(I) BILL ASSISTANCE, AT A MINIMUM OF 50% OF THE DETERMINED
NEED;
(II) LOW INCOME WEATHERIZATION; AND
(III) THE RETIREMENT OF ARREARAGES THAT WERE INCURRED
PRIOR TO THE INITIAL IMPLEMENTATION DATE.
(B) (1) ALL CUSTOMERS WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE FUNDING OF THE
UNIVERSAL SERVICE PROGRAM THROUGH A CHARGE COLLECTED BY EACH
ELECTRIC COMPANY.
(2) THE COMMISSION SHALL DETERMINE A FAIR AND EQUITABLE
ALLOCATION FOR COLLECTING THE CHARGES AMONG ALL CUSTOMER CLASSES.
(3) AN ELECTRIC COMPANY SHALL RECOVER UNIVERSAL SERVICE
PROGRAM COSTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 7-512 OF THIS SUBTITLE.
(C) ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 1, 1999, AND ON AN ANNUAL BASIS
THEREAFTER, THE COMMISSION SHALL REPORT. SUBJECT TO § 2-1246 OF THE STATE
GOVERNMENT ARTICLE, TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON THE UNIVERSAL SERVICE
PROGRAM, INCLUDING:
(1) SUBJECT TO SUBSECTIONS (D) AND (E) OF THIS SECTION. A
RECOMMENDATION ON THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF FUNDS FOR THE PROGRAM FOR THE
FOLLOWING FISCAL YEAR;
(2) FOR BILL ASSISTANCE:
(I) THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF NEED, AS DETERMINED BY THE
COMMISSION, FOR ELECTRIC CUSTOMERS WITH ANNUAL INCOMES AT OR BELOW
150% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL AND THE BASIS FOR THIS DETERMINATION;
AND
(II) THE PERCENTAGE OF NEED, AS DETERMINED BY THE
COMMISSION, BUT AT A MINIMUM OF 50%, THAT SHOULD BE FUNDED THROUGH THE
UNIVERSAL SERVICE PROGRAM AND THE BASIS OF THIS DETERMINATION;
(3) FOR LOW INCOME WEATHERIZATION, THE AMOUNT OF FUNDS
NEEDED, AS DETERMINED BY THE COMMISSION, FOR MEASURES THAT REDUCE
CONSUMPTION OF ENERGY BY ELECTRIC CUSTOMERS WITH ANNUAL INCOMES AT
OR BELOW 150% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL AND THE BASIS FOR THIS
DETERMINATION;
(4) THE AMOUNT OF FUNDS NEEDED, AS DETERMINED BY THE
COMMISSION, TO RETIRE ARREARAGES THAT WERE INCURRED PRIOR TO THE
INITIAL IMPLEMENTATION DATE BY ELECTRIC CUSTOMERS WITH ANNUAL INCOMES
AT OR BELOW 150% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL AND THE BASIS FOR THIS
DETERMINATION;
(5) THE IMPACT ON CUSTOMERS' RATES, INCLUDING THE ALLOCATION
AMONG CUSTOMER CLASSES, FROM COLLECTING THE TOTAL AMOUNT
RECOMMENDED BY THE COMMISSION UNDER ITEM (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION; AND
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