HomeMy WebLinkAbout596-25 Amending Admin Code Section 6.1.9 Low Income Customer Assistance ProgramORDINANCE NO.596-25
AN ORDINANCE OF THE SOUTH TAHOE PUBLIC UTILITY
DISTRICT AMENDING ADMINISTRATIVE CODE SECTION 6.1.9 REGARDING THE
LOW-INCOME CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
Be it enacted by the Board of Directors of the South Tahoe Public Utility District, County
of El Dorado, State of California, as follows:
SECTION I - POLICY AND PURPOSE
The purpose of this Ordinance is to adopt certain changes to the Administrative Code
amending the terms of the Low -Income Customer Assistance Program.
SECTION II — DEFINITIONS
For the purposes of this Ordinance, the terms used herein are defined as follows:
A. The District — The South Tahoe Public Utility District.
B. The Board — The Board of Directors of the South Tahoe Public Utility District.
C. Administrative Code — The compilation and codification of all of the
Administrative, Water and Sewer Ordinances of the District, which establish the
authority and the principles for the decisions of the District, and provide the
public with guidelines applicable to District operations.
D. Federal Povertv Level — The poverty guidelines for the 48 Contiguous States and
the District of Columbia as established annually by the federal Department of
Health and Human Services.
SECTION III — FINDINGS
The Board of Directors of the South Tahoe Public Utility District, El Dorado County,
State of California, makes the following findings:
1. The Board passed and adopted Ordinance No. 591-24 in August 2024, which
expanded the Customer Assistance Program by adding a second eligibility tier expanding
program eligibility to residential customers with household incomes up to 300% of the
established Federal Poverty Level.
2. The discount provided by the Low -Income Customer Assistance Program is
funded exclusively by the District's non -rate revenue sources.
3. The Board has determined that it is in the best interest of the District and its
customers to amend the terms of the Low -Income Customer Assistance Program to expand
program eligibility in Tier 2 and continue to offer financial assistance to low-income customers.
SECTION IV — AMENDING SECTION 6.1.9 OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE CODE
Section 6.1.9 {"Low -Income Customer Assistance ProL-rrain") of the South Tahoe Public
Utilitv District Administrative Code is herebv amended to i3rovide as follows:
"6.1.9 Low -Income Customer Assistance Prapram; The District offers a two -
tiered Low -Income Customer Assistance Program for qualifying residential customers. The
Property must be owner or full-time tenant occupied. Customers are eligible to enroll in only one
of the two Program tiers and cannot enroll in both. Program specifications are as follows:
1. Tier 1 Customer Assistance Program Terms:
a) Eligibility is based upon current participation in the Liberty Utilities Care
Program.
b) The amount of the rebate is 25% of the standard residential water and/or
sewer rate.
c) The Program may apply to rental properties if the tenant can demonstrate,
through a rental or lease agreement, that they are financially responsible
for paying the water, and or sewer bill.
d) The Program is subject to annual renewal and may require additional
proof of eligibility.
e) The District, at its discretion, may remove the applicant from the program
if it has reason to believe the applicant is no longer eligible or does not
meet Program requirements.
2. Tier 2 Customer Assistance Program Terms:
a) Eligibility is based upon the full-time home occupants certifying that their
total household income is 400% or less of the current federal poverty level.
b) The amount of the rebate is 15% of the standard residential water and/or
sewer rate.
c) The Program may apply to rental properties if the tenant can demonstrate,
through a rental or lease agreement, that they are financially responsible for
paying the water, and or sewer bill.
d) The Program is subject to annual renewal and may require additional proof
of eligibility.
e) The District, at its discretion, may remove the applicant from the program
if it has reason to believe the applicant is no longer eligible or does not
meet Program requirements."
SECTION V — SEVERABILITY
If any section, subsection, subdivision, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase of this
Ordinance and its implementing rules and regulations is for any reason held to be
unconstitutional or invalid, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of
this Ordinance or the Administrative Code. The Board of Directors declares and determines that
it would have passed section, subsection, subdivision, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase
thereof of this Ordinance and its implementing rules and regulations and the Administrative
Code irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, subdivisions,
paragraphs, sentences, clauses or phrases may be determined to be unconstitutional or invalid.
SECTION VI — EFFECTIVE DATE
This Ordinance amending the above referenced sections of the Administrative Code shall
take effect thirty days after its passage.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of Directors of the South Tahoe Public Utility
District at its duly held regular meeting on the 7th day of August 2025, by the following vote:
AYES: Haven, Romsos, Henderson, Sheehan, Exline
NOES:
ABSENT:
Shane Romsos, President
South Tahoe Public Utility District
ATTEST:
Melonie Guttry, Clerk of the oard
South Tahoe Public Utility District