks and health
clinics. We are continuing to research more targeted methods.
We have also implemented a low-income energy efficiency program in partnership with local CAP agencies
Benton/Franklin CAC based in Pasco. This is a long-term assistance solution to our eligible members who
need assistance in weatherizing their homes and improving or replacing HVAC systems. This program also
allows for assistance to those who rent. Home improvements are made with energy efficiency incentives and
in return, the homeowner signs an agreement to not raise rental rates for a period of time. This allows for low-
income renters to benefit from reduced energy burden while also avoiding increased rental rates. This program
continues to increase participation numbers and we continue to market it on a variety of platforms.
Chewelah Light Department
We bagan a program that did not exist.
Kittitas County PUD No 1
Initially, our Low Income Program monthly discount was set at $1 by our Board of Commissioners and
customers were required to apply. This was an attempt to begin assessing need and participation levels before
additional funds were committed to the program. Based on customer feedback, the Board of Commissioners
increased the monthly discount to $10 and removed the requirement for customers to complete an additional
application to qualify.
Evaluated what to do
Chelan County PUD No 1
For the work with CAC, we have tried to push the agency to do more weatherization but they have struggled
with staffing. In 2024. we are working on an integrated approach to maximize both ComfortPlus funding with
LOW-INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE 36
CAC funds to help more homes in Chelan County. In process of evaluating energy assistance program for low-
income customers.
Clark County PUD No 1
Clark Public Utilities has continued to evaluate the effectiveness of all of our current low income energy
assistance programs to determine if there are measures that can be taken to improve program participation
and outcome and to identify the existing gaps to met the Clean Energy Transformation Act mandates. The
Guarantee of Service Program was the first program identified for review and an in depth review was done of
the program parameters, historical participation rates and program outcomes. Upon review of the data, it was
determined that redesign of the Guarantee of Service Program would not successfully meet reach the goals
set forth in the Clean Energy Transformation Act. It was decided that most appropriate course of action would
be to redirect efforts to the design of new programs that would more effectively address the reduction of
energy burden in low income households as well as serve customers up to 80% AMI.
Wahkiakum County PUD No 1
The PUD continues to market our low income programs to customers. Internally, we discuss the programs any
ways to improve outreach and effectiveness. The PUD will continue to work with our partners to provide
assistance to lessen the energy burden on our low income customer base. We look forward to completing a
Clean Energy Transformation Act Study and implementing suggestions that will benefit our low income
community.
Maintained programs
Centralia City Light
No changes needed based on current interview procedures.
City of Cheney Light Dept
Not much was done to improve the two programs, Cheney Outreach and BPA conservation. These were the
COVID years and most low income assistance was provided by Federal CARES Funds and a local Spokane
County program that does not qualify as a City CETA program. We continued to advertise the Cheney
Outreach programm on our website, in our mailers and at the Finance office.
Franklin County PUD No 1
All programs are available to all customers that meet the income level requirements for the programs. All
federal funds available such as Cares, ARPA and others were requested and distributed to customers that
were eligible in order to assist customers after the COVID pandemic when customer outstanding balances
became very high.
Grant County PUD No 2
As of April 1, 2024 we have not received the final results of the 2019-2020 audit. Changes were not made
between 2020 and 2022 to our programs due to not having received feedback from the state.
Ohop Mutual Light Co.
During the COVID disconnect moratorium most customers who were behind on their bills did not take
advantage of assistance programs. Operation Round Up experienced very little interest and unfortunately the
LOW-INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE 37
number of seniors participating in Senior Discount decreased significantly as they left the area or passed on.
We are still ramping those programs back up and are looking forward to increasing participation significantly
in the coming years.
Okanogan PUD No 1
Available assistance programs during 2020-2022 were fairly effective, as our Districts arrearages from COVID
were some of the lowest in the State.
Additionally, District customers who follow through with seeking assistance from either Okanogan County
Community Action Council or the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, have been successful.
Pacific County PUD No 2
The District feels that its programs have been and continue to be effective at meeting the needs of our rate-
payers as evidenced by our low rates and an absence of rate increases. As such, there were no substantive
changes made 2020-2022. Honestly it has been a struggle to provide the staff time and funding to focus on
improving program effectiveness. That being said, as mentioned elsewhere the District has improved program
promotion through social media, website and direct contact with our CSRs. We have also improved our
presence in our community through being involved in more events. This gives us the platform to engage our
customers face to face while not being ‘behind the counter.’ We will continue to engage our customers in these
ways.
Steilacoom Public Works
2020-2022 covered a portion of the COVID years. Additional funding became available through CARES, ARPA,
and other programs. Although not specifically targeted at low income, these funds allowed us to provide
additional assistance in our utility assistance program. No specific changes were made in the program
offered by the Town during this time period.
Tanner Electric Coop
Made sure funds are available for those in need of assistance.
Not enough information
Elmhurst Mutual Power & Light Co
We identify challenges customers have in accessing the funds and work to simplify our processes or those of
our partners to make the funds easier to access.
Richland Energy
In October 2023, we increased the incentive amounts for all low-income energy efficiency measures.
Elected not to submit information or has not reported
City of Blaine
City of Coulee Dam
City of Sumas
LOW-INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE 38
City of McCleary Public Utility
City of Milton Electric Division
City of Blaine
City of Port Angeles
Clallam County PUD No 1
Ellensburg Energy Services Dept
Lakeview Light & Power
Mason County PUD No 1
Nespelem Valley Electric Coop
Vera Irrigation District #15
Has no residential customers
Asotin County PUD No 1
Whatcom County PUD No 1
Organized under Idaho law
Northern Lights Incorporated
Kootenai Electric Cooperative
Clearwater Power Company
Utility plans, 2024-26
Utilities included these future plans for 2024-26 as part of their submissions. These were intended or planned
actions that may not have occurred, or may not yet have occurred. They are unedited.
Broad and deep reforms
Mason County PUD No 3
1) When the Grant was developed it was focused on prioritizing those customers with a high energy burden as
stipulated by CETA. After considering others’ interpretations of the language to prioritize those with a high
energy burden, and to provide a better experience to customers with additional program efficiencies, it was
decided to combine the Grant with the Project Share Program. The change was effective March 2024. Now
there is one direct assistance program, one application, one set of requirements, and a tiered funding benefit
with no impact to the budget. If the applicant does not have a high energy burden, they receive the lower
benefit amount of $175 and if they do then they receive the higher benefit of $500, the same amounts as
previously offered. This change will help reduce energy burden by expanding the eligibility of the primary bill
assistance program and simplify administration.
