Section 460.1080 - Low-income energy waste reduction programs; annual expenditures; minimization of barriers to participation(1) Electric providers and natural gas providers shall offer low-income energy waste reduction programs to assist low-income residential customers in both single-family and multifamily households.(2) A low-income energy waste reduction program shall be designed and funded with the goal that low-income residential customers achieve levels of energy waste reduction similar to or greater than the levels of energy waste reduction of other residential customers. Low-income energy waste reduction programs shall include investments in health and safety measures appropriate and necessary to address health and safety conditions that are impediments to implementing energy waste reduction measures for low-income residential customers. Providers shall work to deliver and coordinate low-income energy waste reduction programs and other offerings that serve and maximize the benefits to low-income residential customers. Energy savings shall be attributed to health and safety measure spending at the average energy waste reduction program savings level and in proportion to the amount of health and safety measure spending relative to overall energy waste reduction program spending.(3) An electric provider's annual expenditures to implement the low-income energy waste reduction programs and measures shall be at least 25% of total energy waste reduction program spending. If an electric provider's expenditures on the effective date of the amendatory act that added this section are below this level, the electric provider shall annually increase expenditures to equal or exceed this level by January 1, 2029.(4) A natural gas provider's annual expenditures to implement the low-income energy waste reduction programs and measures shall be at least 35% of total energy waste reduction program spending. If a natural gas provider's expenditures on the effective date of the amendatory act that added this section are below this level, the natural gas provider shall annually increase expenditures to equal or exceed this level by January 1, 2029.(5) Providers shall minimize barriers to participation in low-income energy waste reduction programs and reduce overly burdensome verification processes. Any of the following constitute eligible income verification: (a) Proof of participation in other low-income qualified programs.(b) Location in a low-income census tract.(c) Other methods to be determined by the commission.Added by 2023, Act 229,s 7, eff. 2/13/2024.