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Winning & Enforcing State Utility Consumer Protections

Winning & Enforcing State Utility Consumer Protections. National Community Action Foundation St. Petersburg, FL November 13, 2007. Overview of Presentation. General discussion, w. some ex’s (CH) Ingredients of success (CH) State-specific examples (Jami, Cynthia).

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Winning & Enforcing State Utility Consumer Protections

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  1. Winning & Enforcing State Utility Consumer Protections National Community Action Foundation St. Petersburg, FL November 13, 2007 NCLC, 77 Summer St, 10th Fl. Boston, MA 02110 Phone: (617) 542-8010 Fax: (617) 542-8028 www.nclc.org Charlie Harak Email: charak@nclc.org

  2. Overview of Presentation • General discussion, w. some ex’s (CH) • Ingredients of success (CH) • State-specific examples (Jami, Cynthia) NCLC, 77 Summer St, 10th Fl. Boston, MA 02110 Phone: (617) 542-8010 Fax: (617) 542-8028 www.nclc.org Charlie Harak Email: charak@nclc.org

  3. Successes: Example 1 • Iowa: payment plans, IA Adm. Code 199-19.4(10) (p. 95 “Rights”) • Plans must be “reasonable” (p. 96) • 2nd plans can be LONGER than 1st • RESOURCE: Jerry McKim NCLC, 77 Summer St, 10th Fl. Boston, MA 02110 Phone: (617) 542-8010 Fax: (617) 542-8028 www.nclc.org Charlie Harak Email: charak@nclc.org

  4. Example 2 • MO winter moratorium rule, tit. 4, § 240-13.055: waived late pmt. fees, reduced pmt. needed to avoid disconnect. Upheld in MO Ct. App. (2006). • RESOURCE: AARP NCLC, 77 Summer St, 10th Fl. Boston, MA 02110 Phone: (617) 542-8010 Fax: (617) 542-8028 www.nclc.org Charlie Harak Email: charak@nclc.org

  5. Example 3 • TLSC and TexasROSE petitioned for waiver of deposit rules, post-Katrina. • RESOURCE: Randy Chapman NCLC, 77 Summer St, 10th Fl. Boston, MA 02110 Phone: (617) 542-8010 Fax: (617) 542-8028 www.nclc.org Charlie Harak Email: charak@nclc.org

  6. Example 4 • Nevada Fund for Energy Assistance, NRS 702.050 - .280 --- 3.6% of inc. std. • RESOURCE: Fall 04 “Update” NCLC, 77 Summer St, 10th Fl. Boston, MA 02110 Phone: (617) 542-8010 Fax: (617) 542-8028 www.nclc.org Charlie Harak Email: charak@nclc.org

  7. Example 5 • MA vendor agreement: 25% down • Serious illness, winter, elderly, infant: 220 CMR 25.03 • RESOURCE: CH NCLC, 77 Summer St, 10th Fl. Boston, MA 02110 Phone: (617) 542-8010 Fax: (617) 542-8028 www.nclc.org Charlie Harak Email: charak@nclc.org

  8. Lessons Learned • “90% of life is just showing up” –Woody Allen (e.g., 25% down) • “I found allies that I never thought I’d find, including utility people, regulators, and others. You’ve got to find the right people and work with them to make things better.” - Elliott Jacobson NCLC, 77 Summer St, 10th Fl. Boston, MA 02110 Phone: (617) 542-8010 Fax: (617) 542-8028 www.nclc.org Charlie Harak Email: charak@nclc.org

  9. Lessons Learned • Potential allies include leg., util. cos., PUCs, press, other low-income groups • Facts/data play a key role: arrearage and terminations esp. Document the need! • Build a network/Assurance 16 NCLC, 77 Summer St, 10th Fl. Boston, MA 02110 Phone: (617) 542-8010 Fax: (617) 542-8028 www.nclc.org Charlie Harak Email: charak@nclc.org

  10. A Word About Enforcement • Most states have under-utilized rules and protections: payment plans, term. rules. NCLC, 77 Summer St, 10th Fl. Boston, MA 02110 Phone: (617) 542-8010 Fax: (617) 542-8028 www.nclc.org Charlie Harak Email: charak@nclc.org

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