Protection for vulnerable households using piped gas

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1. The bill would extend the social bonus to natural gas and other piped gases. There could be several categories of vulnerable consumers and more than one last-resort rate.
2. It would ban shutting off supply for severely vulnerable consumers who receive the social bonus and are being assisted by social services due to risk of social exclusion. This would only apply to individuals in their primary home, proven with a document from social services.
3. For the vulnerable consumers set by regulation, supply could only be cut for non-payment after four months from the first payment request. Supply could also never be cut for social bonus holders between November 1 and March 31.
4. Gas retailers (or the parent companies of their groups) would cover the social bonus and, up to a cap, co-fund the cost of supply for severely vulnerable consumers. The National Markets and Competition Commission would calculate the sharing percentage each year.
5. The Government would have three months to approve a royal decree implementing the bill, and would cooperate in creating a registry of supply points for these severely vulnerable consumers.

Who it affects

• Low-income households using piped gas, if recognized as vulnerable.: They could get the social bonus and more time before a cutoff for non-payment.
• Severely vulnerable consumers assisted by social services.: Their gas at their primary home could not be shut off.
• Gas retailers and their corporate groups.: They would bear the social bonus cost and a capped co-funding of protected supply.
• Public administrations with unpaid gas bills.: Interest would accrue after two months and supply could be cut after four months.

Words worth knowing

Bono social (social bonus)

A discount on the energy bill for lower-income consumers.

Tarifa de último recurso (last-resort rate)

A maximum price set by the Government, paid by some consumers instead of the free market price.

Consumidor vulnerable severo (severely vulnerable consumer)

A consumer with very low income, assisted by social services and at risk of social exclusion.

Obligación de servicio público (public service obligation)

A duty the law imposes on gas companies in the general interest.

It summarizes the text as it was introduced. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries