AUTOMATED LIFELINE ENROLLMENT FOR LOW-INCOME UTILITY RATES

PULP pioneered the use of confidential computerized matching programs to enroll and verify eligibility of households more effectively. The following are key documents:

Telephone Lifeline

• Letter requesting Social Security Administration approval of confidential, computerized data exchange of SSI recipients data between State Department of Social Services and NYNEX (Verizon) for telephone Lifeline enrollment.
             Appendix to the letter
   
• SSA Letter approving data exchange.
   
• Review of State and Federal laws regarding computerized data exchange for AFDC recipient enrollment in telephone Lifeline.
   
• Memorandum of Understanding between NYNEX and Department of Social Services for confidential matching program.
             Supplemental Memos of Understanding
   
• New York Telephone Lifeline Tariff for enrollment of customers through confidential computerized matching programs.

Telephone Lifeline Articles

NYNEX Plan's Privacy Issues - New York Newsday - 3-2-95

Electric and Natural Gas Utilities

Sample Bill Messages for Low Income Gas Rate Administration

Other States

Texas Regulations for Low Income Rate Administration, Automatic Enrollment and Self Certification 7-1-02

California ALJ Recommends Automatic Enrollment of Low Income Customers for Reduced Low Income Electric and Natural Gas Rates - 5-28-02 -

Citing New York's successful automatic enrollment program for telephone Lifeline, a California Administrative Law Judge issued a decision recommending more rapid deployment of low income rate reductions through automatic enrollment methods.  The ALJ decision includes the following findings:

"8. Over one million low-income customers are eligible for, but do not participate in, the CARE program.

9. The utilities' proposed penetration rates do not acknowledge that the fundamental goal of the program should be to reach 100% of low-income customers that are eligible for, and desire to participate in, the CARE program.

10. Utilities will not reach this goal at the same pace, given differences in demographic characteristics and the magnitude of the eligible low-income population within each service territory, as well as differences in where each utility stands today with respect to program penetration.

11. The law of diminishing returns applies to CARE outreach efforts over time, i.e., it becomes increasingly difficult to enroll additional customers, the closer the utility moves towards achieving 100% participation.

12. The utilities shall include in their 2003 CARE program plans (due July 1, 2002) a proposed scope of study for evaluating the results of automatic enrollment, and associated budget."

Rulemaking on the Commission's Proposed Policies and Programs Governing Low-Income Assistance Programs, 01-08-027, Interim Decision Status Of Rapic Deployment, CARE Penetration Goals, Automatic Enrollment And Related Program Planning Issues, p. 51-53 (5/28/02).