ROBERT L. EHRLICH, JR., Governor

Ch. 95

(3)     (III) 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)     (IV) the amount of funds needed, as determined by the Commission,
to retire arrearages that were incurred prior to the initial implementation date by
FOR electric customers with annual incomes at or below 150% of the federal poverty
level WHO HAVE NOT PREVIOUSLY RECEIVED ASSISTANCE IN RETIRING
ARREARAGES UNDER THE UNIVERSAL SERVICE PROGRAM and the basis for this
determination;

(V) THE AMOUNT OF FUNDS NEEDED, AS DETERMINED BY THE
COMMISSION, FOR BILL ASSISTANCE, LOW-INCOME WEATHERIZATION, AND
ARREARAGE RETIREMENT, RESPECTIVELY, FOR CUSTOMERS FOR WHOM INCOME
LIMITATIONS MAY BE WAIVED UNDER SUBSECTION (A)(6) OF THIS SECTION, AND THE
BASIS FOR EACH DETERMINATION;

(5) (VI) the impact on customers' rates, including the allocation among
customer classes, from collecting the total amount recommended by the Commission
under item (1) (I) of this subsection PARAGRAPH; and

(6) (VII) the impact of using other federal poverty level benchmarks on
costs and the effectiveness of the universal service program.

(2)      (I) TO ASSIST THE COMMISSION IN PREPARING ITS
RECOMMENDATIONS UNDER PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION, THE OFFICE OF
HOME ENERGY PROGRAMS SHALL REPORT TO THE COMMISSION EACH YEAR ON:

1. THE NUMBER OF CUSTOMERS AND THE AMOUNT OF
DISTRIBUTIONS MADE TO FUEL CUSTOMERS UNDER THE MARYLAND ENERGY
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM ESTABLISHED UNDER ARTICLE 41, § 6-406 OF THE CODE,
IDENTIFIED BY FUNDING SOURCE AND FUEL SOURCE; AND

2. THE COST OF OUTREACH AND EDUCATION MATERIALS
PROVIDED BY THE OFFICE OF HOME ENERGY PROGRAMS FOR THE UNIVERSAL
SERVICE PROGRAM.

(II)     THE OFFICE OF HOME ENERGY PROGRAMS MAY SATISFY THE
REPORTING REQUIREMENT OF SUBPARAGRAPH (I)1 OF THIS PARAGRAPH BY
PROVIDING THE COMMISSION WITH A COPY OF MATERIAL THAT CONTAINS THE
REQUIRED INFORMATION AND THAT THE OFFICE OF HOME ENERGY PROGRAMS
SUBMITS TO A UNIT OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

(III)   THE COMMISSION SHALL INCLUDE THE INFORMATION
PROVIDED BY THE OFFICE OF HOME ENERGY PROGRAMS UNDER SUBPARAGRAPH (I)
OF THIS PARAGRAPH IN ITS REPORT TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY UNDER
PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION.

(3)      (I) THE OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE AUDITS SHALL CONDUCT A
PERFORMANCE AUDIT OF THE UNIVERSAL SERVICE PROGRAM AT LEAST ONCE

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