Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, a water utility or group of water utilities may petition the commission for approval of a low-income assistance program to allow a qualifying low-income residential ratepayer to receive a discount or credit applying to the amount the residential ratepayer would otherwise owe to the water utility. The commission may approve the proposed discount or credit if it determines that the proposal is a cost-effective means of keeping water affordable for low-income residential ratepayers. The commission may not require a water utility to initiate a low-income assistance program pursuant to this section.
For the purposes of this section, "residential ratepayer" means a customer who is considered residential under the terms and conditions of the water utility.