The “Lifeline Credit Program” shall consist of an annual credit against the electric or gas utility bill of each eligible residential electric or gas customer at his principal residence. Such credit shall be applied to the electric or gas utility bills of such customer as soon as may be practicable, but in no case later than the bills issued in October of each year or as soon thereafter as eligibility is determined, and shall be applied to each subsequent utility bill after the first until the full amount of the credit is exhausted. No household shall receive more than one annual credit. In the event that electric and gas are provided to the same customer by the same utility, the total annual credit shall be applied to the combined bills from such utility. In the event that electric and gas are provided to the same customer by two separate utilities, half of the total annual credit shall be applied to the bills from each such utility. The annual credit shall be $200.00. Subject to the availability of appropriations, the level of credit shall be increased to $225.00 beginning in October, 1984.

L.1979, c. 197, s. 3, eff. Sept. 18, 1979. Amended by L.1980, c. 92, s. 4, eff. Aug. 26, 1980; L.1981, c. 292, s. 1; L.1982, c. 140, s. 1; L.1983, c. 251, s. 1.