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. MaineHousing may issue direct checks to LIHEAP recipients who do not have a designated vendor in their area, who pay rent with heat included, or who receive their benefit for firewood, wood pellets, corn, coal, or bio-fuels. MaineHousing and Subgrantees encourage recipients to apply their benefits to their electric utility account if their benefit cannot be used for their primary or secondary heating system and the eligible household is responsible for their electric utility bill. Benefits are determined based on a household's selected fuel type. 9.2 How do you notify the client of the amount of assistance paid? Once the client's application has been approved for payment, MaineHousing mails a benefit notification letter to the Primary Applicant. The benefit notification letter shall: State the Benefit amount; • State the date the Benefit was sent to the Vendor; • State the approved Home Energy type; • State the time period for the Benefit; and • State the manner by which the Primary Applicant can requiet an informal review • 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? Vendor performance is ensured through Vendor Agreements, annual reports provided by contracted vendors, and on-site or desk monitoring. Additionally, vendors must submit detailed transaction reports with benefit returns to show delivery and payment activity/history for the LIHEAP client's account and must maintain a daily cash price log while an active vendor. 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 contract between MaineHousing and the vendor explicitly prohibits discrimination. Participating vendors must agree not to discriminate against any eligible household regarding the extension of credit to purchase Home Energy or other services, the price of Home Energy or other services, or the terms or conditions of the delivery of Home Energy or other services solely on the basis of its being an eligible household. Any accusations of discrimination are investigated. 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.