NH Expands Low-Income Electric Discount

In response to increasing energy costs, the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission (PUC) on September 30 expanded the state’s Electric Assistance Program (EAP), which provides electric bill assistance to the low income.

The EAP’s average yearly benefit of $430 will be offered to 34,000 people this winter, 6,000 more than last year; the program budget will increase by about $3.3 million to around $15 million.

In existence since 2002, the EAP is funded by a system benefits charge paid by electric customers throughout New Hampshire.  Last week’s PUC action raised the portion for low-income rate assistance from 1.2 mills per kilowatt hour to 1.5 mills per kilowatt hour, increasing the bill of the average residential customer by about $1.80 per year. The average small business customer will see a $7.50 annual increase, and the average large commercial or industrial customers will pay an extra $3,400 per year, the PUC said. Electric customers also pay 1.8 mills per kilowatt hour for Core Energy Efficiency Programs that benefit all customer classes.

During FY 2007, the EAP provided discounts averaging $420 to about 27,000 households, with spending totaling about $12 million. Households at or below 185 percent of federal poverty guidelines are eligible and they must be customers of the state’s regulated electric utilities.

Source: PUC press release

Page Last Updated: November 18, 2009