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. Heat in Rent applicants receive a check directly from Subgrantees, provided that their tenancy is verified by the landlord or management company. 9.2 How do you notify the client of the amount of assistance paid? Applicants are notified through a Notice of Eligibility Determination. Program guidelines require the Notice to be sent within 45 days of application completion. H-EAT households are notified of their qualification on a rolling basis through notices sent by DTA that are issued after a bi-weekly data match. 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? The Vendor Agreement details how the vendor must treat the HEAP customers. This includes proper costs and payments requirements. Further, the HEAP Program Directors' Guidance instructs Subgrantees regarding the methods to be used to ensure the vendor is following the business practices/procedures indicated in the Vendor Agreement. Additionally, a review of payments and charges are a part of the monitoring conducted by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 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 participating vendors must agree in the Vendor Agreement not to discriminate against the certified HEAP customer in prices or services and to make deliveries/supply services in accordance with normal business practice. 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.