14 Leveraging Incentive Program ,2607A

14.1 Do you plan to submit an application for the leveraging incentive program? Yes No 14.2 Describe instructions to any third parties and/or local agencies for submitting LIHEAP leveraging resource information and retaining records. Protocol for submission on leveraging activities to OTDA: Submission of data on leveraging activities is due to NYS OTDA by October 15th of each year. OTDA instructs third parties and/or local agencies to follow the requirements of 45 CFR 96.87(d) in all submissions for the LIHEAP leveraging incentive program. Those requirements are as follows: d) Basic requirements for leveraged resources and benefits. (1) In order to be counted under the leveraging incentive program, leveraged resources and benefits must meet all of the following five criteria: (i) They are from non-federal sources (ii) They are provided to the grantee's low-income home energy assistance program, or to federally qualified low-income households as described in section 2605(b)(2) of Public Law 97-35 (42 U.S.C. 8624 (b)(2)). (iii) They are measurable and quantifiable in dollars. (iv) They represent a net addition to the total home energy resources available to low-income households in excess of the amount of such resources that could be acquired by these households through the purchase of home energy, or the purchase of items that help these households meet the cost of home energy, at commonly available household rates or costs, or that could be obtained with regular LIHEAP allotments provided under section 2602(b) of Public Law 97-35 (42 U.S.C. 8621(b)). (v) They meet the requirements for countable leveraged resources and benefits throughout this section and section 2607A of Public Law 97-35 (42 U.S.C. 8626(a)). (2) Also, in order to be counted under the leveraging incentive program, leveraged resources and benefits must meet at least one of the following three criteria: (i) The grantee's LIHEAP program had an active, substantive role in developing and/or acquiring the resource/benefits from home energy vendor(s) through negotiation, regulation and/or competitive bid. The actions or efforts of one or more staff of the grantee's LIHEAP program- at the central and/or local level- and/or one or more staff of LIHEAP program subrecipient(s) acting in that capacity, were substantial and significant in obtaining the resource/benefits from the vendor(s). (ii) The grantee appropriated or mandated the resource/benefit for distribution to low-income households through (that is, within and a part of) its LIHEAP program. The resource/benefit are provided through the grantee's LIHEAP program to low-income households eligible under the grantee's LIHEAP standards, in accordance with the LIHEAP statue and regulations and consistent with the grantee's LIHEAP plan and program policies that were in effect during the base period, as if they were provided from the grantee's federal LIHEAP allotment. (iii) The grantee appropriated or mandated the resource/benefits for distribution to low-income households as described in its LIHEAP Plan (referred to in section 2605(c)(1)(A) of Public Law 97-35) (42 U.S.C. 8624(c)(1)(A)). The resource/benefits are provided to low-income households as a supplement and/or alternative to the grantee's LIHEAP program, outside (that is, not through, within, or as part of) the LIHEAP program. The resource/benefits are integrated and coordinated with the grantee's LIHEAP program. Before the end of the base period, the Plan identifies and describes the resource/benefits, their source(s), and their integration/coordination with the LIHEAP program. The Department will determine resources/benefits to be integrated and coordinated with the LIHEAP program if they meet at least one of the eight conditions. If a resource meets at least one of conditions A through F when the grantee's LIHEAP program is operating (and meets all other applicable requirements), the resource also is countable when the LIHEAP program is not operating. 14.3 For each type of resource and/or benefit to be leveraged in the upcoming year that will meet the requirements of 45 C.F.R. § 96.87(d)(2)(iii), describe the following: Resource What is the type of resource or benefit ? What is the source(s) of the resource ? How will the resource be integrated and coordinated with LIHEAP? 1 Non-public fuel funds to assist with utility bills All Public Service Commission (PSC) regulated utility companies in NYS All PSC-regulated utilities in NYS operate non-public funded fuel funds to assist their service territory population with payments of energy bills. These resources are targeted to HEAP eligible households that have exhausted their HEAP eligibility or are ineligible because of the unavailability of LIHEAP funding. Low-Income Customer Assistance Several NYS utility companies have implemented low-income customer assistance plans. The plans consist of two components: rate moderation and uncollectable 2 NYS Utility Companies Plans initiatives, including a negotiated percentage of income plan, coupled with an arrearage forgiveness arrangement. 3 Reduce energy costs through aggregation NYS OTDA & NYS PSC In conjunction with various districts and the National Fuel Gas (NFG) distribution corporation, NYS has established the Temporary Assistance Cooperative for Energy (PACE) program. PACE is a natural gas aggregation program for certain PA recipients in Erie, Chautauqua, and Niagara counties in NY. The programs objective is to provide the benefits of competition to low-income payment troubled customers by offering the opportunity to reduce energy costs through aggregation. 4 Fuel buying component NYS OTDA OTDA has established a HEAP fuel buying component in NYS. The purpose of this component is to expand the buying power of LIHEAP dollars by obtaining a lower than retail price for HEAP purchased oil, kerosene, and propane. This discounted price materially enhances the purchasing power of LIHEAP eligible households. 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.