BACKGROUND This Commission and various stakeholders began to address formally low-income policies, practices, and services at least as early as 1984. See Recommendations for Docket No. M-840403. As a result of that Dealing with Payment Troubled Customers, proceeding, the energy utilities began filing low-income usage reduction plans (LIURPs) and considering how to address arrearages for low-income customers. at The Commission’s Customer Assistance Programs (CAP) Policy Statement 52 Pa. Code §§ 69.261-69.267 (adopted in 1992 and amended it in 1999 and 2010) applies to class A electric distribution companies (EDCs) and natural gas distribution companies (NGDCs) with gross annual operating revenue in excess of $40 million. It provides guidance on affordable payments and arrearages and establishes a process for utilities to work with the Bureau of Consumer Services (BCS) to develop Commission’s CAPs. The Commission balances the interests of customers who benefit from CAPs with the interests of the other residential customers who pay for such programs. See Final Docket Investigatory Order on CAPs: Funding Levels and Cost Recovery Mechanisms, No. M-00051923 (Dec. 18, 2006), (Final at 6-7. CAP Investigatory Order), LIURP regulations at 52 Pa. Code §§ 58.1 58.18 (adopted in The Commission’s – 1993 and last amended in 1998) require covered utilities to establish fair, effective, and efficient energy usage reduction programs for their low-income customers. The programs are intended to assist low income customers conserve energy and reduce residential energy bills. The Commission is currently reviewing its LIURP regulations at Initiative to Review and Revise the Existing LIURP Regulations at 52 Pa. Code §§ 58.1 – Docket No. L-2016-2557886. 58.18, The Natural Gas Choice and Competition Act (Competition Act), effective July 1, 1999, opened the natural gas supply market to competition. The universal service
BACKGROUND This Commission and various stakeholders began to address formally low-income policies, practices, and services at least as early as 1984. See Recommendations for Dealing with Payment Troubled Customers, Docket No. M-840403. As a result of that proceeding, the energy utilities began filing low-income usage reduction plans (LIURPs) and considering how to address arrearages for low-income customers. The Commission’s Customer Assistance Programs (CAP) Policy Statement at 52 Pa. Code §§ 69.261-69.267 (adopted in 1992 and amended it in 1999 and 2010) applies to class A electric distribution companies (EDCs) and natural gas distribution companies (NGDCs) with gross annual operating revenue in excess of $40 million. It provides guidance on affordable payments and arrearages and establishes a process for utilities to work with the Commission’s Bureau of Consumer Services (BCS) to develop CAPs. The Commission balances the interests of customers who benefit from CAPs with the interests of the other residential customers who pay for such programs. See Final Investigatory Order on CAPs: Funding Levels and Cost Recovery Mechanisms, Docket No. M-00051923 (Dec. 18, 2006), (Final CAP Investigatory Order), at 6-7. The Commission’s LIURP regulations at 52 Pa. Code §§ 58.1 – 58.18 (adopted in 1993 and last amended in 1998) require covered utilities to establish fair, effective, and efficient energy usage reduction programs for their low-income customers. The programs are intended to assist low income customers conserve energy and reduce residential energy bills. The Commission is currently reviewing its LIURP regulations at Initiative to Review and Revise the Existing LIURP Regulations at 52 Pa. Code §§ 58.1 – 58.18, Docket No. L-2016-2557886. The Natural Gas Choice and Competition Act (Competition Act), effective July 1, 1999, opened the natural gas supply market to competition. The universal service