---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 2624"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "2624"
heading: "Lifeline rates"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/2624"
units:
  - "Chapter 46 — Public Utility Regulatory Policies"
  - "Subchapter II — Standards for Electric Utilities"
---

# §2624. Lifeline rates

- (a) **Lower rates—** No provision of this chapter prohibits a [State regulatory authority](/usc/16/2602.md?p=17) (with respect to an [electric utility](/usc/16/2602.md?p=4) for which it has [ratemaking authority](/usc/16/2602.md?p=11)) or a [nonregulated electric utility](/usc/16/2602.md?p=9) from fixing, approving, or allowing to go into effect a [rate](/usc/16/2602.md?p=10) for essential needs (as defined by the [State regulatory authority](/usc/16/2602.md?p=17) or by the [nonregulated electric utility](/usc/16/2602.md?p=9), as the case may be) of residential [electric consumers](/usc/16/2602.md?p=5) which is lower than a [rate](/usc/16/2602.md?p=10) under the standard referred to in [section 2621(d)(1) of this title](/usc/16/2621.md?p=d-1).
- (b) **Determination—** If any [State regulated electric utility](/usc/16/2602.md?p=18) or [nonregulated electric utility](/usc/16/2602.md?p=9) does not have a lower [rate](/usc/16/2602.md?p=10) as described in [subsection (a)](#a) in effect two years after November 9, 1978, the [State regulatory authority](/usc/16/2602.md?p=17) having [ratemaking authority](/usc/16/2602.md?p=11) with respect to such [State regulated electric utility](/usc/16/2602.md?p=18) or the [nonregulated electric utility](/usc/16/2602.md?p=9), as the case may be, shall determine, after an [evidentiary hearing](/usc/16/2602.md?p=6), whether such a [rate](/usc/16/2602.md?p=10) should be implemented by such utility.
- (c) **Prior proceedings—** [Section 2634 of this title](/usc/16/2634.md) shall not apply to the requirements of this section.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 95–617, title I, § 114, Nov. 9, 1978, 92 Stat. 3124.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

This chapter, referred to in subsec. (a), was in the original “this title”, meaning title I (§ 101 et seq.) of Pub. L. 95–617, Nov. 9, 1978, 92 Stat. 3120, which enacted subchapters I to IV of this chapter and section 6808 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, and amended sections 6802 to 6807 of Title 42. For complete classification of title I to the Code, see Tables.