§ 54.72. Definitions.
The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
CAP—Customer Assistance Program—An alternative collection method that provides payment assistance to low-income, payment troubled utility customers. CAP participants agree to make regular monthly payments that may be for an amount that is less than the current bill in exchange for continued provision of electric utility services.
CAP benefits—The average CAP bill, average CAP credits and average arrearage forgiveness.
CARES—A program that provides a cost-effective service that helps selected, payment-troubled customers maximize their ability to pay utility bills. A CARES program provides a casework approach to help customers secure energy assistance funds and other needed services.
CARES benefits—The number and kinds of referrals to CARES.
Classification of accounts—Accounts are classified by the following categories: all residential accounts and confirmed low-income residential accounts.
Code—The Public Utility Code, 66 Pa.C.S. § § 101—3316.
Collection operating expenses—Expenses directly associated with collection of payments due for residential accounts.
Confirmed low-income residential account—Accounts where the EDC has obtained information that would reasonably place the customer in a low-income designation.
Direct dollars—Dollars which are applied to a CARES customer’s electric utility account, including all sources of energy assistance applied to utility bills such as LIHEAP, hardship fund grants and local agencies’ grants.
EDC—Electric distribution company—The public utility providing facilities for the jurisdictional transmission and distribution of electricity to retail customers, except building or facility owners/operators that manage the internal distribution system serving the building or facility and that supply electric power and other related electric power services to occupants of the building or facility.
Energy assistance benefits—The total number and dollar amount of LIHEAP grants.
Hardship fund—A fund that provides cash assistance to utility customers to help them pay their utility bills.
Hardship fund benefits—The total number and dollar amount of cash benefits or bill credits.
Impact evaluation—An evaluation that focuses on the degree to which a program achieves the continuation of utility service to program participants at a reasonable cost level and otherwise meets program goals.
LIURP—Low-income usage reduction program—An energy usage reduction program that assists low-income customers conserve energy and reduce residential energy bills.
Low-income customer—A residential utility customer whose household income is at or below 150% of the Federal poverty guidelines.
Outreach referral contacts—Addresses and telephone numbers that a customer would call or write to apply for the hardship fund. Contact information should be specific to each county in the EDC’s service territory, if applicable.
Payment rate—Payment rate is the total number of full monthly payments received from CAP participants in a given period divided by the total number of monthly bills issued to CAP participants.
Payment troubled—A household that has failed to maintain one or more payment arrangements in a 1-year period.
Residential account in arrears—A residential account that is at least 30 days overdue. This classification includes all customer accounts which have payment arrangements.
Successful payment arrangements—A payment arrangement in which the agreed upon number of payments have been made in full in the preceeding 12 months.
Universal service and energy conservation—Policies, protections and services that help low-income customers to maintain electric service. The term includes customer assistance programs, termination of service protection and policies and services that help low-income customers to reduce or manage energy consumption in a cost-effective manner, such as the low-income usage reduction programs, application of renewable resources and consumer education.
Cross References This section cited in 52 Pa. Code Chapter 56 Appendix C (relating to definitions (§ 56.231)).
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