LOW-INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE 39
2) Administration of the Project Share Program was moved in house in October 2023. It was previously
administered through the Community Action Council (CAC). Staff had been considering moving administration
in house since the new Grant program was established and when CAC provided notice it was going to start
assessing a screening fee of $15 per application it was quickly decided to do it. The change provided a
reduced barrier to entry into the program as district staff is more readily available then they are at CAC. This
will likely be the most effective change to increase the total funding provided and number of households
benefiting from the program. It also gave staff the opportunity to streamline the Grant and Project Share
program processes allowing the customer to simply submit one application for eligibility into three different
programs; the Grant, Project Share, and the Low-Income Energy Efficiency Program (described below). If a
customer has already gone through the district’s eligibility process within the last six (6) months they do not
have to go through it again. As stated in #1 above, this program was combined with the grant program in
March 2024. This will also improve the programs effectiveness as it will no longer have to rely solely on
donations for funding.
3) The Low-Income Senior Citizen and Low-Income Disabled Discount Programs are no longer available except
to customers that were qualified and receiving service under the program's rate schedule effective January 2,
2023. Once a customer in the program's rate schedule terminates service at their location the discount is no
longer available. For that reason, we expect the number of households enrolled and total program costs to
decline over time until it reaches zero. The aggregate annual household bill savings, however, will increase
whenever the system charge increases since the discount is 100% of the system charge. Given the low-income
energy assistance program mandated in CETA changes to the Programs had to be made. This was a much
better outcome than a full termination of the program which was a consideration. This change will also
streamline the program offerings, making it simpler to communicate with customers.
4) The surcharge exemption started in 2023 at the same time the surcharge was implemented. The intent of
the surcharge is to ensure the customers qualified as low income do not have to pay for the cost of the low-
income programs. Enrollment is automatic and remains in effect for as long as the eligibility requirements are
met. This change directly and automatically reduces energy burden for program participants. Success of this
program is directly tied to the success of the district's programs. As participation increases or decreases in
those programs this one will automatically see that effect.
5) A new program called the Low-Income Energy Efficiency Program specifically implemented to comply with
CETA started in October 2023. In the program, qualified applicants receive an incentive for approved
equipment installations. By implementing an energy efficiency program, it will provide sustained energy burden
reductions to qualified low-income customers. In order to increase the funding provided and number of
households benefiting from the new program, district staff will continue to engage contractors, homeowners,
and customers to educate them about it.
6) A new program that provides a reduced back bill provision for qualified low-income customers came into
effect February 20, 2024. In this provision, if a back billing is required, due to a faulty meter for example, it will
be reduced to a six (6) month look back as compared to the policy which states 72 months.
Other changes the district is planning to make to improve the effectiveness of the stated mechanisms and
strategies include the following communications improvements: 1) pay to “boost” social media posts to garner
more attention; 2) continue to expand outreach opportunities for Spanish-speaking customers; 3) collaborate
with online communities (i.e. Facebook community groups) to share information about assistance programs;
and 4) while redesigning the website aim to create a more accessible environment for all, both linguistically
and taking differing abilities into account.
LOW-INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE 40
In assessing the outreach effectiveness, it was identified there are few application submissions from tribal
members and Spanish speaking customers. It is found when they do apply, they often do not follow through
with providing the necessary supporting documentation. The district is planning to explore this concern further
and obtain assistance from the Squaxin Island Tribe, community organizations, and potentially consultants
with experience working with disadvantaged communities.
Puget Sound Energy, Inc.
As outlined in the Company’s 2023 Biennial Clean Energy Implementation Plan (CEIP) Update, one of PSE’s
current customer benefit indicators addresses energy security, and is measured through arrearages and
disconnections for non-payment, and energy burden. These metrics give PSE insight to the magnitude of the
challenges customers are facing, and provide insight to the next steps PSE should take. Within the Biennial
CEIP, PSE describes the specific actions to mitigate these barriers through the use of energy assistance
programming. The intent of energy assistance programs is to lower energy burden for customers, and
minimize instances of arrearages and disconnections. Each metric will be tracked over time to give PSE insight
to the effectiveness of these energy assistance programs. Below are details for how each program intends to
engage with customers, especially customers within named communities, and increase participation.
PSE WAP:
1) Targeted Marketing via paid social media advertising, email campaigns, print advertising including fliers,
and postcards mailed to homes. This includes email campaigns and a postcard campaign to target high-risk or
vulnerable customers based on income level, Named Communities status, and high energy burden customers.
PSE will continue its commitment to build on program enhancements that reach customers by providing and
improving in-language outreach and tools to its income-eligible communities. It will also explore other in-
language strategies for non-English-dominant customers. 2) Feature the program at in-person and virtual
events, including Ask and Expert events with content tailored to PSE assistance programs. 3) Continued close
coordination with agency networks and the Energy Project (TEP) and increased coordination and collaboration
with State Weatherization staff/utility staff to address state-wide issues such as workforce development,
agency capacity, and interaction of state and federal funding sources; 4) Continued commitment by PSE to
provide utility funding that keeps pace with inflation and rising construction costs. 5) Localized outreach
efforts that increase customer trust and program access.
PSE HELP: PSE is currently improving the PSE HELP/Bill Discount rate application so we may approve more
applications at a quicker speed. PSE will be creating a Spanish mail-out application to make it easier for
Spanish speaking customers to fill out and return to PSE. PSE will continue to engage customer outreach and
marketing teams in promoting the bill assistance programs for customers. We anticipate more discussions
with interested parties to potentially incorporate measurements of reaching deepest need, and reaching our
goal toward continuing to lower energy burden of our income-qualified customers.
PSE HELP (Temp. AMP): In 2024, PSE will launch its Arrearage Management Program, which will replace the
temporary arrearage grant program with a robust program that will forgive 1/12 of a customer’s arrearage for
each monthly on time payment of their current bill. As part of that project, PSE will be enabling Spanish
language online application for PSE HELP, BDR, and AMP. PSE is currently working with interested parties to
develop this permanent Arrearage Management Plan. There will be more marketing, outreach, and events
efforts specifically to promote the program to customers.
PSE BDR: PSE will be evaluating the bill discount rate and its impact on energy burden. PSE will be creating a
Spanish mail-out application to make it easier for Spanish speaking customers to fill out and return to PSE.
LOW-INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE 41
PSE will continue to engage customer outreach and marketing teams in promoting our bill assistance
programs for customers. PSE plans to monitor the second year of Bill Discount Rate renewals to gauge the
drop-off rate, and plans to discuss with the Low-Income Advisory Committee.
PSE Income-Eligible Community Solar:
1) Targeted marketing via paid social media advertising, email campaigns, print advertising including fliers,
and postcards mailed to homes. This includes email campaigns and a postcard campaigns to target high-risk
or vulnerable customers based on income level, named communities status, and high energy burden
customers. PSE will continue its commitment to build on program enhancements that reach customers by
providing and improving in-language outreach. It will continue to activate other in-language strategies for non-
English-dominant customers.
