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. Eligible households who provide their own cut wood or natural gas may receive a direct payment, if there is reasonable documentation to support that the household has a sufficient heating supply for the heating season and the household does not have a utility vendor. 9.2 How do you notify the client of the amount of assistance paid? All applicants are provided with a notice which advises them of their eligibility for the HEAP benefit, the supplier to which the payment was authorized, and the amount paid on their behalf. Local districts have a maximum of 30 business days to notify an applicant of the eligibility determination from the date of the application. This includes HEAP recipients that receive their benefit through the Autopay process. 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? Each home energy supplier must sign a NYS HEAP Vendor Agreement to participate in the Regular and Emergency components of HEAP. The vendor agreement provides that the home energy supplier agrees and assures to NYS OTDA to charge HEAP recipients, in the normal billing process, the difference between the cost of the home energy and the amount of the HEAP payment made. 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? Each home energy supplier must sign a NYS HEAP vendor agreement to participate in the Regular, Emergency, Cooling, Clean and Tune and HERR components of HEAP. The vendor agreement provides that the home energy supplier agrees and assures to NYS OTDA that the households served by the supplier will not be treated adversely because of such assistance under applicable provision of State law and public regulatory requirements. 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.