HOUSE BILL No. 4650

 

March 19, 2009, Introduced by Reps. Spade and Mayes and referred to the Committee on Energy and Technology.

 

     A bill to amend 1984 PA 34, entitled

 

"Michigan low income heating assistance and shut-off protection

act,"

 

(MCL 400.1201 to 400.1217) by adding section 7a.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

     Sec. 7a. Not later than April 1, 2010 or at a time considered

 

possible by the department, the department shall operate an

 

electronic payment process with participating provider utilities to

 

provide for the payment of low income customer energy bills that

 

are subject to shutoff. The department, as it considers

 

appropriate, shall enter into agreements with provider utilities in

 

which the provider utility agrees to permit the department to make

 

direct payments to the energy provider on behalf of an eligible

 

recipient. The agreement shall authorize the provider utility to


 

provide customer information to the department. The department

 

shall determine the eligible recipients, program requirements,

 

benefit levels, and funding levels.