VT S0204

S.204 - Vermont Energy Equity Law

• Public Utility Commission must design a statewide electric ratepayer protection program for low- and moderate-income households and submit draft legislation to the General Assembly by January 15, 2027

• Expands program eligibility from households at 150% of federal poverty level to 300% of federal poverty level, with potential exemptions from program charges for households earning up to 80% of state median income

• Prohibits gas, electric, and water utilities from disconnecting residential service during periods of extreme heat as defined by the Commission

• Requires physician's certificates certifying serious health hazards from disconnection to prevent service termination for the duration specified in the certification

• Program may include tiered discounts, percentage-of-income assistance, arrearage forgiveness, automatic enrollment through programs like SNAP or Medicaid, and performance metrics penalizing investor-owned utilities that fail to reduce disconnections