No CRS summary available for this bill.
This section establishes a utility affordability program under which the Secretary provides competitive funding to eligible entities, within 12 months of enactment, in amounts up to the total residential customer arrears. Funding may be used only to eliminate such arrears, prioritized first for pre-enactment arrears, then for households at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty level or 60 percent of state median income, and then for households with members age 60 or older, disabled, under age 6, or with qualifying medical conditions. Recipients must implement a Qualified Percentage of Income Payment Program or equivalent alternative for at least 60 months, automatically enroll eligible customers, cease late fees and disconnections for covered arrears, forgo double recovery from ratepayers, limit administrative costs to 10 percent, and coordinate data sharing for enrollment in other energy programs.