SB 512

Currently, each electric utility in this state, other than a municipal electric

utility, must charge customers a low-income assistance fee. The fees are deposited

in the utility public benefits fund and the amount of the fees is set by the Department

of Administration (DOA) by rule. Moneys in the utility public benefits fund are used

for low-income energy assistance grants, the Wisconsin Works program, and air

quality improvement. In addition, moneys in the utility public benefits fund are used

to partially pay the salaries and fringe benefits of district attorneys and state

employees of the office of the district attorney.

This bill provides that if the ending balance of the general fund for the 2009-10

fiscal year, as reported by DOA, exceeds the estimated ending gross balance of the

general fund under

2009 Wisconsin Act 28

(the biennial budget act), as reported by

the Legislative Fiscal Bureau, the secretary of administration, before January 1,

2011, must transfer from the general fund to the utility public benefits fund the

ending balance excess or $9,139,700, whichever is less. The amounts transferred to

the utility public benefits fund must be used to pay the salaries and fringe benefits

of district attorneys and state employees of the office of the district attorney. In

addition, the bill requires the secretary of administration, in calculating the

low-income assistance fee for the 2010-11 fiscal year, to deduct the amount

transferred from the general fund to the utility public benefits fund from the amount

of the low-income assistance fee that is determined for that fiscal year.