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Committee approves doubling low-income electric assistance collection; members question cost to ratepayers
Summary
The subcommittee adopted an amendment to House Bill 3792 to increase the minimum collections for low-income electric bill payment assistance from $20 million to $40 million annually, a change that will increase a per-customer surcharge and drew questions about cost burden on ratepayers.
The subcommittee adopted a dash-A5 amendment to House Bill 3792 on June 16, 2025, directing electric utilities to collect a higher minimum for the Low Income Electric Bill Payment Assistance Fund and increasing administrative resources for the Housing and Community Services Department, which runs the program.
Why it matters: the change would increase the amount collected by electric companies for low-income bill payment and crisis assistance from $20 million to $40 million annually. The money funds assistance payments and administrative costs for the Housing and Community Services Department (HCSD).
Committee discussion: Members asked whether the change creates a new fee for ratepayers or simply increases an existing collection. Staff clarified the program already exists; the amendment would expand the existing collection. Witnesses said the current charge per customer is roughly 65¢ per month and testimony indicated the increase would raise the surcharge to about $1.55–$1.70 per month, though members asked for verification before full committee. Representatives raised concerns that increasing a surcharge spreads costs across all customers and can increase burden for lower-income households.
Other provisions and guardrails: the bill requires the Public Utility Commission to reassess community need and electricity rates biennially and caps any single customer charge at $1,000 per month per customer site. The dash-A5 amendment also increased HCSD’s expenditure limitation to manage the larger fund.
Action: The subcommittee adopted the dash-A5 amendment and moved HB 3792 to the full Ways and Means Committee with a due-pass recommendation; the amendment passed after recorded objections from some members and carry motions were assigned for floor sponsorship.
Ending: Members requested follow-up on whether the change triggers supermajority thresholds and asked staff to confirm the precise per-customer surcharge estimate before full committee consideration.
