§ 2-8. Water-for-All Program – Grant of Credit.
(a) In general.
Each eligible residential- or tenant-water-utility customer who submits a complete application, containing the information required by § 2-7 {"Water-for-All ... – Application for Program"} of this subtitle, shall receive a Water-for-All Credit as follows:
(1) Eligible residential-water-utility customers shall receive 1 fixed annual credit for each household. Only 1 credit is allowed per household per calendar year.
(2) Eligible tenant-water-utility customers shall receive only 1 annual credit per eligible customer. However, where there are multiple tenants sharing rent in a household, the credit shall be divided among those who are on the lease or rental agreement or who otherwise verify that they are eligible tenant-water-utility customers. For subleases, the credit shall be prorated for the time that the sublessee is an eligible tenant-water-utility customer living in that household.
(b) Amount of credit.
(1) Formula.
The Water-for-All Credit is determined by the formula
C = B – I x A
where
C = the Water-for-All Credit.
B = either:
(i) the recipient's estimated annual water and wastewater bill, inclusive of volumetric usage charges, the account management fee, and infrastructure charges, based on the recipient's historical average annual water usage and the projected rate schedule for the year; or
(ii) if water and wastewater utility service is master-metered and the owner bills the cost of service to a tenant-water-utility-customer on an allocated basis, the recipient's estimated annual water and wastewater bill, based on evidence of prior billings occurring during the tenant recipient's current lease or rental-agreement term and exclusive of the owner's administrative charges related to the allocation.
I = the recipient's estimated annual household income.
A = affordability threshold, as follows:
(i) if the recipient's annual household income is 50% or less than the federal government's official poverty income guidelines, A equals 1%;
(ii) if the recipient's annual household income is greater than 50% but not greater than 100% of the federal government's official poverty income guidelines, A equals 2%; and
(iii) if the recipient's annual household income is greater than 100% of the federal government's official poverty income guidelines, A equals 3%.
(2) Negative C.
For all negative values of C, the Water-for-All Credit is zero dollars.
(3) Proration.
The 1st annual Water-for-All Credit shall be prorated, accounting from the date of the recipient's enrollment in the Program.
(c) Calculating income.
In calculating annual household income for both eligibility and amount of the Water-for-All Credit, the Director shall use the same countable and non-countable income specified, in COMAR 07.03.22.04, as amended from time to time, by the Maryland Department of Human Resources for its "Electric Universal Service Program".