Section 1 of the bill changes the date on which Energy Outreach
Colorado disburses to the department of human services a portion of the energy assistance system benefit charges that investor-owned electric and gas utilities collect from January 1, 2022, to March 1, 2023. Section 2 requires the public utilities commission (commission)
to adopt rules prohibiting electric and gas utilities from disconnecting a
customer's service:
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On weekends;
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On state or federal holidays; or
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After 11:59 a.m. on a weekday that is not a holiday.
Additionally, the commission's rules must require that, under certain circumstances in which a customer makes a request for reconnection of service on a Monday through Friday that is not a holiday, the utility is required to reconnect the customer's service that same day. Section 3 establishes 3 income standards for determining a
household's eligibility for utility assistance as follows:
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A household income at or below 200% of the federal poverty line;
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A household income at or below 80% of the area median income; or
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A household income that meets the income eligibility criteria that the department sets by rule. Section 3 also clarifies that the commission may approve a
year-round utility preference or advantage given to income-eligible customers.
