Electric utilities; Percentage of Income Payment Program, eligibility, delayed effective date.

From the Legislature

Electric utilities; Percentage of Income Payment Program; eligibility. Amends the objectives of the Percentage of Income Payment Program, which provides electric bill payment assistance to eligible customers, to include (i) reducing the energy burden of eligible participants by limiting electric bill payments directly to no more than three percent of the eligible participant's annual household income if the household's heating source is anything other than electricity and to no more than five percent of an eligible participant's annual household income on electricity costs if the household's primary heating source is electricity. The bill also amends the eligibility criteria of the Program beginning January 1, 2027, to include any retail electric customer of Dominion Energy or Appalachian Power with a household income at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level. The bill directs the Department of Social Services, in consultation with the Department of Housing and Community Development as needed, to update its rules and guidelines for the implementation of the Program to reflect the eligibility requirements of the bill. The provisions of the bill, other than the provisions directing the Department of Social Services to update its rules and guidelines, have a delayed effective date of January 1, 2027.