1. 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

10. For more information: