Bill > S0204

This bill, titled the "Vermont Energy Equity Law," mandates that the Public Utility Commission (PUC), a state agency that oversees utility companies, develop and propose draft legislation for a statewide electric ratepayer protection program aimed at assisting low- and moderate-income households with their electricity bills. The PUC is also required to update existing rules to provide additional consumer protections regarding utility disconnections, specifically by preventing disconnections or requiring reconnections if a physician certifies an immediate and serious health hazard to a resident, and by prohibiting disconnections during periods of extreme heat as defined by the PUC. The proposed ratepayer protection program, to be developed with input from various stakeholders including utilities, consumer groups, and state agencies, will include provisions for financial assistance, automatic enrollment based on existing financial assistance programs like Lifeline and Medicaid, and a statewide funding mechanism through customer charges. The bill also outlines various program features such as tiered discounts, arrearage forgiveness, and performance metrics for utilities to reduce disconnections, with the goal of ensuring vulnerable households are not burdened by unaffordable energy costs during the transition to clean energy.

Budget and Finance

https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2026/S.204