Lifeline rate gets a failing grade. [Portland (OR) State University Study]

Journal Article · Sun Aug 15 04:00:00 EDT 1976 · Electr. World; (United States)

OSTI ID:7339760

A study was made of electric power consumption in Portland, OR to determine the impact of lifeline rates on customers with different income levels. The study details the relationship between residential electricity consumption and five important socio-economic factors that explain it--median family income, percentage of single-family dwelling units, average family size, percent of households with electric cooking, and percent of households with electric heat. The lifeline-rate proposal has as its main purpose a shift of benefits to low-income households by a 25 percent reduction in the rate for the first 800 kWh/month to all residential customers, and an increase for use over 800 kW/month. The report concluded that a lifetime electric rate would fail to achieve its major purpose of providing relief to low- and fixed-income families in a fair and equitable manner. A lifeline-rate schedule based solely on consumption would unintentionally benefit many people not in need of assistance, and would increase the electric rates of many customers who actually are in need of rate relief. (MCW)

• OSTI ID: 7339760
• Journal Information: Electr. World; (United States), Journal Name: Electr. World; (United States) Vol. 186:4; ISSN ELWOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS
200106 -- Fossil-Fueled Power Plants-- Economics
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
296000* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Electric Power
APARTMENT BUILDINGS
BUILDINGS
CHARGES
CONSUMPTION RATES
ECONOMIC POLICY
ELECTRIC POWER
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
HOUSES
INCOME
MARKET
MATHEMATICS
NORTH AMERICA
OREGON
PACIFIC NORTHWEST REGION
POWER
PUBLIC UTILITIES
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
RESIDENTIAL SECTOR
SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS
STATISTICS
USA