"An even better idea, lower the rates so those people you speak of are better able to handle. When you mandate that every body pay more to help the bottom rung you are in effect doing nothing more than raising the height of the bottom rung making it harder for even MORE "customers"."
Rick,
Thank you for raising this point
As I would like to see the PUD assistance program for our low-income neighbors, there would be two groups.
Group one would be those who would probably require assistance on a long-term basis such as low-income seniors and the disabled, those who may not recover from their current financial crisis.
The other group would be made up of those who would normally be able to pay their bill, but, due to loss of job, serious illness or injury or other similar occurrence, cannot, at this time, pay their bills and would receive assistance for a short time, until they get back on their feet..
The assistance, for both groups, would be a reduction in their power bill, the amount of which would be tied to their income level. There would be a rather extensive process to qualify these folks for the discount and they would be required to routinely provide updates to the PUD on their current financial condition, which would be confirmed by PUD staff.
For those who have, or can get, the funds to pay their bill but choose to use the money for other than necessities, would, like the rest of us, only receive power as long as they pay for it.
I would work to coordinate the PUD assistance program with the Energy Efficiency Incentive Program, offered in conjunction with the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA). This would pay for improving the efficiency of their home’s insulation, electrical devices and electric heating system. The BPA would fund part of the upgrades with the remainder to be paid by the homeowner, possibly using a special low interest loan program such as is currently offered by Clallam County PUD. This would reduce their electricity use (conservation) and would help them to be able to pay their own power bill, without assistance.
Coordination of benefits and the sharing of information sharing between the PUD and other agencies and organizations, providing aid, would result in more efficient programs and reduce duplication of assistance and abuse of assistance offered.
As to lowering the electric rates for everyone, our PUD Commissioners and staff have worked hard to keep the charges as low as possible, but, like any other business or service, they have to charge enough to cover the cost of providing power.
As I would like to see the PUD assistance program for our low-income neighbors, there would be two groups.
Group one would be those who would probably require assistance on a long-term basis such as low-income seniors and the disabled, those who may not recover from their current financial crisis.
The other group would be made up of those who would normally be able to pay their bill, but, due to loss of job, serious illness or injury or other similar occurrence, cannot, at this time, pay their bills and would receive assistance for a short time, until they get back on their feet..
The assistance, for both groups, would be a reduction in their power bill, the amount of which would be tied to their income level. There would be a rather extensive process to qualify these folks for the discount and they would be required to routinely provide updates to the PUD on their current financial condition, which would be confirmed by PUD staff.
For those who have, or can get, the funds to pay their bill but choose to use the money for other than necessities, would, like the rest of us, only receive power as long as they pay for it.
I would work to coordinate the PUD assistance program with the Energy Efficiency Incentive Program, offered in conjunction with the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA). This would pay for improving the efficiency of their home’s insulation, electrical devices and electric heating system. The BPA would fund part of the upgrades with the remainder to be paid by the homeowner, possibly using a special low interest loan program such as is currently offered by Clallam County PUD. This would reduce their electricity use (conservation) and would help them to be able to pay their own power bill, without assistance.
Coordination of benefits and the sharing of information sharing between the PUD and other agencies and organizations, providing aid, would result in more efficient programs and reduce duplication of assistance and abuse of assistance offered.
As to lowering the electric rates for everyone, our PUD Commissioners and staff have worked hard to keep the charges as low as possible, but, like any other business or service, they have to charge enough to cover the cost of providing power.
No comments:
Post a Comment