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EAP Policy Manual FFY24 Chapter 4 Primary Heat Page 11

Using Primary Heat in Emergencies When households apply for EAP with an energy emergency, Primary Heat benefits are used before any other funds, if possible. If the household has Primary Heat payments designated for the emergency vendor, these payments are used before any Crisis funds. Payments designated for non-emergency vendors may be used as needed if Crisis funds do not resolve the emergency. For more, see Chapter 5 - Crisis. Primary Heat Payments for Electric Vendors A portion of a household’s benefit will automatically be used to pay their electric vendor. If households have specific preferences about how their different energy vendors are paid, they can request such arrangements on their application or by contacting their service provider. For more information on energy vendor payments, see Chapter 8 - Benefit Payments and Refunds. Primary Heat Payments for Biofuel Primary Heat payments for biofuel must go to a biofuel vendor when possible. Service Providers must maintain knowledge of their service area’s biofuel vendors and should make direct payments for biofuel when no vendor is available or the vendor does not have usable biofuel (e.g. seasoned wood). Service Providers must document there is no biofuel vendor or usable biofuel available in eHEAT ‘Crisis’ or ‘Completion’ screen notes. Work with the household on: • Direct payment to the household for biofuel. • Payment to the electric vendor, if applicable. • Payment to the non-biofuel energy vendor, if applicable. Appendices 4A – Cost Based Matrix 4B – Back-Up Matrix 4C – Biofuel Worksheet