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<section article="gpu" article_name="Public Utilities" number="25-501.1" title_number="25" title_name="Rates and Charges" subtitle_number="5" subtitle_name="Service Rates">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>“Indirect customer” means an individual who:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>receives water service or sewer service or both from the Commission; but</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>is not billed by the Commission for the service.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>“Ratepayer” means an individual who receives a bill directly from the Commission for water service or sewer service or both.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Notwithstanding any other law, on or before July 1, 2015, the Commission shall establish a Customer Assistance Program to provide financial assistance with water and sewer bills to eligible ratepayers.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The Commission shall establish income eligibility standards for a ratepayer to receive financial assistance under this subsection.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Financial assistance provided under this subsection may include the reduction or waiver of fees, including late fees.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The Commission may establish an Indirect Customer Assistance Program.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The purpose of the program is to provide financial assistance to eligible indirect customers for water and sewer service.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>If the Commission establishes a program under this subsection, the Commission shall establish income eligibility standards and a process for an indirect customer to receive financial assistance under the program.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The Customer Assistance Program and the Indirect Customer Assistance Program shall be funded from Commission revenues.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Income eligibility standards for the Customer Assistance Program and the Indirect Customer Assistance Program shall be applied uniformly throughout the sanitary district.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