2) Feature the program at in-person and virtual events, including Ask and Expert events with content tailored to
PSE Assistance programs.
3) Continue to adjust the on-bill energy credit to align with the "value of solar" identified through the IRP.
4) Localized education and outreach efforts that increase customer trust, awareness and understanding of the
benefits of solar energy.
5) Add more solar projects to the system until the program reaches its goal of 50 MW total - a minimum of
30% set aside for low-income customers at no cost.
Outreach, marketing, and events:
PSE will continue to refine and adjust its outreach strategies to leverage data obtained about where customers
in deepest need are and partnering with organizations who serve these customers to share information about
assistance programs with them. In addition, as PSE’s outreach team is learning more about our customers in
need of assistance programs, we will continue to work towards decreasing barriers to them receiving
information and education about these programs and signing up. Where possible, the outreach team will
support signing customers up for these programs or guiding them where to do so.
New energy burden metrics:
Additionally, in the Company’s 2024 general rate case (GRC), PSE proposed two new metrics to measure PSE’s
progress in reducing energy burden for customers: (1) “Energy Burden Efficacy” as the median percentage
reduction in energy burden from energy assistance, among high energy burden customers who receive energy
assistance, and (2) “Energy Assistance Delivery Depth” as the percentage of high energy burden customers
who received energy assistance.
The energy burden efficacy metric would measure PSE’s performance in reducing the energy burden of
customers provided the benefit of energy assistance. PSE considers this a sentinel metric in assessing
whether PSE is equitably distributing this energy benefit and helping to lessen the economic pressure of being
in an energy burdened status. As seen in the section “Assessment of Programs” of this report, PSE already
demonstrated some data showing the energy burden efficacy for 2022 and 2023 for the energy assistance
programs discussed in this report: PSE WAP/LIW, PSE HELP, Temporary AMP, WHF, BDR, and Income-Eligible
Community Solar.
LOW-INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE 42
The Energy Assistance Delivery Depth performance metric would determine what proportion of PSE’s energy
burdened customer population is receiving energy assistance. To calculate this metric, PSE would take the
count of its energy burdened customer population that receives energy assistance and divide by the count of
the energy burdened customer population. The higher the value for this metric, the greater success PSE is
achieving at directing its energy assistance resource to its customers most in need of economic benefits.
Conversely, a lower score would indicate that PSE should consider adjustments in its energy assistance
delivery in order to be in alignment with CETA goals.
Utilities tweaking or retooling programs
Avista Corp.
FUNDING
Bill Assistance
- As of October 1, 2023, LIRAP no longer functions under a budgeted amount, but instead is "capless".
Essentially, LIRAP funds will be available to meet the demand of the eligible customers that Avista serves.
- Avista has assembled a subcommittee of it's Energy Assistance Advisory Group (EAAG) to design a new
funding model for joint administration between CAAs and Avista. Per 2022 GRC Settlement: Avista will
collaborate with its EAAG to determine the appropriate method, amounts, and administrative structure for
future program years [beyond 2023-2024].* This new model will have impacts on the funding allocated to
administer LIRAP beginning in October 2025.
Low-Income Weatherization
Beginning in 2023, funding for weatherization increased from $3m to $4m (in addition to $1m for the Deferred
Maintenance Pilot). The budget for 2024 and 2025 is expected at $4.25 million each year.
MARKETING & OUTREACH
Bill Assistance
- Avista is working with a social impact communications agency to develop a strategic outreach and
communication plan, which explicitly includes bill assistance programs. The strategic plan will inform
actionable, high-impact communication efforts, and also connect Avista to CBOs to foster long-term
partnerships.
- Avista is continuing to identify organizations that can serve as entry points to communities and likely income-
eligible customers (CBOs, employers, Tribes, etc.)
- Expanded language accessibility on myavista.com, as well as the My Avista mobile app and print outreach
materials
- Other marketing tactics planned for the My Energy Discount Washington program from April-September 2024
include: targeted digital ads; social media posts, targeted search ads; direct email campaigns; direct mail
postcard; local newspaper ads; targeted publication ads; bill inserts; print and email versions of Avista
Connections Newsletter
- Avista is planning to conduct customer and agency surveys with the aim of better understanding pain points
and to improve the experiences of agency staff and customers alike.
LOW-INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE 43
Low-Income Weatherization
- Due to the program manager staff retirement of the Department's energy efficiency outreach coordinator and
weatherization program manager for energy efficiency in 2022 and 2023, activities were put on a slight pause
for the first half of 2023. In mid-2023, both positions were filled and the program manager (as well as the
outreach coordinator) took lead position in helping to develop an outreach strategy and plan for 2024 and
2025.
- In general, customers who participate in the Low-Income Weatherization program are often referred through
Avista's partner CAA's and Avista's Customer Assistance Referral and Evaluation Services program, which
provides support for disabled, elderly, and low-income customers, or customers experiencing hardships related
to employment, health, or finances.
- Other referrals are the result of various outreach events Avista hosts or is invited to attend. In partnership
with the Company's energy efficiency efforts, its community and economic vitality department conducts
conservation education and outreach for low income customers, seniors, individuals living with disabilities, and
veterans.
PROGRAM DESIGN
Bill Assistance
- Further aligning LIRAP income guidelines with those of LIHEAP (i.e. what is and is not considered income) in
order to improve customer and agency experience of program enrollment
- Based on results of 6% income verification for My Energy Discount Washington, program may undergo small
design changes
Low-Income Weatherization
-After the Deferred Maintenance Pilot finishes the end of 2024, an analysis will be conducted to see if the
Deferred Maintenance Pilot can be rolled into the program with increased funding for pre-weatherizing homes.
-After the Workforce Training Pilot ends in December 2024, Avista will work with various stakeholders to find a
solution to fill the weatherization training gaps in Eastern Washington. While the CAA's have been actively
working with customers for years, many challenges persist, including finding willing and eligible participants,
navigating continued increases in labor and material costs, and delays in receiving products. While several
partner agencies were able to fully spend their funds, others did not have the same success. Avista will
continue to collaborate with partner agencies to develop strategies to overcome these barriers, which includes
using this Workforce Training Pilot to address weatherization training needed for agency staff.
-Avista will take into considerations program design changes/recommendations from our 3rd party evaluator
and does so on a regular basis.
