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The filing describes the proceeding’s purpose: examining affordability program designs, assessing their effectiveness, and identifying needed improvements to reduce arrears and terminations. It outlines the Commission’s low-income definition as 60% of state median income and summarizes related state program funding, participation, and arrears/disconnection trends.",{"@graph":63,"@context":118},[64,80,101],{"@type":65,"itemListElement":66},"BreadcrumbList",[67,71,74,77],{"item":68,"name":69,"@type":70,"position":9},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":72,"name":10,"@type":70,"position":73},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/",2,{"item":75,"name":41,"@type":70,"position":76},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/letters/",3,{"item":78,"name":59,"@type":70,"position":79},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/utility-intervention-unit-responses-to-questions-case-14-m-0565-dated-march-4-2015/306205/",4,{"url":78,"name":59,"@type":81,"image":82,"author":87,"headline":59,"publisher":90,"fileFormat":93,"inLanguage":57,"description":61,"dateModified":94,"datePublished":95,"encodingFormat":93,"isAccessibleForFree":96,"interactionStatistic":97},"DigitalDocument",{"url":83,"@type":84,"width":85,"height":86},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/utility-intervention-unit-responses-to-questions-case-14-m-0565-dated-march-4-2015/306205.png","ImageObject",442,249,{"name":88,"@type":89},"\tJames","Person",{"url":68,"name":91,"@type":92},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-08","2026-09-19",true,{"@type":98,"interactionType":99,"userInteractionCount":79},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":100},"ViewAction",{"@type":102,"mainEntity":103},"FAQPage",[104,110,114],{"name":105,"@type":106,"acceptedAnswer":107},"What is the purpose of the proceeding described in the document?","Question",{"text":108,"@type":109},"It examines programs addressing energy affordability for low-income utility customers, evaluates the effectiveness of current program designs, and identifies improvements warranted by the Commission.","Answer",{"name":111,"@type":106,"acceptedAnswer":112},"How does the Commission define low-income customers in this context?",{"text":113,"@type":109},"Low-income (poor) customers in the gas and electric context are those earning at or below 60% of the state median income (SMI).",{"name":115,"@type":106,"acceptedAnswer":116},"What problem do the data in the background section highlight?",{"text":117,"@type":109},"Despite authorized assistance programs, energy utility customer arrears have trended up, with large numbers of customers in arrears and many service disconnections for non-payment.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":78,"og:type":120,"og:title":59,"og:site_name":91,"og:description":61},"article",{"robots":122,"canonical":78},"index,follow",{"doc_id":124,"site_id":56},306205,1791350026,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":127},{"doc_id":124,"user_id":128,"nickname":88,"user_avatar":129,"doc_module":9,"category_id":40,"category_name":41,"doc_title":59,"doc_description":61,"doc_content":130,"file_id":131,"file_url":132,"file_type":133,"file_size":134,"view_count":79,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":9,"is_downloadable":9,"audit_status":9,"page_count":135,"language":136,"language_code":57,"site_id":56,"html_lang":57,"table_of_contents":137,"faqs":138,"seo_title":139,"seo_description":61,"update_tm":140,"read_time":141},2336474466412,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_155a257f0dc6eb9ab79c44ca47cae57d","STATE OF NEW YORK PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION  \nProceeding on Motion of the Commission to Examine Programs to Address Energy Affordability for Low Income Utility Customers.  \nCase 14-M-0565  \nUTILITY INTERVENTION UNIT RESPONSES TO QUESTIONS  \nErin P. Hogan, P.E.  \nDirector, Utility Intervention Unit 518-474-1859  \n[erin.hogan@dos.ny.gov](erin.hogan@dos.ny.gov)  \nGregg Collar  \nUtility Analyst  \n518-474-1811  \n[gregg.collar@dos.ny.gov](gregg.collar@dos.ny.gov)  \n[Saul A. Rigberg](Saul A. Rigberg)  \nIntervenor Attorney  \n518-408-3746  \n[saul.rigberg@dos.ny.gov](saul.rigberg@dos.ny.gov)  \nJoshua Rodriguez  \nExcelsior Fellow  \n518-473-9173  \n[joshua.rodriguez@dos.ny.gov](joshua.rodriguez@dos.ny.gov)  \nDated: March 4 , 2015  \nAlbany, New York  \nNEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF STATE  \nDIVISION OF CONSUMER PROTECTION  \nONE COMMERCE PLAZA  \n99 WASHINGTON AVENUE  \nSUITE 640  \nALBANY, NEW YORK 12231-0001  \nSTATE OF NEW YORK PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION  \nProceeding on Motion of the Commission to Examine Programs to Address Energy Affordability for Low Income Utility Customers.  \nCase 14-M-0565  \nUTILITY INTERVENTION UNIT RESPONSES TO QUESTIONS  \nINTRODUCTION  \nThe Utility Intervention Unit (“UIU”) of the New York State Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection is pleased to submit these responses to questions posed in the Notice Seeking Comments issued by the Secretary of the Public Service Commission (“PSC” or “Commission”) on January 16, 2015. Responding to the requests of advocates for low income energy customers , the Commission commenced this proceeding to (1) examine programs for addressing energy affordability for low income utility customers, (2) evaluate the effectiveness of current low income program designs, and (3) identify any improvements that are warranted. The UIU has long championed a comprehensive examination of affordability issues with the goal of enhancing benefits and reducing the amount in arrears and the number of terminations. We look forward to working with Department of Public Service (“DPS”) Staff and other interested parties to develop a simple, coherent and uniform approach to affordability programs for low income utility consumers. The PSC’s effort to combat the pernicious impacts of poverty supports the goal set forth in Volume I of the Draft State Energy Plan to “reduce the percentage of household income devoted to energy bills for low income New Yorkers.” It is also consistent with Governor Andrew Cuomo’s 2015 United State of Opportunity Agenda , 1  \n1 [http://www.governor.ny.gov/news/state-new-york-12315-united-state-opportunity](http://www.governor.ny.gov/news/state-new-york-12315-united-state-opportunity).  \nthe Governor’s concept of “One State, One Family”,2 and the Governor’s discussion of consumer protection and affordability in the context of the REV proceeding.3  \nBACKGROUND  \nThe PSC has required that utilities provide assistance programs for low income New Yorkers for decades. The Commission defines low income (or poor) customers in the gas and electric context as those customers earning at or below 60% of the state median income (“SMI”) . As a point of reference, the following table summarizes the PSC income levels of poor customers for various family sizes that is based on the United States Department of Health & Human Services’ LIHEAP Clearinghouse, for fiscal year 2015.4  \n\n| PSC Defined Low-Income Levels by Family Size (60 Percent of Estimated State Median Income,\u003Cbr>2015$) |  |  |  |  |  |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| 1-\u003Cbr>Person\u003Cbr>Family | 2-\u003Cbr>Person\u003Cbr>Family | 3-\u003Cbr>Person\u003Cbr>Family | 4-\u003Cbr>Person\u003Cbr>Family | 5-\u003Cbr>Person\u003Cbr>Family | 6-\u003Cbr>Person\u003Cbr>Family |\n| $26,327 | $34,428 | $42,528 | $50,629 | $58,730 | $66,830 |\n| Source: LIHEAP Clearinghouse, 2015 |  |  |  |  |  |\n|  |  |  |  |  |  |\n\nIn recent years , the PSC has authorized more than $128 million for ratepayerfunded low income assistance programs annually, and more than one million energy consumers particip","cbCaii09VBtBlBOh","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaii09VBtBlBOh","pdf",369226,23,"English","# INTRODUCTION\n## Background\n## Low-income program definitions and trends","[{\"question\":\"What is the purpose of the proceeding described in the document?\",\"answer\":\"It examines programs addressing energy affordability for low-income utility customers, evaluates the effectiveness of current program designs, and identifies improvements warranted by the Commission.\"},{\"question\":\"How does the Commission define low-income customers in this context?\",\"answer\":\"Low-income (poor) customers in the gas and electric context are those earning at or below 60% of the state median income (SMI).\"},{\"question\":\"What problem do the data in the background section highlight?\",\"answer\":\"Despite authorized assistance programs, energy utility customer arrears have trended up, with large numbers of customers in arrears and many service disconnections for non-payment.\"}]","UTILITY INTERVENTION UNIT RESPONSES TO QUESTIONS - Case 14-M-0565 - Dated March 4, 2015 | PDF",1789834184,8]