(1)
(a) The department shall establish a program for a seasonal moratorium for involuntary termination for nonpayment by residential customers of essential utility bills.
(b) An essential utility is a utility regulated by the Public Service Commission under Title 54, Public Utilities, which is in the business of the retail distribution of electricity or natural gas.
(c) A residential customer is a customer defined as in a residential class by the Public Service Commission.
(2) A residential customer shall meet the following criteria to qualify for the program:
(a) gross household income is less than 125% of the federal poverty level or the household has suffered a medical or other emergency, loss of employment, or is experiencing other circumstances which have resulted in a substantial loss of income;
(b) the customer has made application to public and private energy assistance programs;
(c) the customer is willing to make a good faith effort to pay these utility bills on a consistent basis; and
(d) any additional information required by the department.
(3)
(a) A residential customer may file with a local department office an affidavit attesting eligibility under the criteria in Subsection (2).
(b) The department shall certify that the customer has met the eligibility requirements and forward a copy of the affidavit to the effected utility.