PROGRAM EVALUATION
Bill Assistance
- Avista collects dozens of data points to evaluate the success of LIRAP, with a few high-level metrics being
enrollment numbers, saturation rates, distribution of enrollment between the discount tiers, direct service
funds spent, demographics of participants, and impacts of arrearage assistance on ongoing payment
behavior. As we continue to gather this information, we are also working towards consolidating it into an
accessible dashboard. This will further assist us in evaluating the data to identify where we might have gaps in
participation, how effective our marketing and outreach efforts are, and much more.
LOW-INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE 44
- Saturation rate is a key measure for LIRAP, as it (1) illustrates how effective we are at reaching the eligible
population and (2) aligns with the goals as defined in RCW 19.405.120 to reach 60% saturation by 2030 and
90% by 2050. This will continue to be an area of focus for Avista going forward.
- Avista intends on identifying saturation rates in Named Communities, and evaluating how those compare to
saturation rates in general. This will help determine targeted outreach campaigns, and also identify any
unintended consequences or gaps in the existing program design or outreach tactics.
- With income information now available through customer participation in My Energy Discount, Avista intends
on better understanding the energy burden of their customers and effectively it is being addressed through
program participation
- Avista also plans to collect and evaluate usage data on customers enrolled in bill assistance programs to
understand if any behavior changes are occurring; essentially, does more affordable energy incentivize using
more, which is counterintuitive to a foundational purpose of LIRAP being to "encourage energy conservation"
Low-Income Weatherization
-The program manager intentionally works with each CAA to gather continuous feedback on the program and
future improvements.
-Outreach efforts are being looked at more strategically and will be fully executed mid-2024 and beyond. This
includes collaborating with the My Energy Discount program manager to collaborate the best methods to
reach as many low-income customers as we can to serve their need by reducing their energy bills and
increasing their energy efficiency by helping them with weatherization projects in qualified homes.
-Avista takes into consideration all program evaluation recommendations from the third party evaluator, ADM.
They use data collected and reported in the Program's tracking database, online application forms, Avista
TRM, and RTF values to evaluate verified savings. The approach provides the strongest estimate of achieved
savings practical for the program, given its delivery method, magnitude of savings, number of participants, and
availability of data. The 3rd party evaluator verifies electric and gas energy savings for the Low-Income
Weatherization impact evaluation, usually receiving around a 98% total realization rates.
Benton Rural Electric Assn
Benton REA is increasing the monthly bill credit for the Senior/Disability in 2024 and has created dashboards
for each of our programs to conduct quarterly analysis of the effectiveness of the programs and the
promotional marketing efforts. Benton REA has established a significantly higher funding target for income
based efficiency programs.
Clallam County PUD No 1
Currently, the District only has a bill assistance program with effectiveness to participants in the short term.
The District is opening up two new mechanisms to help those with EAN, both of which will produce sustained
energy reduction. One is a low-income community solar program, designed to allow low-income customers to
realize the benefits of solar generation without the large upfront cost. The second is a low-income
conservation program, designed to help with affordable efficient weatherization reducing energy burden. The
District will look at increasing public outreach and continue to fund infrastructure projects improving resiliency
and reliability for HIC and VP.
LOW-INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE 45
Cowlitz PUD No 1
We are dedicated to continually review the programs to insure our processes and procedures are effective and
serving vulnerable customers these programs are intended for. We will continue to increase and improve our
outreach to encourage participation in these programs through events, education, advertising, etc.
In February 2024, we heard from the State Auditor's Office about the new interpretation of "low-income" and we
intend to change the income eligibility requirements of this program to match that definition.
We plan to increase the selection of measures available to low-income customers through self-funding and
BPA funding
We have several new outreach activities planned for the future:
-Collaboration with community-based organizations (Elder Options and Chamber of Commerce) at the Open
Benefits Fair in Longview
-Organizing a new annual fundraiser golf tournament for Warm Neighbor
-Marketing and outreach to senior centers about bill assistance and weatherization
Grant County PUD No 2
Planning to change the District's Senior and Disabled discount programs to include all low-income customers.
The District is researching and developing additional programs to meet the needs of Grant County's low-
income population.
Grays Harbor County PUD No 1
As mentioned in the previous section, the District continues to evaluate the effectiveness of its programs
mechanisms and strategies to ensure we are moving towards our CETA goals and customer's energy
assistance need. We are regularly evaluating and improving our advertising frequency and methodology,
reach-out strategies, and encouraging collaboration with a variety of community-based organizations to
increase awareness of our available energy assistance programs.
In addition, we continue to evaluate the following approaches and focuses to increase the effectiveness of
mechanisms and strategies:
1. Continued expansion and awareness of energy education and savings opportunities. As mentioned in the
previous section, the District regularly participates in the Grays Harbor County Fair, Home and Garden Shows,
and Ocean Shores Project Connect. In addition, the District continues to offer in-person residential energy
efficiency advisement and education on the various programs available to all District customers. The District
plans to broaden these efforts and to increase awareness of energy efficiency opportunities among a more
diverse audience by having expanding outreach to specifically address needs of vulnerable populations in our
communities.
2. Increase frequency of low-income program offerings communications. The District continues to evaluate
and work towards offering additional translated print and website materials with the hope of reaching a
broader audience.
LOW-INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE 46
3. Explore expansion and changes to low-income program offerings. The District will also continue
reevaluating the programs requirements to identify the best method to expand the programs and eligilibity.
The District continues outreach and has conversations with community partners to further identify povish
customers that have not yet been identified by current programs.
4. Expand marketing and education to vulnerable populations: Work with community partners and tribal
liaisons to better identify our target audience.
PacifiCorp
PacifiCorp continue to partner with local Community Action Agencies for Low Income Bill Assistance (LIBA)
program delivery.
PacifiCorp developed and published universal Low Income Bill Assistance (LIBA) program application.
Application is available on PacifiCorp LIBA program web page. Customers may print, complete and submit
application to local partner agency for processing.
Pacific Power developed Pacific Power service map overplayed with partner agency information to help
customers identify agency partner in their specific area.
PacifiCorp started working in December 2021 with Empower Dataworks to complete an energy burden
assessment to help inform future program planning, identify underserved customers as well as develop a
strategy for targeting high burden customers. The study was completed at the end of June 2022 , and provided
recommendations for targeting strategies for existing programs and any new programs or initiatives.
PacifiCorp has focused on exploring new outreach methods as well as improving existing strategies for
program accessibility to increase program participation and reduce energy burden.
Pend Oreille County PUD No 1
The PUD’s current conservation program does not operate targeted low-income conservation programs, but
plans to do so in the future. The PUD is looking to implement conservation programs targeted to members of
low-income households. The PUD is considering partnering with Rural Resources to promote these programs.
The PUD is also implementing an advanced metering (AMI) system, which could allow the PUD to implement
pre-paid accounts to benefit low-income customers.
Tacoma Power
For energy efficiency programs:
Reviewed and improved participating requirements for IQRP based on past participation and participant’s
comments.
