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of alternative housing; exploration of other funding sources (including HEAP); or lending of safe supplemental heating devices. (e) Payment essential to continue or restore utility service for an applicant for family assistance, safety net assistance, veteran assistance or emergency public assistance.

A payment must be made for utilities previously provided to an applicant for family assistance, safety net assistance, veteran assistance or emergency public assistance if such payment is essential to continue or restore utility service. Payment essential to continue or restore utility service may be provided to an applicant whose utility bill includes costs for service for the applicant's own residential unit and for space outside that unit. Payment may only be made when it is documented that the applicant is the tenant of record and the customer of record, as defined in subdivision (a) of this section, and alternative payment or housing accommodations cannot be made and the applicant is without liquid resources to continue or restore utility service. Payment must not exceed the cost of utilities provided to the applicant during the four most recently completed monthly billing periods or two most recently completed bi-monthly billing periods for which a bill has been issued immediately preceding the date of application for such assistance. Payment is limited to the applicant's proportionate share of the cost of service for the most recently completed four monthly or two most recently completed bi-monthly billing periods for which a bill has been issued immediately preceding the date of application for such assistance when the applicant's utility bill includes costs for service for the applicant's own residential unit and for space outside that unit. Payment must not exceed the balance due on the account. In a shared meter situation subject to the provisions of Section 52 of the Public Service Law, the proportionate share is to be determined by the utility company's apportionment of retroactive charges upon completion of a shared meter investigation and determination. As a condition of receiving such assistance, an applicant not in receipt of recurring public assistance or supplemental security income whose gross monthly household income on the date of application exceeds the public assistance standard of need for the same size household must sign an agreement to repay the assistance within two years of the date of the payment. A household consists of all persons who occupy a housing unit. A house, an apartment or other group of rooms, or a single room is regarded as a housing unit when it is occupied or intended for occupancy as separate living quarters. A household includes related family members and all unrelated persons, if any, such as lodgers, foster children, wards, or employees who share the housing unit. A person living alone, or a group of unrelated persons sharing a housing unit as partners, also constitutes a household. The public assistance standard of need is determined by applying the following statewide standards of need in accordance with Office regulations: the pre-add allowance as set forth in Schedule SA-2a of 18 NYCRR 352.3; the shelter allowance as paid, but not to exceed the maximum allowance set forth in 18 NYCRR 352.3; the fuel allowance set forth in Schedule SA-6a, SA- 6b or SA-6c of 18 NYCRR 352.5, if the applicant is the tenant of record and customer of the record for the residential heating bill; the home energy and supplemental home energy payments (HEA and SHEA) as set forth in schedule SA-2b or SA-2c of 18 NYCRR 352.1; and, if applicable, the additional cost of meals for persons unable to prepare meals at home as set forth in schedule SA-5 of 18 NYCRR 352.7. The repayment agreement must set forth a schedule of payments that will assure repayment within two years of the date of payment. Subsequent assistance to continue or restore utility service must not be provided unless any prior utility arrearage payments have been repaid or are being repaid in accordance with the schedule of payments contained in each prior repayment agreement as of the date of application for such subsequent assistance, or unless the enforcement of such prior repayment agreement(s) is suspended by the local social services district during a period of