(1) Notwithstanding any provision of articles 1 to 7 of this title 40 to the contrary, the commission shall adopt rules to create an exemption from any tiered electricity rate plan based on a customer's medical condition. The commission's rules must provide a mechanism for the recovery of costs associated with implementing and providing the medical exemption.
The commission may determine the definition of "medical condition"; except that thedefinition must include multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, quadriplegia, and paraplegia. The medical exemption is for individuals who have the verification of a physician licensed in Colorado of a heat-sensitive medical condition or the need for the use of an essential life support device.
If the commission determines that a means test is necessary for the medical exemption, the commission shall use no less than four hundred percent of the federal poverty level for the customer's household as the maximum income to be eligible for the medical exemption.
If the low-income energy assistance program is used to certify eligibility, the medicalexemption under this section must be distinguishable from the heat assistance benefits offered under the low-income energy assistance program because these programs may have different eligibility requirements.
On and after September 1, 2020, the commission shall require utilities periodically toreport, pursuant to section 40-3-110, the number of their customers who receive the medical exemption under this section and to describe the efforts the utilities have made during each reporting period to facilitate the enrollment of qualified persons in their medical exemption programs.
Source: L. 2011: Entire section added, (SB 11-087), ch. 80, p. 218, § 1, effective March
29. L. 2013: Entire section amended, (SB 13-282), ch. 292, p. 1562, § 1, effective May 28. L. 2020: (1) and (3) amended and (5) added, (SB 20-030), ch. 148, p. 637, § 1, effective June 29.