9 Energy Suppliers,, 2605(b)(7) - Assurance 7

9.1 Do you make payments directly to home energy suppliers? Heating Yes No Cooling Yes No Crisis Yes No Are there exceptions? Yes No If yes, Describe. Community-Based Organizations, except for the Central Delta Community Action Agency (CDCAA), make payments to home energy suppliers. Arkansas Energy Office makes payments on behalf of CDCAA. 9.2 How do you notify the client of the amount of assistance paid? Community-Based Organizations send a Notice of Action (AEO 2001) which details the status of their application. This information includes whether the application was approved or denied. If denied, it includes the reason for denial. If approved, the information includes the LIHEAP payment amount and the name of the energy supplier. 9.3 How do you assure that the home energy supplier will charge the eligible household, in the normal billing process, the difference between the actual cost of the home energy and the amount of the payment? Community-Based Organizations, prior to making a direct payment, must have a signed supplier agreement with the energy supplier. The agreement outlines LIHEAP policies and regulations that govern the energy supplier when accepting LIHEAP payments; LIHEAP client rights are outlined in the agreement as well. The LIHEAP Arkansas Home Energy Supplier Agreement, Item C, between the energy supplier and the Community-Based Organization, states that the recipients will be charged using the "Normal Billing Process." This is the difference between the actual cost of the home energy and the amount of all payments, including the LIHEAP payment. The energy supplier is subject to monitoring by the Arkansas Energy Office and the Community-Based Organization in order to assure compliance. Any client complaint of not seeing the LIHEAP payment as a credit on his/her account is investigated. 9.4 How do you assure that no household receiving assistance under this title will be treated adversely because of their receipt of LIHEAP assistance? This is included in the Supplier Agreement established between each energy supplier and the Community-Based Organization. Also, the Arkansas Energy Office and the Community-Based Organizations follow up on any client complaints. 9.5. Do you make payments contingent on unregulated vendors taking appropriate measures to alleviate the energy burdens of eligible households? Yes No If so, describe the measures unregulated vendors may take. Attach a copy of the template statewide vendor agreement or a policy that indicates local agreements must adhere to statewide policies and assurances. If any of the above questions require further explanation or clarification that could not be made in the fields provided, attach a document with said explanation here.