OAR 860-021-0180: Verification of Eligibility for Income-Qualified Residential Customers

(1) A residential customer shall qualify as an eligible income-qualified residential customer for purposes of these Division 21 rules through the following methods: (a) The customer is a recipient of energy assistance within the past 12 months through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LI HEAP) or the Oregon Energy Assistance Program (OEAP) or an energy assistance program offered by an energy utility; or (b) The customer is enrolled in any of the utility’s income-qualified energy assistance programs or qualifies to enroll in any program offered by a utility to residential customers based on differential energy burdens based on factors that affect affordability pursuant to ORS 757.230(1). (2) Except where a utility is authorized to verify or recertify an existing income-qualified residential customer's eligibility, an energy utility may allow a customer to self-certify as an eligible income-qualified residential customer based on income that is at or below 60 percent of the Oregon state median income. (3) An energy utility may require an income-qualified residential customer to verify or recertify eligibility as per section (1) of this rule on an annual basis if the customer is to remain an eligible income-qualified residential customer.