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. Payments are made directly to households in cases where there is not a fuel vendor. 1. Tenants: Utilities are included in the rent and eligible households are reimbursed based on paid rent receipts. 2. Account not in Household Member's Name: Vendor payments cannot be made to accounts that are not in a household member's name. Eligible households are reimbursed based on paid energy receipts. 3. Wood: Some eligible wood households are reimbursed based on paid wood receipts, up to the maximum amount of benefit. Eligible households heating with wood may receive their benefit directly without payment receipt(s). Households electing to receive direct benefits without paid wood receipt(s) must sign a waiver, waiving all future current year fuel assistance benefits, including any benefits derived from changing address or fuel type. 4. Coal: Some eligible households using coal to heat their homes will be reimbursed based on submitted paid coal receipts. Subsidized Rent Households: Residents of publicly subsidized rent housing whose energy costs are included as a portion of their rent, or who reside in publicly subsidized housing and have an obligation to pay a base load electric bill are not eligible for a regular benefit as determined in ARM 37.70.601. However, these households may be eligible for a modified LIHEAP benefit. The modified LIHEAP benefit consists of a minimum payment of $25 or 5% of the regular LIHEAP benefit is paid to the household annually. Basing payments to these households on the matrix will ensure that assistance is provided to them in proportion to need in accordance with LIHEAP statute (42 U.S. Code 8623) Applications and Requirements Section 2605 (b)(5). 9.2 How do you notify the client of the amount of assistance paid? Notification letters regarding approvals, denials and pending status are sent to each household. The notification letters are generated from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Chimes computer system. The local contractor must inform every applicant/ recipient in writing at the time of application and at the time any action affects his benefits of the right to request a fair hearing. The subgrantee shall notify every household: Of the eligibility determination of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) application and reason for any action if applicable. 1. Of the Notice of Fair Hearing rights. 2. If the applicant has been determined eligible for Weatherization, notification to the household shall contain the following: "Because of limited funds, homes are weatherized on a priority basis with special consideration given to disabled and elderly. You will be notified when funds become available to weatherize your home. If not notified within one year, you must reapply to be reassigned priority for service. If your home has been weatherized in the past, it may not be eligible to be weatherized again." 3. When recipients discontinue utility service, change address or fuel type, the balance of their Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) benefit will be returned to the department. 4. That the household who is reimbursed for paid energy costs must provide payment receipts no later than June 20th. When the heating season is extended the June 20 date, to submit paid receipts, can be extended to correspond with the heating season end date. 5. DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS: The notification letter is available on the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Chimes computer system. A hard copy of the notification letter will be available to the agency, upon request, for the recipient's case record. 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? Please see the attached copies of the local area vendor agreement and the vendor contract, which are used for fuel and crisis benefit payments. In addition, fuel vendors are visited during annual state monitoring visits. The vendor monitoring tool is attached. 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? Please see the attached copies of the local area vendor agreement and the vendor contract, which are used for fuel and crisis benefit payments. In addition, fuel vendors are visited during annual state monitoring visits. The vendor monitoring tool is 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.