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. Crisis Assistance: Benefits are issued weekly through SIGMA for SER applications that are approved and certified in the DHHS Bridges' system. Bridges sends information to SIGMA for SER's that have been approved and certified which then generates a payment directly to the energy provider either by a mailed warrant or direct deposit. Home Heating Credit: Benefits are issued either as an energy draft or vendor payment based on the applicant's heating obligation. If the household has a direct responsibility to an energy provider for heating costs the vendor payment is issued and either mailed to the recipient to submit to their energy provider to be applied to their energy account or issued to the energy provider directly through direct deposit. Currently, there are four major energy providers which have direct deposit for vendor payment. When the heat is included in the rent, the energy draft is issued directly to the recipient. 9.2 How do you notify the client of the amount of assistance paid? Crisis Assistance: Clients are issued a DHS-1419 SER Decision Notice when approved for an SER. The Decision Notice issued notifies the client of the SER approval and amount to be paid to the energy provider. Heating Assistance: Recipients of the HHC that are approved for the amount in which they calculated on the HHC application are not issued a notice, instead, they are issued the vendor payment to submit to their energy provider. Recipients that have service with one of the four energy providers that participate in direct deposit are notified of the amount paid directly to their energy provider by a notice mailed to them. As well, recipients in which the amount they calculated on the HHC application differs than what they are eligibile for are issued a Heat Credit Adjustment Letter. In case of HHC supplements provided, recipients are issued a statement notifying them of the amount of assistance paid to their energy provider as a result of the supplement. See examples of notices attached. 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? Each energy provider is required to sign a Participation Agreement for LIHEAP. The agreement form outlines conditions for participation as a LIHEAP provider. The first condition on the form requires that, "The energy supplier of furnace contractor shall not charge the eligible household any more than the expected difference between the normal charge for the service and the payment amount received or expected from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS)." 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? Energy providers are required to sign a participation agreement that assures non-discrimination against eligible households. Payments for energy services and energy drafts may be accepted only by enrolled energy providers. Local DHHS offices have access to the provider file through online inquiry and a provider list is provided to MEAP grantees on a monthly basis. Payments may only be authorized to enrolled providers. The Department of Treasury will not redeem energy drafts submitted by non-enrolled energy providers. Home repair service providers must agree to non-discrimination provisions before payment will be made from the SER energy services component. All home repair service providers must be licensed by the State of Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. The Authorization/Invoice utilized for the program must be signed by the provider to assure the provider's agreement with these provisions. SER Program Policy works with energy providers directly as issues arise to resolve matters quickly. If an energy provider fails to comply with the DHS-355 Participation Agreement, DHHS may revoke or cancel the agreement with the energy provider and no longer work with the provider for energy payments made by DHHS. See DHS-355 Participation Agreement attached. 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.