AN ORDINANCE relating to the City Light Department; amending Seattle Municipal Code Chapter 21.49.040 to simplify the eligibility verification process for residential rate assistance.

WHEREAS, SMC 21.49.040 authorizes City Light to assist low income customers by offering lower electricity rates for customers meeting certain criteria; and

WHEREAS, the 2012 City Light Strategic Plan calls for improving utilization of the residential rate assistance program by qualified customers; and

WHEREAS, City Light has identified an opportunity to simplify the initial eligibility process for certain low income customers by relying on information already collected from them by affordable housing providers, thereby making rate assistance more accessible to these individuals; and

WHEREAS, the City Council has reviewed the terms and conditions set forth within this Ordinance, has determined they are consistent with the financial policies supported by the Council, and believes they will continue to provide the users of electric service supplied by the City of Seattle efficient electric service at low cost; NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF SEATTLE AS FOLLOWS:

Section 1. Subsection 21.49.040, last amended by Ordinance 123988, is amended as follows:

SMC 21.49.040 Residential rate assistance (Schedules REC, RET, RES, REH, REB, RLC, RLT, RLS, RLH, and RLB).

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B. Applicants for Schedules REC, RLC, RET, RLT, RES, RLS, REH, RLH, REB, and

RLB shall verify the information required to certify their eligibility for residential rate assistance and shall provide such other data as is deemed appropriate upon forms and in the manner determined by the City's Human Services Department as directed by City Light . Customer eligibility to enter the program may also be established from data provided by affordable housing providers receiving federal, state, or local funding and subject to annual compliance monitoring by the granting authority, if the providers have entered into agreements with City Light regarding the provision and use of the information. Such agreements do not limit the City's right to confirm the information provided with the customer.

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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 ________________________, 2013, and signed by me in open session in authentication of its passage this

_____ day of ___________________, 2013.

_________________________________

President __________of the City Council

Approved by me this ____ day of _____________________, 2013.

_________________________________

Michael McGinn, Mayor

Filed by me this ____ day of __________________________, 2013.

____________________________________

Monica Martinez Simmons, City Clerk

(Seal)

Paula Laschober/Tony Kilduff SCL 2013 Rate Assistance Program ORD May 06, 2013 Version 4