Beginning in 2024, a Ductless Heat Pump Maintenance project is being implemented, targeting 600 low
income customers who received grants during 2012-2017 to have DHPs installed. The goal is to identify if
DHPs are still in working order and being maintained, being operated by customers as intended, or if non-
operable. If repairs are needed, we plan to address those by having repairs completed.
Conduct on-site energy assessments for all income qualified program applicants to address whole home
improvements, recommend upgrades, present financial incentive options, and provide support throughout
installation process.
LOW-INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE 47
For utility bill assistance programs:
Staff continues to identify multi-family complexes that have a high population of tenants who meet the income
requirements of the Bill Credit Assistance Plan. Complexes where all tenants must meet the same income
eligibility of our programs, can qualify for auto-enrollment eliminating the need for customers to submit
additional paperwork.
On-site enrollments are conducted by staff at apartment complexes where some tenants may be above the
income eligibility of our programs. By conducting on-site enrollments, we are able to meet with customers in
multi-purpose rooms where they live eliminating the need for them to travel. Whenever possible, we also team
up with other programs within the City of Tacoma as well as non-profit organizations who are seeking to
connect with the same client base. During these on-site enrollments we have been able to offer enrollment in
utility bill assistance programs as well as provide energy/water-efficient items. Non-profit agencies often
provide free cell phones and tablets for households who need them. By having other programs and services
availalbe during the same event, it reduces the stigma of the event only being available to "low income"
households.
Mason PUD No 1
The District is currently working to establish a low-income energy efficiency program that would provide long-
term sustained energy burden reductions with a ductless heat-pump program, as well as a low income
appliance rebate program.
Utilities incrementally increasing funding or outreach
Benton County PUD No 1
As programs develop, we plan to streamline processes for our customers. An example of this is our low-
income energy efficiency programs have historically required multiple contacts with our customer including
initial energy audit, selection of vendor, and approval of selected measure followed by an inspection of the
installed measure. Going forward we are exploring ways to reduce the need for customers to make multiple
trips into the office. We are also exploring ways to prioritize customers with higher energy burden for our
conservation programs.
Additionally the District receives no direct federal or state funding. However, CAC receives funds from both of
these entities along with District funds which all are used to lower our low-income customers energy burden.
We plan to continue to increase funding (depending on ability to spend) to CAC which leverages dollar for
dollar matching funds under the Matchmaker program from state funding. These matching funds allow for
greater budgets which further assists more of our customers in reducing energy burden with long term
benefits.
Big Bend Electric Coop, Inc
Big Bend Electric Cooperative (BBEC) continues to assess and improve low-income programs for our
members. Our low-income energy assistance program has budget increases annually to ensure the program
continues to grow and expand to meet projected needs. Program participation rates and budget totals are
evaluated on a quarterly basis. We are also looking at possibly adding categorical eligibility for those receiving
LIHEAP funding.
LOW-INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE 48
BBEC plans to increase the annual household funding limit from $200 to $300 per eligible household beginning
Jan 1, 2024, a 50% increase. This equates to a 15% annual discount based on average kilowatt hours per
residence per year.
Also, we continue to evaluate marketing outreach and plan to research more targeted marketing to those living
in particularly energy burdened areas. We also plan to expand bilingual marketing to spanish radio stations in
the area.
BBEC will continue to have Member Service Representatives promote the program to co-op members
struggling to pay their bill.
Ellensburg Energy Services Dept
Renewed agreement with community-based organization (HopeSource). Continue and enhance energy
assistance programs, expand offerings for energy assistance with local public university (CWU). Consider
hiring/staffing for a full-time energy assistance for low-income households department.
City of Port Angeles
Through the committee structure we feel that our program is continually improving and evolving to address the
utility household burden of our citizens: 1) Meet regullarly with the Port Angeles City Council representatives
and non-profits to discuss wasy to help low income populations, 2) Increase messaging to make the
community aware of City low income programs, 3) continue to seek additional funding opprotunities.
Clark County PUD No 1
In 2024, three pilot programs were approved by Clark Public Utilities Board of Commissioners with an expected
program start date of October 2024. These programs are designed to meet the various requirements of the
Clean Energy Transformation Act by serving customers up to 80% AMI and reducing energy burden. These
pilots are intended to improve the effectiveness of energy assistance by focusing on high burden customers
and simplifying the program design. Our three pilot programs will offer the following program options to low
income households. (i) A Bill assistance program which will provide a month percentage based billing
adjustment to help reduce the month energy burden that low income households face. (ii) An arrearage
management program that will offer payment matching to help reduce a household's arreage balance. (iii) A
one time annual credit offered to customer with a low energy burden.
In 2024, Clark Public Utilities is exploring new ways to partner with organizations that already perform income
qualifications at 80% AMI or 200% FPL in-house so that we may offer low income energy efficiency measures
at BPA's willingness to pay. The intent is to scale up the reach of our weatherization program and reduce the
energy burden of more households.
In 2023 the Clark Public Utilities team developed, and the Commissioners approved, the new community solar
project that included 199 kW of installed capacity for our low-income customers. The project was designed so
the solar electricity generated by the 199 kW of system capacity will be monetized using the residential rate
and deposited into our Operation Warm Heart program. The community solar project has a life span of 25
years and each year the Operation Warm Heart program will receive approximately $20,000 in new revenue
from this project. This an example of an innovative approach that results in new funding for our customers in
the most need of assistance, and does so over a substantial future time period.
LOW-INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE 49
Franklin County PUD No 1
We will work toward achieving the 2030 and 2050 goals by informing our customers of Low-Income discount
offerings as well as weatherization programs to help lower their energy usage with the following methods;
Communication regarding current discount offerings will be distributed to customers by our reader board,
social media, newsletter and attending events such a Senior Expo's locally to help spread the word to Seniors
who might qualify for our Low-Income discount program. The Helping Hands program was increased from an
assistance of $100 to $200 per application starting 1/1/2024 and income criteria was changed to match WAC
194-40-030 definition of low income was changed in 4/1/2024. The Helping Hands program is funded from
customer donations, so we will push for helping hands donations through our social media accounts and our
online bill pay platform SmartHub seasonally. We will continue to improve outreach to customers regarding
energy assistace opportunities as they become available. We also plan to make a one page quick reference of
available assistance programs in English and Spanish to distribute at community events that are attended in
hopes that more customers will be reached and become aware of programs that are available to them for
energy assistance.
Inland Power & Light Company
Inland Power plans to enhance the program through additional advertising, identifying additional members,
increasing offerings past insulation and direct bill assistance and increasing available funds.
