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The State of Connecticut will continue to work with local governments and other human services providers to implement localized information and referral systems that will address the needs of CEAP eligible households who have exhausted their benefits. Connecticut’s 2-1-1 will continue to serve as the referral network system and will work to identify services for CEAP households that will help to alleviate crises following exhaustion of benefits. Connecticut has established a new unified website for energy assistance access and reference at www.ct.gov/heatinghelp.

DSS will provide energy assistance notifications to all recipient households, informing them of the availability of benefits. In addition, referral flyers describing fuel assistance programs, weatherization services, energy conservation loans and private fuel bank assistance are made available online at www.ct.gov/heatinghelp and in DSS, Department of Motor Vehicles, and CAA offices. CAAs will continue to operate and maintain a network of approximately 180 intake sites throughout the state (e.g., senior citizen centers, municipal social services offices). In addition, CAAs will assist homebound households in applying for CEAP benefits. This may involve the use of online, telephone and mail-in applications or outreach visits to households with homebound members.

CAAs use a single application to determine eligibility for CEAP and income eligibility for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Weatherization Assistance Program. DSS introduced a new online application in 2021 and has worked to enhance the application, including adding mobile device optimization. In addition to the U.S. Department of Energy’s weatherization program, services under the Home Energy Solutions- Income Eligible program are also supported by the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund, which provides weatherization measures to help income eligible residents reduce their energy bills by making their homes more energy efficient. DSS will also continue to work with Eversource, United Illuminating and the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority regarding notification and implementation of the low-income discount rate for eligible households, including CEAP households.

Efforts will be made to identify other energy resources, municipal, charitable, or private (such as Operation Fuel, the Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines Fund, and the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority), which may be available to low-income households. The Department will work with these providers, other state agencies, and municipalities to establish a coordinated response to alleviate potential crises due to a low- income household's inability to pay for heat. This response may include such actions as providing alternative housing arrangements (e.g., referral to shelters), as well as direct service intervention, when appropriate, by protective services agencies.

Operation Fuel is a private, non-profit organization that distributes privately raised funds through a network of fuel banks that accept and approve applications from households in need of emergency fuel deliveries or protection against utility shutoffs. Those households that meet the Operation Fuel guidelines are issued referrals by the CAA for these benefits. In addition, if funding permits, Operation Fuel can provide limited assistance to CEAP eligible households who are facing a crisis because they have exhausted all available CEAP benefits, or because they did not apply for CEAP benefits by the required deadlines.

XIX. ASSURANCE 16 ACTIVITIES

In accordance with LIHEAP regulations, and contingent upon the availability of funds, CAAs will provide enhanced case management to assist low-income households in reducing their overall energy needs/burden. Such services include, but are not limited to, vendor mediation, budget counseling, interfacing with other non-profit fuel assistance programs, and energy conservation services. These services are aimed at enabling households to achieve a greater degree of self-sufficiency, thereby reducing, or eliminating their need for energy assistance services.