PRIA Logo™
Title 16, ConservationRelease 119-110

§2624 Lifeline Rates

Title 16 › CHAPTER 46 — PUBLIC UTILITY REGULATORY POLICIES › SUBCHAPTER II — STANDARDS FOR ELECTRIC UTILITIES › § 2624

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

State agencies that set utility rates and electric utilities not controlled by the state can put in place a lower electricity price for essential home needs than the federal standard allows. Each state agency or nonregulated utility gets to say what “essential needs” means. If no lower rate is in effect two years after November 9, 1978, the state agency that sets rates or the nonregulated utility must hold a hearing with evidence and decide if such a lower rate should be put in place. A different part of the law that might otherwise apply does not apply to these rules.

Full Legal Text

Title 16, §2624

Conservation, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Lower rates
No provision of this chapter prohibits a State regulatory authority (with respect to an electric utility for which it has ratemaking authority) or a nonregulated electric utility from fixing, approving, or allowing to go into effect a rate for essential needs (as defined by the State regulatory authority or by the nonregulated electric utility, as the case may be) of residential electric consumers which is lower than a rate under the standard referred to in section 2621(d)(1) of this title.
(b)Determination
If any State regulated electric utility or nonregulated electric utility does not have a lower rate as described in subsection (a) in effect two years after November 9, 1978, the State regulatory authority having ratemaking authority with respect to such State regulated electric utility or the nonregulated electric utility, as the case may be, shall determine, after an evidentiary hearing, whether such a rate should be implemented by such utility.
(c)Prior proceedings
section 2634 of this title shall not apply to the requirements of this section.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This chapter, referred to in subsec. (a), was in the original “this title”, meaning title I (§ 101 et seq.) of Pub. L. 95–617, Nov. 9, 1978, 92 Stat. 3120, which enacted subchapters I to IV of this chapter and section 6808 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, and amended sections 6802 to 6807 of Title 42. For complete classification of title I to the Code, see Tables.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

16 U.S.C. § 2624

Title 16, Conservation

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110