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EAP Policy Manual FFY24 Chapter 15 Energy Vendors Page 9 Energy Assistance Benefits The energy assistance program provides Primary Heat and Crisis benefits as described in this section as well as Furnace Repair and Replacement services as described in Chapter 6 – Energy Related Repairs of the EAP Policy Manual. Households, Service Providers and energy vendors each play a unique and important role in ensuring accurate and efficient program services and delivery. The Service Provider ultimately determines benefits and approves fuel deliveries. The program cannot pay for deliveries made at the discretion of the household and energy vendor. Collaboration and Outreach The energy vendor must work with Service Providers to: • Identify potential applicants for EAP. • Refer potential applicants for EAP Emergency Services including Crisis and Energy Related Repair. • Avoid charges and fees to maximize public resources whenever possible. Primary Heat The Primary Heat benefit addresses low income households’ ability to maintain affordable and continuous energy by providing grants to lower their energy burden. Primary Heat payments can be used for: • Future fuel costs. • Arrearages and current bill amounts for electricity and heating fuels. • Delivered fuel or emergency fuel. • Fees including pressure tests, leak seek, line bleeding, tank setting, tank rental, membership, after hours delivery costs, reconnection and service deposits. • Removal of load limiters. • Previous energy vendor (see Chapter 8 – Benefit Payments and Refunds). The Service Provider will always provide a household’s Primary Heat payment(s) before Crisis payments. Crisis EAP Crisis benefits are used to prevent shut-off of residential energy, reinstate service of residential energy, and enable delivery of residential fuel. Crisis requests must be addressed