Jefferson County PUD No 1
JPUD'S plans to improve long term assistance measures include the use of funding through the Rural
Development, Rural Energy Savings Program (RESP) and through potential grant funding. Short term
assistance measures for Jefferson County PUD were assessed by a third party who identified the assistance
need and measures that could be taken to meet that need, while ensuring that the households with the
greatest need are prioritized in funding.
Lewis County PUD No 1
We will continue to offer our low-income energy efficiency program focused on providing ductless heat pumps
and weatherization. If we are unable to secure any more funds in 2024 from the TransAlta Coal Transitions
Board, we will continue to offer our low-income energy efficiency program through our BPA energy efficiency
incentives (EEI) while exploring any additional grant funding opportunities. We plan to evaluate the amount of
BPA EEI funds that are spent on low-income vs non-low-income, commercial, and industrial customers and
make changes as needed to make progress towards the energy assistance need.
We plan to help reduce the language barrier even more by making our low-income energy efficiency program
application available in Spanish. We have received numerous requests from organizations (senior centers, non-
profits, etc.) to present information to the community about our programs and will participate in those events
as much as possible to increase awareness of our programs as these organizations may have more access to
underserved or vulnerable populations.
We also plan to continue our collaboration with Community Action Council to provide low-income bill
assistance and to continue to offer funding for these programs. The amount of funding and the source of the
funding for these programs will be assessed as we evaluate how we plan to meet the energy assistance need.
Modern Electric Water Company
Modern is committed to enhancing the effectiveness of our mechanisms and strategies to meet the energy
assistance needs of our community. To achieve this goal, we are dedicated to improving accessibility and
LOW-INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE 50
awareness of our energy assistance programs. This involves continuing to maintain a streamlined application
process, implementg outreach campaigns, and enhance communication channels to ensure that eligible
customers are informed about the support available to them. We also aim to identify trends and patterns in
customer usage and payment behavior, allowing us to target assistance resources more effectively and
efficiently. Continued collaboration with community partners is another key aspect of our plan. We work
closely with local organizations, social service agencies, and other stakeholders to leverage their networks and
resources in reaching underserved populations and maximizing the impact of our assistance programs.
Overall, our plan reflects our unwavering dedication to meeting the energy assistance needs of our community
in the most effective and impactful way possible. Through collaboration, innovation, and a commitment to
continuous improvement, we are confident that we can continue to make a meaningful difference in the lives
of those we serve.
Orcas Power & Light Coop
As described previously, the utility plans to piggyback on planned community solar projects to direct grant
funds garnered through those projects into the energy assistance programs. The goal is to use these grant
funds to spread the benefits of solar to low-income members while increasing the energy assistance capacity
to meet the rising cost of power due to decarbonizaiton.
Peninsula Light Company
In January 2024, Peninsula Light Co. increased the Project Help billing assistance amount per household by
25%. Additionally, PLC is planning to divert more funding toward low-income ductless heat pumps by
partnering with a local community agency. PLC is currently evaluating effectiveness of programs,
mechanisms, and strategies to help inform how to best meet our members needs for energy assistance
responsibly and within our mission of being a non-profit consumer owned utility while keeping the lowest rates
possible. PLC will continue to strive to keep member rates affordable with responsible fiscal management; this
is an important method to keep members' energy burden as low as practically possible while providing reliable,
safe, and clean electricity to satisfy the human demand for continually improving their qualifty of life.
Utilities evaluating what to do
Chelan County PUD No 1
Annual review of current low-income programs, identify any gaps, and determine means of fixing those gaps.
Working towards developing a District-wide low-income strategy to better guide overall implementation.
Chewelah Light Department
We are in the process of creating a data base of low income qualifying households which will give us an idea
of what the need is. We are working with a private consultant who specializes in low income weatherization.
We are working with a compnay called Promise to help establish a qualifyiong household data base. We are
working with BPA to further our grant money to help more households. All of these are recent 2024
developements. We recieved 1 million in grant funds for the HEAR program, theat money is being used for no
cost heat pumps for the low income, prioritizing high energy burden. We also 60,000 in funds for the
Washington Families Clean Energy Credits. This does not prioritize high energy burden. With only 1250
residential customers we will be able to reach a great percentage of our most needy.
Douglas County PUD No 1
We continue to evaluate how to reach our burdened customers. This has been difficult, as with our low rates,
many of our low income customers are not considered burdened.
LOW-INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE 51
Klickitat County PUD No 1
KPUD's strategy for evaluating our programs for CETA compliance involves partnering with consultants to
identify realistic and cost-effective solutions. This includes: - Identifying the energy burden within our service
territory. - Evaluating current programs and initiatives. - Establishing collection requirements and tracking
metrics. - Implementing digital solutions, including website, social media, and marketing. - Expanding our
portfolio of energy assistance, energy efficiency, and demand response programs. - Addressing the needs and
service gaps for low-income households to promote energy equity. The overarching goal is to generate a
comprehensive energy needs assessment to ensure legislative compliance. We are also researching the
addition of a low income solar project program, through WSU grant funding. We also anticipate that with the
additional data from our new AMI meters we will be able to enhance reporting and analysis, informed by our
energy needs assessment for vulnerable populations, we will further refine our strategies for energy
conservation and assistance.
Ohop Mutual Light Co.
We are exploring a variety of options to increase energy assistance from simply increasing marketing of
existing programs (Senior Discount & Operation Round Up) to adding additional programs such as
conservation rebates specifically for low income customers and the possible addition of community solar for
low income families.
Pacific County PUD No 2
As metering technology allows, we are contemplating pre-pay, a pay as you go alternative to the traditional
model for buying electricity. It allows customers to pay what they want, when they want and would eliminate
late fees and upfront deposits.
Richland Energy Services
We are currently researching the best approach and revising the policy to expand our low-income program, so
that it serves all low-income customers under the CETA definition.
Seattle City Light
Seattle City Light has retained an external consultant to conduct an evaluation of the utility assistance
programs across Seattle City Light and Seattle Public Utilities. The final report and accompanying
recommendations are scheduled to be complete in Quarter 2 of 2024. It is anticipated that the evaluation
results will point to programmatic changes large and small that will reduce barriers of access to programs and
prompt program design and implementation.
Snohomish County PUD No 1
i. After learning from the State Auditor Office in February 2024 about the latest guidelines for assessing
income eligibility, we are exploring which programs can be expanded to serve all low-income customers under
the CETA definition
ii. We are in the process of digitizing our application workflows to streamline the application processes and
reduce barriers for customers
iii. We intend to use the data and results from our energy burden assessment to strategize about marketing
and program design
iv. We are planning online surveys for program participants to get qualitative feedback on our programs.
