3. Special rate. Nothing in this section may be construed to prohibit a transmission and distribution utility from offering any special rate or program for low-income customers that is not in effect as of the effective date of this chapter, subject to the approval of the commission.

4. Financial support. If the Legislature appropriates from the General Fund trust created in section 3214-A does not generate sufficient funds for financial support for households and individuals receiving assistance under this section, the commission may not terminate the assistance provided by transmission and distribution utilities unless the General Fund source trust has completely replaced such assistance. The commission may adjust the assistance provided pursuant to this section based on the amount of any financial support from the General Fund and may reinstitute assistance subsequent to any termination of assistance if the commission finds that the General Fund source no longer completely replaces such assistance.

Sec. 5. 35-A MRSA §3214-A is enacted to read:

§3214-A.__Low-income Electric Consumer Trust Fund

1.__Definitions.__As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.

A.__"Authority" means the Maine State Housing Authority.

B.__"Program" means the electric utility bill payment assistance program.

C.__"Trust" means the Low-income Electric Consumer Trust Fund.

2.__Creation of trust fund.__To continue financial assistance for low-income households and to meet future increases in need caused by economic exigencies, there is created and established, under the jurisdiction and control of the Maine State Housing Authority, the Low-income Electric Consumer Trust Fund.

3.__Purpose of trust.__The purpose of the trust is to help fund an electric utility bill payment assistance program for residential customers with income of up to 150% of the federal poverty guidelines.__The program must be available to all qualified customers in accordance with eligibility criteria established by the authority in consultation with the Low-income