2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 20 - Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Energy and Aqueduct and Sewer Service Subsidy Reform and Debt Payoff Act (§§ 801 — 831) › Subchapter II - General Provisions (§§ 811 — 831) › § 821 - Adoption of the subsidized electric power service flat rate for public housing project customers

(a) PRASA and PREPA shall establish a flat monthly rate for customers residing in public housing projects owned by the Public Housing Administration.
(b) PREPA’s flat rate created by virtue of this chapter shall comply with the following parameters:
(1) Shall be the rate stated below in this subsection and shall establish the following monthly consumption limits, which shall be subject to review according to the study required in paragraph (4) of this subsection:
Number of Bedrooms Flat Rate Maximum Consumption (kWh) 1 $30.00 600 2 or 3 $40.00 800 4 or 5 $50.00 1000
(2) If the customer exceeds the consumption limit established by PREPA, every excess kWh shall be billed at the same rate kWh’s are billed to non-subsidized residential customers.
(3) The cost of this subsidy shall be defrayed as provided in §§ 1061 et seq. of this title, known as the “Electric Power Authority Revitalization Act”.
(4) Within a term not exceeding eighteen (18) months after the approval of this act, CEPPO shall conduct and publish a study on the use of electric power in public housing projects in order to determine the need and suitability of rates and the amount of kilowatt-hour (kWh) applicable to the flat rate that allows PREPA and the Puerto Rico Energy Commission to determine the need to revise the limits established in clause (1) of this subsection, and adjust the same so as to promote efficient energy use.
(c) The flat rate for water and sewer services created by virtue of this chapter shall comply with the following parameters:
(1) A monthly water consumption limit of ten cubic meters (10m3) shall be established for housing units with one (1) or two (2) bedrooms.
(2) A monthly water consumption limit of fifteen cubic meters (15m3) shall be established for housing units with three (3) or more bedrooms.
(3) If the customer exceeds the consumption limit imposed by PRASA on the flat rate, every excess cubic meter or fraction thereof shall be billed at the same rate that cubic meters are billed to non-subsidized residential customers.
(4) PRASA shall establish the item from which the cost of this subsidy shall be defrayed.
(d) Conditions to receive and keep the subsidized flat rate in public housing projects.
(a) Every customer interested in availing him/herself of the subsidized flat rate created by virtue of this chapter shall meet the following requirements, as well any other requirement imposed under this chapter and the regulations adopted by PRASA and PREPA:
(1) To reside in a housing unit physically located within a public housing project attached to the Public Housing Administration.
(2) That no complaint, notice, or administrative fine has been filed against him/her due to meter tampering, electricity or water theft.
(b) Every customer who avails him/herself of the subsidized flat rate created by virtue of this chapter, shall lose said benefit and be immediately transferred to the general residential rate or any other rate for which he/she may be eligible for any of the following reasons:
(1) PRASA or PREPA, as the case may be, determines that the meter associated with the account of the customer has been modified or tampered with without the express consent of PRASA or PREPA, as the case may be.
(2) The customer or any member of his/her family unit living under the same roof is found guilty of meter tampering or sabotage of essential services.
(3) The customer includes false documents or provides false information in the application for a subsidized flat rate.
(4) The customer no longer resides in a housing unit located within a public housing project.
History —Apr. 7, 2016, No. 22, § 3.9.