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II. ADMINISTRATION

The Department of Social Services’ responsibilities in the administration of CEAP are to: A. Prepare and submit the LIHEAP Block Grant Allocation Plan to the Governor and, following legislative approval, submit the Plan to the federal government.

B. Compile and submit any program reports required under state and federal law to the appropriate bodies.

C. Act as grantee agency for the state for all LIHEAP funds.

D. Ensure coordination of CEAP with other energy and conservation assistance programs offered by the state and other public or private entities.

E. Contract with CAAs or any other non-profit or for-profit entities to provide standardized services to all eligible households, including those households receiving assistance from other DSS programs, and to process applications from any such households wishing to apply for benefits.

F. Execute agreements with energy vendors to ensure program standardization and provide current lists of eligible vendors to DSS contractors.

G. Ensure vendors are paid no later than ten business days after the CAA’s receipt of an authorized fuel slip or invoice for payment from the vendor.

G. Explore CEAP eligibility for households whose Temporary Family Assistance benefits are being discontinued as a result of time limitations. I. Provide informational materials to inform clients in writing of other energy and conservation-related programs administered or funded by the state.

J. Allocate personnel resources necessary to provide reasonable protection against client or vendor fraud, develop anti-fraud strategies designed to strengthen program integrity, maintain a fraud referral method for reporting suspected program abuse, and investigate all reported claims of suspected program abuse.

K. Track carryforward funds from prior program years.

L. Develop an estimated budget of total expenditures for the program year and, for DSS and each contracting agency, a line-item budget of administrative expenditures for CEAP. The budget shall be based on the release of the block grant funding level or, if the release is delayed, then the assumption that the block grant will be funded at the prior program year’s level.

M. Provide the price per gallon for home heating oil purchased under CEAP.

N. Track the number of gallons of home heating oil purchased under CEAP, the price paid through CEAP, the average retail price, and savings per gallon. O. Monitor the performance of the CAAs and program vendors in delivering services and in reporting to DSS.