HomeMy WebLinkAboutSupporting the Reduction of Utility Deposits for Low and Middle-Income ResidentsAttest:
RESOLUTION
3401 -04
Passed by the Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana
November 22,
W
1r'
City Clerk
President of Common Council
Presented by me to the Mayor of the City of South Bend, Indiana
November 23, 20 04
Approved and signed by me
November 23,
04
20—.
City Clerk
M.
RESOLUTION NO. Y101-
A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH
BEND, INDIANA SUPPORTING THE REDUCTION OF UTILITY DEPOSITS
FOR LOW AND MIDDLE - INCOME RESIDENTS
-!'!'fce�, the South Bend Common Council has been advised that in
2004, approximately $3 million was paid for heating assistance alone in St.
Joseph County, Indiana; and
Wes, the South Bend Common Council is aware that significant
changes addressing deposits, disconnections, the filing of complaints, and other
regulations are being proposed which will affect regard to gas, electric, telephone
and sewer utilities; and
9eaa, the Indiana Utilities Regulatory Commission (IURC) is proposing
changes to the administrative rules on customer service rights . and
responsibilities and utility laws that may be beneficial to utility customers; and
99weaa, the South Bend Common Council recognizes that utility
deposits are almost impossible for many low- income and middle- income
residents to pay, and in such instances create hardships upon them as well as
on the community service organizations which help to provide financial
assistance; and
%',� mmp, the Common Council believes that the proposal which would
reduce utility deposits to the average of one (1) month of a yearly billing would be
a fair and practical solution and therefore supports this measure in an attempt to
lessen the hardship imposed upon all utility consumers; and
99weaa, the Common Council does not support the use of predetermined
credit scores based on a person's ability to pay utility bills in order to determine
whether or not a deposit will be required.
r r r / I/ r r .� G r 29 r r
96ond /
Section I. The Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana,
urges the Indiana Utilities Regulatory Commission to adopt rules and regulations
which will be fair and equitable to all concerned.
Section II. The Common Council formally thanks the Indiana Utilities
Regulatory Commission for agreeing to hold a public hearing in the Bendix
Theater at the Century Center in downtown South Bend, so that it may hear the
many concerns of the residents and utility customers.
Section III. The Common Council encourages the Indiana Utilities
Regulatory Commission to adopt rules and regulations that will significantly
reduce or eliminate the resulting hardship resulting from the required utility
deposits from utility customers and we therefore strongly encourage the IURC to
adopt rules which would establish utility deposits to be the average of one (1)
month of a yearly billing
Section IV. The Common Council further encourages the IURC to adopt
rules and regulations that continue to use credit worthiness and not credit scoring
when determining whether a consumer would be required to pay a deposit.
Section V. This Resolution shall be in full force and effect from and after
its adoption by the Common Council and approval by the Mayor.
Council Member, AI " ddy" Kirsits
Utilities Committee Chairperson
Member of the Common Council
►� -- GIs .h
�PFeaew&dby me to the Mayor of the City of South Bend, Indiana, on the
f->00"'.r , 2004, at (V-50 o'clock 0. . m.
Janice Voom
Deputy City Clerk
,iry�,^� r.� , 11
�ixoved and u ""` by me on the 03 day of ,C/c?z� 2004, at
/,?o'clock ,g. m.
J. Lul cW, Mayor of the City of
PRESENTED �k- 2,2. -b�
NOT APPROVED
ADOPTED
Filed in Clerk's
IWt7W
TO THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND:
Your Committee of the Whole, to whom was referred:
BILL NO.
04 -125 A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA SUPPORTING THE REDUCTION
OF UTILITY DEPOSITS FOR LOW AND MIDDLE - INCOME
RESIDENTS
Respectfully report that they have examined the matter and that in their opinion, this bill
is being recommended to the full Council with a favorable recommendation.
Sean Coleman
Chairman