1. (a) The allowable utility costs of an assistance unit that does not have the standard heating and utility allowance applied under 7 AAC 45.529 will be determined under this section, and are limited to

   1. (1) electricity;
   2. (2) basic, single-line telephone service;
   3. (3) water, including water delivery;
   4. (4) sewage disposal, including pumping of septic tanks and holding tanks and commercial honey-bucket service;
   5. (5) garbage collection, including pickup of recyclable household containers; and
   6. (6) home heating, cooking, or lighting fuel, including fuel oil, natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, coal, wood, and other home heating, cooking, or lighting fuel.
2. (b) Except as provided in (d) of this section, the anticipated monthly cost incurred by an assistance unit for each utility cost under (a) of this section will be included in an assistance unit's total monthly utility costs under 7 AAC 45.528(a)(5).
3. (c) An applicant shall provide documentation of the anticipated monthly cost for each allowable utility expense in order to have the utility cost allowed under (b) of this section.
4. (d) If an applicant provides evidence that the assistance unit incurs, at least annually, a direct, itemized cost for a utility expense that is listed in (e) of this section, the applicable standard utility allowance in (e) of this section is the assistance unit's total monthly utility allowance for that type of utility expense. However, if an assistance unit qualifies to have a monthly utility cost determined under either (b) or (e) of this section, the department will determine the cost according to the method that results in the higher allowance to the assistance unit.

5. (e) The following regional standard utility allowances apply to assistance units under (d) of this section:

   1. (1) for assistance units that incur expenses for electricity:
   2. (2) for assistance units that incur costs for telephone service:
   3. (3) for assistance units that incur costs for water:
   4. (4) for assistance units that incur costs for sewage disposal:

   Utility RegionMonthly Electricity

   Cost AllowanceCentral$ 58Northern 73Northwest 147Southcentral 73Southeast 68Southwest 133;

   Utility RegionMonthly Telephone

   Cost AllowanceCentral$ 22Northern 25Northwest 25Southcentral 26Southeast 23Southwest 30;

   Utility RegionMonthly Water Cost

   AllowanceCentral$ 35Northern 42Northwest 50Southcentral 28Southeast 23Southwest 30;

   Utility RegionMonthly Sewage Disposal

   Cost AllowanceCentral$ 22Northern 35Northwest 48Southcentral 33Southeast 38Southwest 34.

(Eff. 2/27/97, Register 141; am 10/1/97, Register 143; am 10/1/2001, Register 159; am 1/7/2005, Register 173)

Authority: AS 47.05.010, AS 47.27.005