LOW-INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE 52
Steilacoom Public Works
Town officials are currently assessing whether to expand the utility assistance program to incorporate Section
120 specific criteria to the qualifying criteria for the program and what that would look like (automatic
qualification for a certain dollar amount and assess from there, etc). Town officials are also investigating
expanding our BPA appliance program to possibly incorporate a Town-funded incentive for individuals/families
meeting the Section 120 specific criteria. Both of these decisions should be made and if approved
incorporated into the program in mid to late calendar year 2024.
Utilities planning to maintain programs
Centralia City Light
No changes needed based on current interview procedures, Community Action Council partnership, and
numbers of customers participating.
City of Cheney Light Dept
Door to door visits to large apartment complexes in order to grow the program. Will continue to advertise the
availability of the Cheney Outreach program.
Elmhurst Mutual Power & Light Co
We will continue to administer our Shine a Light funds and work to ensure customers who need access to the
funds have them.
Ferry County PUD No 1
All of the communities within Ferry County PUD's service area are Highly Impacted Communities. The Utility's
Board of Commissioners, after consideration, believes that the amount required for this assistance is
excessively burdensome on its ratepayers and is advocating for a state administered and funded energy
assistance program. If this does not happen, funds from the sales of the no-cost allowances allocated to the
Utility under the Climate Commitment Act will be used for energy assistance.
Kittitas County PUD No 1
We will continue to work at educating customers about programs available and encouraging them to apply
through HopeSource.
Okanogan PUD No 1
The District’s assessment includes a plan to continue making available the programs submitted in this report,
for low-income assistance to our customers. The plan to improve the effectiveness of the mechanisms and
strategies toward meeting the energy assistance need, is to wait for the State of Washington to determine
what is a necessary statewide monthly energy bill assistance program.
Current programs the District makes available and encourages, including LIHEAP, Salvation Army, Low-income
Energy Efficiency, Project Help, and others, are currently operating effectively for reducing both short- and long-
term energy burdens.
Parkland Light & Water Company
We will continue to seek programs to help reduce long-term energy burdens that can be implemented in the
future.
LOW-INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE 53
Tanner Electric Coop
Make sure anyone in need has access to funds provided through Salvation Army and continue to provide
payment plans and budget billing.
Town of Eatonville
The Town of Eatonville does not have an in-house energy assistance program. We have vendor agreements
with outside agencies to offer assistance to our customers. We are a small agency and have not created and
funded a program.
Create their first program
City of Sumas
The City of Sumas, has met with the State Auditor's Office as well as the Department of Commerce to better
understand the requirments and the intentions of CETA. At this point the City of Sumas and the City's Finance
Committee has met a couple of times to determine how to best provide and implement low-income programs.
By the end of 2024 we hope to have at least two new low-income programs that fully comply with the CETA
requirements.
No plan was submitted
City of Coulee Dam
No plan was submitted with the utility's report.
Lakeview Light & Power
No plan was submitted with the utility's report.
Nespelem Valley Electric Coop
No plan was submitted with the utility's report.
Skamania County PUD No 1
No plan was submitted with the utility's report.
Wahkiakum County PUD No 1
No plan was submitted with the utility's report.
Has no residential customers
Asotin County PUD No 1
Whatcom County PUD No 1
Organized under Idaho law
Northern Lights Incorporated
Kootenai Electric Cooperative
Clearwater Power Company
LOW-INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE 54
Appendix F: Energy burden data
Sec. 120 requires Commerce to estimate the energy burden, energy assistance need, and reported energy
assistance for each electric utility. The Legislature requires Commerce do this to improve agency and utility
efforts to serve low-income households. Utilities must disclose information to Commerce to assist it in its data
collection efforts.
Utilities have not historically kept income and other demographic information about their customers, and most
utilities did not develop the data needed to meet Commerce's statutory reporting requirements. With the
advice of its Energy Assistance Advisory Group, Commerce used the Department of Energy's Low-Income
Energy Affordability Data (LEAD) Tool. A summary of its strengths and weaknesses is provided in Appendix A.
It is important to note that the DOE LEAD Tool is not a precise instrument; it provides an estimate of energy
assistance need. The LEAD tool is produced by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the National
Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) to provide national, state, and local energy burden. It is the only statewide
resource for understanding energy burden and assistance need in Washington.
The estimates of energy burden and energy assistance need in the DOE LEAD Tool are based on household
responses to questions about their actual energy costs. The numbers are then calibrated by NREL to ensure
outliers. Therefore, energy burden and assistance need amounts reflect the extent to which Washington's
electricity rates are lower than electricity rates in some other states, and bill reductions from assistance
programs the household was receiving around the time of the survey.
The DOE LEAD Tool was last updated in 2024 with American Community Survey 5-year estimates for 2018-
2022. A full description of the DOE LEAD Tool and a summary of its strengths and weaknesses is in Appendix
B: RCW 19.405.120 (Sec. 120) analysis.
Average
Total excess
Percent of energy energy burden
Number of energy Percent of low-income burden of
burdened low- for energy
County burdened low-income households that are energy low-
income households burdened low-
households energy burdened income
of total population income
households
household
Adams 896 33% 14% $998 $893,607
Asotin 1,581 40% 17% $963 $1,522,072
Benton 5,609 22% 7% $866 $4,854,892
Chelan 1,069 10% 4% $415 $443,673
Clallam 5,422 41% 16% $989 $5,359,706
Clark 12,903 18% 7% $741 $9,562,209
Columbia 405 60% 22% $1,195 $484,052
LOW-INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE 55
Average
Total excess
Percent of energy energy burden
Number of energy Percent of low-income burden of
burdened low- for energy
County burdened low-income households that are energy low-
income households burdened low-
households energy burdened income
of total population income
households
household
Cowlitz 4,139 25% 10% $811 $3,357,312
Douglas 579 12% 4% $562 $325,358
Ferry 1,243 81% 41% $1,354 $1,683,084
Franklin 2,433 23% 9% $880 $2,140,430
Garfield 271 60% 27% $1,559 $422,967
Grant 2,955 21% 9% $705 $2,083,758
Grays Harbor 5,837 46% 20% $1,064 $6,211,221
Island 4,729 40% 13% $1,075 $5,081,798
Jefferson 3,323 53% 21% $1,251 $4,157,131
King 53,220 17% 6% $1,188 $63,225,460
Kitsap 10,124 27% 10% $1,264 $12,791,480
Kittitas 3,286 40% 17% $1,079 $3,545,054
Klickitat 2,058 56% 21% $1,049 $2,159,310
Lewis 5,474 44% 17% $853 $4,668,437
Lincoln 838 49% 18% $1,184 $991,923
Mason 4,056 47% 16% $1,189 $4,822,050
Okanogan 5,609 73% 33% $1,171 $6,566,812
Pacific 1,569 34% 15% $1,122 $1,760,451
Pend Oreille 1,231 51% 21% $1,211 $1,490,330
LOW-INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE 56
Average
Total excess
Percent of energy energy burden
Number of energy Percent of low-income burden of
burdened low- for energy
County burdened low-income households that are energy low-
income households burdened low-
households energy burdened income
of total population income
households
household
Pierce 26,769 22% 8% $985 $26,361,306
San Juan 2,008 64% 23% $1,561 $3,133,877
Skagit 6,726 38% 13% $1,032 $6,941,844
Skamania 1,449 70% 30% $1,332 $1,930,498
Snohomish 20,241 18% 7% $873 $17,663,347
Spokane 27,502 33% 13% $807 $22,189,622
Stevens 4,123 54% 22% $1,276 $5,261,346
Thurston 11,587 27% 10% $999 $11,572,296
Wahkiakum 490 56% 25% $1,433 $702,541
Walla Walla 3,001 33% 13% $1,034 $3,103,309
Whatcom 10,432 30% 11% $1,125 $11,736,144
Whitman 3,926 43% 22% $551 $2,162,197
Yakima 11,804 32% 14% $1,009 $11,904,709
Source: Commerce calculations using U.S. Department of Energy Low-income Energy Assistance Data WA DOE LEAD Tool Data |
Powered by Box
Other low-income energy assistance programs
Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program
The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is a federal energy assistance program
administered by Commerce. The program funds community organizations to help households with energy
bills, health and safety improvements, and weatherization and minor home repairs. LIHEAP provided $62
million in benefits in 2023. With one-time Climate Commitment Act funding, Commerce expanded LIHEAP to
include additional money for energy bill assistance and weatherization for households up to 80% of area
median income.
