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. Direct heating payments to an applicant will only be made under the following conditions:The energy supplier has not signed a contractualagreement with the State of Missouri to participate in the LIHEAP. The energy supplier refuses to serve a particular account holder. The energysupplier fails to accept or deny the LIHEAP payment by the required thirty (30) calendar day deadline.The applicant’s home energy cost isincluded as an undesignated portion of their regular monthly rental charge.The applicant pays a landlord for the home energy cost that is not included in their rental agreement. Cylinder propane is used as the home energy heat source. Kerosene is used as the home energy heat source. Wood/wood pellets/corn pellets are used as the home energy heat source.In these circumstances, the applicant is responsible for making the payment and negotiating directly with the Energy Supplier to resolve their energy bill. ECIP payments are only made to suppliers who have either signed an agreement with the DSS or with the contracted agency and are not made directly to the client. 9.2 How do you notify the client of the amount of assistance paid? The Energy Assistance (EA) Eligibility Notice (EA-6) provides the client the amount of EA assistance paid to them directly or will be paid to the supplier. The EA-6 is mailed to the client when the application is determined eligible. Copies of the computer-generated notification (EA-6) are included with the attachment to this state plan. The Energy Assistance Payment Notice (EA-7) is mailed to the applicant after the payment is made to the supplier. It includes the date, amount of the payment, and the energy supplier paid. Copies of the computer-generated notification (EA-7) are included with the attachments to this state plan. When an ECIP payment is made to the energy supplier, the contracted agency sends a client notification letter to the applicant which advises the applicant of the date, amount of payment, and the name of the energy supplier. 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? The LIHEAP Supplier Agreement between Missouri Department of Social Services and The Home Energy Supplier states the energy supplier, “Shall provide energy fuels in the amount at least equivalent to the amount of pledge made by the State Agency on behalf of the eligible customer; restore and/or continue service during the service period covered by the payment for at least thirty (30) calendar days from the date of pledge made on behalf of the eligible customer for whom the Supplier has agreed to accept the LIHEAP pledge”. In addition, states in part, “Shall credit, through normal billing process, the full amount of the LIHEAP payment received to an eligible customer’s account”. 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 LIHEAP Supplier Agreement between the Missouri Department of Social Services and the Home Energy Supplier Agreement states, “Shall not discriminate with regard to the terms or conditions of sale, availability of credit, delivery or price of home energy fuels offered to eligible customers in relation to its other residential customers”. Energy Supplier complaints are referred to the Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC) for regulated suppliers and the Missouri Attorney General’s Office (AGO) for unregulated suppliers. 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.