Puget Sound Energy, Avista Implement COVID-19 Bill Assistance Programs for Washington Customers

The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission on April 10 approved a proposal by Puget Sound Energy to use $11 million of the previous years’ unspent funds from the company’s Home Energy Lifeline Program to aid customers in need without affecting current programs or increasing rates. The agency also approved temporary changes to Avista Corporation’s Low-Income Rate Assistance Program to help customers who have lost income due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The proposals extends existing bill assistance programs to households that have lost income due to COVID-19. Puget Sound’s new Crisis Affected Customer Assistance Program allows the company to provide the funds directly to families that would not otherwise meet the low-income requirements for the Home Energy Lifeline Program, without having to go through a third-party administrator. The new initiative will run in parallel to the current program. Electric and natural gas customers facing financial hardship due to COVID-19 can apply through the company’s online portal, providing proof of income or proof of loss of income, or a self-declaration in the case of self-employed customers.

Avista’s customers can apply for hardship grants of up to $350 from current Low-Income Rate Assistance Program funds, and an existing cap of one grant per program per year has been lifted. Further, the low-income verification requirement to qualify for the program has been shortened to one month from three months so that customers facing a sudden loss of income can receive aid quickly.