LOW-INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE 57
Heat and Eat Program
Washington Combined Application and the Food Assistance Program for Legal Immigrants provides up to
$20.01 in LIHEAP benefits for 12 months. It provided $4.6 million in total benefits to households in 2023.
Donations
Electric utilities collect and apply donations to customer accounts as a form of direct bill assistance.
Donations are insufficient to meet energy assistance need and are an unreliable source of funds for
households. Utilities and advocates disagree over whether donation programs can be counted under Sec. 120
requirements. Electric utilities provided $2.7 million in bill reductions from donations in 2023.
Natural gas utility programs
Natural gas companies also provide energy assistance programs. The only investor-owned gas companies,
Northwest Natural Gas and Cascade Natural Gas, are regulated by the UTC and offer direct bill assistance. The
City of Enumclaw and City of Ellensburg distribute natural gas, but are not regulated by the UTC. Their
programs are more limited. These programs provided roughly $1.7 million in the 2023 program year, from
October 2023 to November 2024.
Washington Matchmaker Program
The Legislature created the Matchmaker Program in 1987 to provide matching funds for weatherization
investments made by utility and property owners. The Legislature has funded the program each biennium
since 1991. The program expanded to include healthy home measures in 2015. Matchmaker expenditures on
weatherization amounted to $10 million in fiscal year 2023.
Department of Energy (DOE) Low-Income Weatherization Funding
DOE provides funding for weatherization formula grants and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This funding
sources amounted to $7.4 million in fiscal year 2023.
Bonneville Power Administration Low-Income Energy Efficiency Program
The Bonneville Power Administration's Low-Income Energy Efficiency (LIEE) program benefits qualifying low-
income residents by funding the installation of energy efficiency measures in their homes at no cost. These
expenditures amounted to $1.5 million in fiscal year 2023.
Case study: Pierce County
Pierce County provides a microcosm of the state when it comes to monthly low-income energy assistance
programs. There are 12 utilities in the county. Only one, Puget Sound Energy, Inc. (PSE), offers a monthly low-
income energy bill assistance open to all low-income households as defined under state law and
administrative rule. Other utilities run limited donation programs, restrict eligibility to only certain persons
(such as seniors and disabled), or adopt income eligibility criteria that fall below state law and administrative
rule. The differences in composition of these utilities and the laws that apply to them are discussed in greater
detail in the next section of this report.
Because of this patchwork of programs, low-income households in Pierce County have vastly different
experiences accessing energy bill assistance based solely on where they happen to live. Many live in utility
service territories that do not offer a monthly bill assistance program. Their experiences highlight the
challenges of fragmented programs, broken communication processes, and low program participation rates
felt elsewhere throughout the state.
LOW-INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE 58
Pierce County overview
Number of
Number of Number of
low-income
Number of Number of low-income low-income
monthly
Approx. Approx. low- low- energy bill energy bill
energy bill
service number of income bill income bill assistance assistance
Energy assistance
Utilities territory (in residential assistance assistance programs programs that
services programs that
Pierce customers programs, programs w/o non- match state
match state
County) (thousands) including w/o income law and
law and
donations donations eligibility administrative
administrative
restrictions rule
rule
Tacoma
Electricity Tacoma 183 2 2 1 0 0
Power
Western
Peninsula Pierce County,
Light Electricity including 30 3 2 0 0 0
Company University
Place
Northwestern
118(electric
parts of
Electricity, customers)
Puget Sound Tacoma,
natural 3 2 2 1 1
Energy, Inc. including
gas 159 (gas
Puyallup and
customers)
Tacoma
Greater
Lakewood
Lakeview
area, including
Light and Electricity 3 1 0 0 0 0
south Tacoma
Power
and city of
Lakewood
Ohop Mutual Rural parts of
Electricity 5 2 1 0 0 0
Light Co. Pierce County
Town of
Electricity Eatonville 1 0 0 0 0 0
Eatonville
Parkland
Light & Electricity Parkland 4 1 0 0 0 0
Water Co
Greater areas
Elmhurst
around central
Mutual
Electricity Pierce County, 15 1 0 0 0 0
Power &
including
Light Co
Spanaway
Steilacoom
City of
Public Electricity 3 1 1 0 0 0
Steilacoom
Works
Town of
Town of
Ruston Electricity 0.6 0 0 0 0 0
Ruston
Utility Dept.
City of
Electricity City of Milton 4 1 1 0 0 0
Milton
LOW-INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE 59
Number of
Number of Number of
low-income
Number of Number of low-income low-income
monthly
Approx. Approx. low- low- energy bill energy bill
energy bill
service number of income bill income bill assistance assistance
Energy assistance
Utilities territory (in residential assistance assistance programs programs that
services programs that
Pierce customers programs, programs w/o non- match state
match state
County) (thousands) including w/o income law and
law and
donations donations eligibility administrative
administrative
restrictions rule
rule
Tanner
Anderson
Electric Electricity 0.8 1 0 0 0 0
Island
Cooperative
LOW-INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE 60
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