Senate Bill 11-087, Medical Exemption from Tiered-Electric Rates Based on a Customers Medical Condition
Public Utilities Commission to adopt rules creating an exemption from tiered electricity rate plans based on a customer’s medical condition
The two-tiered pricing is a revenue-neutral policy that went into effect in Colorado during the summer of 2010.
Without this exemption, the increased burden of tiered-rates could be detrimental to the most vulnerable populations living in Colorado. For example, children with Epilepsy who take certain medications for their disease are incapable of regulating their body temp, and therefore are unable to sweat. Cutting their energy use to save money could be deadly.
Coloradan’s living with mental illnesses, especially veterans of war, are also impacted by this policy oversight. Many medications prescribed for mental health issues can cause heat sensitivity. Any attempt to cut back on temperature regulating technology, like air conditioning, could impact their health and wellbeing.
Folks living with Multiple Sclerosis have been negatively impacted by the current lack of a medical exemption. The National MS Society Colorado-Wyoming Chapter and our friends at the Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition have seen first hand the harm that this has done. One Coloradan living with cerebral palsy who uses oxygen in her home went off of her anti-seizure medication this summer in order to avoid falling behind in paying her Xcel Energy bill. This sort of irrational cost-shifting by the consumer could lead to very expensive care being put on the state down the line.
Xcel Energy, The Public Utilities Commission, The National Multiple Sclerosis Society Colorado-Wyoming Chapter, the Colorado Cross-Disability Association, Mental Health America Colorado, the Epilepsy Foundation, the Area Agency on Aging, and the Lupus Foundation have worked together on this issue.
We [MS Society] have worked with Xcel Energy to educate our constituents on energy conservation and the importance of weatherization and rebate programs. We’ve offered energy savings kits at our programs, as have
numerous other health advocacy organizations in the state.
This legislation is the only way to solve for a simple oversight, and is supported by all stakeholders involved.
For more information, please contact The Executive Director of the Colorado Cross-Disabilities Coalition, Julie Reiskin, at (303) 839-1775 / jreiskin@ccdconline.net or The National MS Society Policy Coordinator, Kara Nett, at (303) 698-5445 / kara.nett@nmss.org.