CITY OF SEATTLE
ORDINANCE __________________
COUNCIL BILL __________________
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AN ORDINANCE relating to the City Light Department; and amending Section 21.49.042 of the Seattle Municipal code to align income eligibility guidelines for the utility-funded Emergency Low-Income Assistance program with other city rate assistance programs and allow year-round program operation.
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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, the basic terms of the ELIA have not been adjusted or amended since their creation in 1985, and there is a need to expand the ELIA’s income eligibility guidelines by increasing the income threshold to 70 percent of Washington state median income; and
WHEREAS, there is also a need to establish consistent income eligibility guidelines among the various City energy assistance programs; and
WHEREAS, the current ELIA income eligibility guidelines align with those of the federal energy assistance programs, which only allows coverage up to 125 percent of the federally-defined poverty threshold; and
WHEREAS, the proposed change of ELIA’s income eligibility guidelines to 70 percent of state median income, which will allow coverage up to approximately 250 percent of the federally-defined poverty threshold, will remove the requirement for customers to first participate in the federal programs; 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
119747, is amended as follows:
21.49.042 Emergency low-income assistance program((.))
A. An emergency credit of ((fifty ())50(())) percent of a customer's delinquent bills up to a maximum credit of ((Two Hundred Dollars ())$200(())) may be granted by the Department to income eligible residential accounts, metered for a single household, which qualify under the following criteria:
1. ((Meet the income eligibility guidelines for assistance under the Federal Energy Crisis Intervention Program))Total household income does not exceed 70 percent of State Median Income; and
2. Have completed an Emergency Low-Income Assistance program application where income eligibility is verified; and
3. Have received a ((twenty-four ())24(())) hour notice from the Department notifying them that payment or payment arrangements must be made to prevent disconnection; and
((3. Have applied for and received grants from both the Federal Energy Assistance Program and the Federal Energy Crisis Intervention Program during their current program year or funds available through these program must have been exhausted for the current program year; and))
4. Have entered into an agreement with the Department to pay a minimum of ((fifty ())50(())) percent of the delinquent amount and balance. The emergency credit from this program may be applied to the required payment of the minimum of ((fifty ())50(())) percent of the delinquent amount.
B. A customer is eligible for the emergency credit only one (((1))) time in each ((twelve ())12(())) month period.
((C. This program shall terminate thirty (30) days following the termination of either the Federal Energy Assistance Program or the Federal Crisis Intervention Program.))
Section 2. This ordinance shall take effect and be in force 30 days after its approval by the Mayor, but if not approved and returned by the Mayor within ten days after presentation, it shall take effect as provided by Seattle Municipal Code Section 1.04.020.
Passed by the City Council the ____ day of ________________________, 2015, and
signed by me in open session in authentication of its passage this
_____ day of ___________________, 2015.
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President __________of the City Council
Approved by me this ____ day of _____________________, 2015.
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Edward B. Murray, Mayor
Filed by me this ____ day of __________________________, 2015.
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Monica Martinez Simmons, City Clerk
(Seal)