Senior and Low-income Utility Rate Discounts

Contents

• Statutes and Rate Methodology
• Ordinance Provisions
• Forms
• Voluntary Contribution Utility Assistance Programs

Statutes and Rate Methodology

RCW 35.92.020(5) authorizes cities to "provide assistance to aid low-income persons in connection with services provided under" chapter 35.92 RCW ("Municipal Utilities"), and RCW 35.67.020(5) provides cities the same authority with respect to sewerage services.  RCW 36.94.140(4) provides identical authority for counties.   

Also, RCW 74.38.070 provides authority for cities, counties, public utility districts, and any other municipal corporation or quasi-municipal corporation providing utility services to offer reduced utility rates for low-income senior citizens and other low-income citizens.

Article 8, section 7 of the state constitution permits "gifts" of public funds in "support of the poor and infirm," which has been interpreted by the courts to mean "poor or infirm."  See, e.g., Health Care Facilities Authority v. Ray, 93 Wn.2d 108 (1980). 

Some utilities limit their discounts to low-income senior citizens. Many, however, include the disabled. Most of ordinances below define "disabled" to be those people who qualify for special parking privileges under RCW 46.16.381(1)(a) through (f) and blind people as defined in RCW 74.18.020(4).  Chehalis, however, requires that customers applying for the totally disabled customer rate furnish proof of such a disability from  the Social Security Administration. Port Angeles includes those who qualify for supplemental social security benefits due to a disability. Richland adds developmentally disabled citizens as defined in RCW 71A.10.020(2) and mentally ill as defined in RCW 71.05.020(1) with low incomes . In some cases, the utility requires that this person be the head of household.  In other cases,  a restriction on the income level of any cotenant.

Edmonds is one of the few cities that exempts all low-income people (total disposable income including that of his or her spouse or cotenant does not exceed the amount specified in RCW 84.36.381(5)(b))

In defining "low-income," there are a number of different approaches:

1. Use some percentage of the median income that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development estimates for the state, the Seattle PMSA, the Tacoma PMSA and six MSAs;

2. Use some percentage of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Poverty Guidelines;

3. Use the income level set by the statutes in RCW 84.36.381(5)(b) to qualify for a property tax exemption; or

4. Use some other number that the city council determines (Chehalis is an example).

The third approach might be the easiest to administer because the utility can ask the person applying for the reduced rates for a copy of the property tax exemption, and, presumably, the county assessor has checked the income levels.

Ordinance Provisions

• Bainbridge Island Municipal Code  Sections 13.16.080 -13.16.086 - Low income senior citizen, disabled citizen discount
• Buckley Municipal Code Ch. 14.16 - Low income utility discounts
• Chehalis Municipal Code:
  • Section 13.16.080 - Low-income senior citizen customer and totally disabled customer utility discount rate
  • Section 13.12.130 - Base water rates for low-income senior citizen customers and totally disabled customers
• East Wenatchee Municipal Code  Ch. 4.34 - Rates for low-income seniors and low-income disabled
• Edmonds Municipal Code Section 7.30.070 - Water and sewer rates reductions for low-income citizens
• Ferndale Ordinance No. 1638 (), passed 02/07/2011 - Amends Section 13.04.090 to expand the water/sewer/storm rate assistance program to all qualifying low-income utility customers
• Issaquah Municipal Code  Ch. 13.92 - Senior citizen and low-income citizen fee reductions
• Oak Harbor Municipal Code  Ch. 3.90 - Low-income credit on utility bills
• Port Angeles Municipal Code Ch. 13.20 () - Utility discount for low-income senior citizens and disabled citizens
• Richland Municipal Code Section 3.29.030 - Special residential rates-qualification as low-income senior citizen or low-income disabled citizens 
• Tumwater Municipal Code Section 13.18.090 - Life-line, low-income senior citizen and low- income disabled person rate discounts
• West Richland Municipal Code
  • Section 13.26.030 - Low-income senior citizen charges
  • Section 13.56.030 - Charges for domestic water for low-income senior
  • Section 13.70.020  - Low-income senior citizen irrigation water charges

Forms

• Bothell
  • 2011 Utility Tax Rebate Application ()
  • 2011 Affidavit of Qualification for Low-Income Senior Citizen 25% Water & Sewer Discount ()
• Bellingham
  • Utility Bill Reduced Rates
  • 2011 Application for Rate Reduction on Utility Bills ()
• Federal Way Utility Tax Rebate Program
• Kirkland
  • Senior and Disabled Rates
  • Senior or Disabled Filing Form ()
  • Affidavit for Qualification for Low Income Senior or Disabled Citizens Reduced Utility Rate ()
• Poulsbo
  • Discounted Rates for Citizens with Low Income ()
  • Application for Reduced Rates()
• Seattle
  • Mayor's Office for Senior Citizens
    • Energy and Utility Assistance Programs
    • Utility Discount Program Applications
  • Public Utilities
    • Assistance for Seniors, Persons with Disabilities and Low-Income Customers
• University Place
  • Utility Tax Refund
  • Utility Tax Refund Application ()

Voluntary Contribution Utility Assistance Programs

• Cheney - Project Outreach
• Friday Harbor - Utility Assistance Program
• Kirkland - Utility Billing [Act to help families in need - pay extra on your utility bill ]
• Lacey - Utility Assistance Fund
• Port Angeles - Pass the Buck
• Richland - Helping Hands
• Seattle - Project Share
• Shelton - Support Our Sheltonians