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. When utilities are included in rent, IHCDA will pay the client directly. • When the applicant is a customer of a utility provider that has declined to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement with IHCDA or will not comply with the rules of the program, IHCDA will pay the client directly. • If a client heats primarily with wood, pellets, or other biofuels, the local subrecipient will pay the client's crisis benefit directly to the client unless the local subrecipient contracts with the vendor directly, in which case the subgrantee pays the vendor. In both cases, IHCDA reimburses the subrecipient. • If a client heats primarily with wood, pellets, or other biofuels, IHCDA will pay the client's regular benefit directly to the client unless the local subrecipient contracts with the vendor directly, in which case the subgrantee pays the vendor and IHCDA reimburses the subrecipient. • 9.2 How do you notify the client of the amount of assistance paid? All clients who apply for EAP receive a letter via postal mail and/or e-mail informing them if they are approved or denied and gives them information on their right to appeal. The benefit letter has the amount of assistance and a list of vendors that were paid on their behalf. EAP clients having utilities included in the rent or heating primarily with biofuels receive a letter explaining that a check will be mailed to them or a direct deposit will be made to their bank account along with information about their right to appeal. 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? All policies and procedures are outlined in the vendor agreement, which is renewed every two years. The agreement contains all information related to the distribution of LIHEAP benefits and billing. The vendor agreement must be signed and returned to IHCDA before any payments are made to the vendor. The vendor agreement requires that the customer accounts are credited at their receipt of a transmittal from the local service provider (subgrantee), and that any credits remaining after being applied to current charges be carried forward as an account credit. Vendor payments are made through a centralized payment system. All policies and procedures are outlined in the vendor agreement, which is renewed every two years. The agreement contains all information related to the distribution of LIHEAP benefits and billing. The vendor agreement must be signed and returned to IHCDA before any payments are made to the vendor. The vendor agreement requires that the customer accounts are credited at their receipt of a transmittal from the local service provider (subrecipient), and that any credits remaining after being applied to current charges be carried forward as an account credit. Vendor payments are made through a centralized payment system. IHCDA also monitors vendors to ensure that payments are being applied correctly. 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? The vendor agreement referred to in 9.3 includes the following requirement: Equal Treatment. Vendor shall not treat any household receiving EAP benefits adversely because of such EAP assistance, including but not limited to charging different or additional fees, costs, rates, or other such charges on the basis of a household’s qualification for or receipt of EAP benefits. We hav a vendor monitoring process in place. While we select vendors for monitroing at random, we may choose to ensure a specific vendor is monitored if we receive a whistleblower report of customer mistreatment or noncompliance with requirements. 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.