03-08-2021 BPU RPT 08 - Laserfiche WebLink

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W A T E R E NE R G Y I T F F � . RIVERSIDE PUBLIC UTILITIES kd& P B r T r z Board Memorandum BOARD OF PUBLIC UTILITIES DATE: MARCH 8, 2021 SUBJECT: INCREASE THE SHARING HOUSEHOLDS ASSIST RIVERSIDE'S ENERGY PROGRAM'S ELECTRIC EMERGENCY/DEPOSIT CREDIT FROM $150 TO $250 DUE TO THE ONGOING COVID-19 PANDEMIC ISSUE: Consider approval of an increase in the Sharing Households Assist Riverside's Energy (SHARE) Program's Emergency/Deposit Credit from $150 to $250 due to the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic. RECOMMENDATION: That the Board of Public Utilities recommend to the City Council the authorization of an increase to the Sharing Households Assist Riverside's Energy Program's Emergency/Deposit Credit from $150 to $250 per year for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic State of Emergency. LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: Assembly Bill (AB) 1890 was adopted in 1996, which required publicly owned utilities to collect and spend Public Benefits Charge funds for low-income assistance, energy efficiency and conservation programs, renewable energy, and research, development and demonstration projects. BACKGROUND: Riverside Public Utilities (RPU) established the Sharing Households Assist Riverside's Energy (SHARE) Program in 1989 to provide low-income residents with utility bill assistance. The SHARE Program was initially only supported with funding from direct customer contributions and donations. In 1999, RPU expanded the program with the utilization of a portion of the Public Benefits Charge funds in order to assist more customers. The SHARE program consists of two elements — a larger emergency/deposit assistance credit that is currently $150 and additional monthly bill credits of $15 on electric bills and $2.75 on water bills. On May 22, 2018, the City Council approved changes to the SHARE Program to address the concerns that the then -proposed rate increases would impact low- and fixed income customers. The program enhancements included adjusting the income qualifications as well as instituting