CITY OF SEATTLE
ORDINANCE __________________
COUNCIL BILL __________________
title
AN ORDINANCE relating to the City Light Department; amending Section 21.49.042 of the Seattle Municipal Code to align eligibility and assistance guidelines for the utility-funded Emergency Low-Income Assistance program with other City rate assistance programs.
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WHEREAS, in December 1985, the Emergency Low-Income Assistance program (ELIA) was established by Ordinance 112637 to provide emergency, low-income assistance to certain customers of the City Light Department; and
WHEREAS, there is a need to establish consistent eligibility and assistance guidelines across the various City energy assistance programs; and
WHEREAS, ELIA is not available until City Light customers receive a 24-hour notice; and
WHEREAS, ELIA is only available one time per 12-month period to families with children in the household; and
WHEREAS, the assistance available through ELIA is a fixed $200 per year and is not adjusted to reflect average rate changes in residential bills; and
WHEREAS, the proposed changes of ELIA's eligibility and assistance will align with those of the Seattle Public Utility's Emergency Assistance Program (EAP); NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF SEATTLE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 21.49.042 of the Seattle Municipal Code, last amended by Ordinance 124836, is amended as follows:
21.49.042 Emergency low-income assistance program
A. An emergency credit of ((50)) 100 percent of a customer's delinquent bills up to a maximum credit of $200 may be granted by the Department to income eligible residential accounts, metered for a single household, ((which)) that qualify under the following criteria:
1. Total household income does not exceed 70 percent of the Washington State ((Median Income)) median income; and
2. Have completed an Emergency Low-Income Assistance program application where income eligibility is verified; and
3. Ha...
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