2025 Utah Code
Title 54 - Public Utilities
Chapter 4 - Authority of Commission Over Public Utilities
Section 42 - Utility Bill Assistance Program.

Universal Citation:
UT Code § 54-4-42 (2025)
Learn more This media-neutral citation is based on the American Association of Law Libraries Universal Citation Guide and is not necessarily the official citation.
Effective 3/9/2023
54-4-42. Utility Bill Assistance Program.
  • (1) As used in this section:
    • (a) "Division" means the Division of Public Utilities established in Section 54-4a-1.
    • (b) "Eligible customer" means the same as that term is defined in Section 54-7-13.6.
    • (c) "Existing credit" refers to bill payment assistance provided under Section 54-7-13.6.
    • (d) "Large-scale utility" means a large-scale electric utility or a large-scale natural gas utility.
    • (e) "Program" means the Utility Bill Assistance Program created in this section.
  • (2)
    • (a) There is created in the Department of Commerce the Utility Bill Assistance Program that shall be administered by the division.
    • (b) The purpose of the program is to provide credits to eligible customers to use against utility service balances.
  • (3) A large-scale utility may request approval for a tariff that authorizes the large-scale utility to provide credits to eligible customers from funds available to the program.
  • (4) The commission shall approve a large-scale utility's tariff request described in Subsection (3) if:
    • (a) the commission finds the tariff to be in the public interest; and
    • (b) the tariff does not result in increased costs to the large-scale utility's customers.
  • (5) The division shall allocate available funds in accordance with a commission-approved tariff of a large-scale utility.
  • (6) A large-scale utility that receives an allocation under Subsection (5) shall provide credits from funds received under this program to eligible customers to use against utility service balances.
  • (7)
    • (a) A credit provided under the program shall be in addition to any existing credit the eligible customer receives.
    • (b) If a large-scale utility provides an existing credit on a monthly basis, the large-scale utility shall only provide a credit under this section if the eligible customer has a utility service balance after application of an existing credit.
  • (8) A large-scale utility with an approved tariff under Subsection (4) shall report to the commission semi-annually concerning:
    • (a) amounts expended since the program's inception or the previous report;
    • (b) amounts remaining to fund credits; and
    • (c) verification of customer eligibility.
  • (9) The division shall report to the Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Interim Committee concerning the status of the program before November 30 of each year for which credits are provided.
  • (10) The commission and the division may review records in the possession of a large-scale utility concerning the credits provided in accordance with this section.
  • (11) The division may administer the program as long as funds appropriated for the program remain.


Enacted by Chapter 23, 2023 General Session
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