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Section 2: Legislative Protections and Obligations 2.1 The 16 Assurances The federal LIHEAP Statute (see Appendix D – Federal LIHEAP Statute) requires grantees to meet certain conditions, known as the 16 Assurances. As a Subrecipient, each LSP administering LIHEAP agrees to meet these conditions as well. The Assurances state that the Grantee will: 1. Conduct outreach activities and provide assistance to low-income households in meeting their home energy costs, particularly those with the lowest incomes that pay a high proportion of household income for home energy; intervene in energy crisis situations; provide low-cost residential weatherization and other cost-effective energy-related home repair; and not to use these funds for any other purposes; 2. Ensure that all program recipients meet the defined income qualifications; 3. Conduct outreach activities designed to assure that vulnerable population households and high energy burden households are made aware of the assistance available to them under this program; 4. Coordinate administration of LIHEAP with similar and related programs administered by the Federal Government and the State, particularly low-income energy-related programs; 5. Provide, in a timely manner, that the highest level of assistance will be provided to those households with the lowest income levels and the highest energy cost or needs, taking into account household size; 6. Designate local administrative agencies to carry out the program, giving special consideration to any local public or private nonprofit agency which was receiving Federal funds under any low-income energy assistance or weatherization program; 7. Notify each participating household of the amount of assistance being paid on its behalf; assure that the utility vendor, regulated or unregulated, will apply the benefit to the client’s bill fairly, honestly, and without discrimination on the basis of receiving such service; and abide by all other terms and conditions agreed upon in the MOA; 8. Allow everyone an equal opportunity to apply for LIHEAP, and treat renters and homeowners equitably; 9. Ensure that any overspending on planning or administration of LIHEAP beyond the allowable admin line item is paid for out of unrestricted, non-federal funds (i.e., an agency may not use CSBG funds to augment for overspending); 10. Establish appropriate fiscal controls and fund accounting procedures as necessary to monitor compliance to the requirements of the program;