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EAP Policy Manual FFY24 Chapter 8 Benefit Payments and Refunds Page 4 do so. To receive payment, the energy vendor must be included in the household’s energy vendor list on eHEAT. Make the initial payments to the previous energy vendor and make energy vendor changes as needed. Target these households for payment plans. Payments to Households Direct Payments Households may receive direct payments under limited circumstances. First determine any Primary Heat benefits to the household’s electric or other heating energy vendors based on the household’s needs. Make direct Primary Heat payments to households in the following circumstances: • All energy utilities, electric and heat are included in the rent. • Certain situations where heat is in rent (HIR) and the household pays an electric vendor. (See Heat in Rent; Household Pays an Electric Vendor below.) • A biofuel vendor or usable biofuel (e.g., seasoned wood) is not available. Biofuel payments must go to a biofuel vendor whenever possible. Service Providers must maintain knowledge of the biofuel vendors in their service area. Households in this situation are also eligible for direct pay Crisis payments if they have less than 10 days of biofuel.The Service Provider must document there is no biofuel vendor or usable biofuel available in the eHEAT Crisis screen notes. • The household’s energy vendor(s) refused to sign the energy vendor agreement. • The household is unable to secure an energy vendor. Note: Reimbursements to applicants for payments made to energy vendors are not allowed. Heat in Rent; Household Pays an Electric Vendor Primary Heat benefits are first distributed to the household’s electric vendor. eHEAT automatically calculates payments for distribution to the household’s electric vendor equal to the household’s annual electric cost or $400, whichever is greater. Any remaining amount is distributed as a direct payment to the household. If the Primary Heat benefit is less than $400, the entire benefit is distributed to the household’s electric vendor. Example 1: Primary Heat benefit is $300. Annual electric cost is $500. • The Primary Heat benefit is less than $400. • The entire Primary Heat benefit goes to the electric vendor.