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. Payments are made directly to home energy providers, except for households where heating costs are included in the rent. In these cases, a check is mailed directly to the household. 9.2 How do you notify the client of the amount of assistance paid? Every eligible household is issued a benefit letter detailing the awarded benefit amount. Payments for households with utility heating are made directly to the utility companies by the Community Action Agencies (CAAs), except for those made by the Department of Social Services (DSS) to utilities on behalf of the Community Action Agency of New Haven, Inc. These payments appear as credits on the household's utility bill. Households using deliverable fuel must contact their CAA when they require fuel and are informed of their remaining benefit balance before the authorization of each fuel delivery. 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? Participating fuel vendors who deliver are required to sign a document agreeing not to charge clients any additional amount for deliveries made through the program, even if their retail price exceeds the margin over rack price. 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? All home energy suppliers, with the exception of wood and coal, must sign an agreement outlining the conditions of their participation. 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.