Roger Colton Fisher, Sheehan & Colton Belmont, MA March 2000 Low-Income Rate Programs in a Restructured Electric Industry: Defining the Key Questions Roger Colton Fisher, Sheehan & Colton Belmont, MA March 2000

Wires Charges: What to Fund Rate affordability Energy efficiency Crisis intervention Administration Arrearage forgiveness

Wires Charges: From Whom to Collect Residential class only? All classes? Distribution vs. generation?

Wires Charges: How to Collect Per kWh charge Percentage of revenue Per meter/account charge Fluctuate based on need

Wires Charge: How to Distribute Percentage of income Fixed credit Straight discount

Wires Charge: To Whom to Distribute LIHEAP population “Neediest of the needy” “Vulnerable” populations Segmented population

Wires Charge: How to Administer Statewide vs. utility-specific State agency vs. non-profit Rate program vs. LIHEAP supplement

Wires Charge: What to Evaluate Fiscal impacts Financial impacts Universal service impacts Social impacts

Wires Charge: How to Evaluate Activities: what did we do Outputs: what did we produce Outcomes: what did we accomplish

For more information: roger@fsconline.com