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ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
Section Seven: Acronyms and Definitions Intake, Operations & Policy Manual
Program Year 2026 92 OPUS – The web-based data collection system used by energy assistance providers to process client data and calculate energy assistance benefits. Outreach – Any energy assistance, education, or public information efforts that do not require an in-office visit (i.e. Energy assistance or education taking place at temporary or seasonal facilities, in-home efforts, mailings, advertising, and interpretive/translation services). Payment Receipt – An OPUS generated report that provides important information to an applicant who receives energy assistance. Payment Type – The category of energy assistance based on eligibility conditions including: Regular, Roomer Boarder, Crisis, Combo, Fuel, Heating or Cooling Equipment Installation, Repair, or Replacement, and Supplemental Payments. Personal Income – Irregular income from occasional sources such as yard work, childcare, collecting cans/bottles, and donating blood. Program Year – Program year for LIHEAP and OEAP refers to the funding period beginning on October 1st and ending on September 30th of the following year. Regular Assistance – The standard energy assistance payment determined by OPUS or from the payment matrix for an eligible household. Reverse Mortgage – A mortgage in which a homeowner, usually an elderly or retired person, borrows money in the form of annual payments which are charged against the equity of the home. Roomer – A roomer/boarder is a person who rents a room from the building owner. A roomer/boarder does not have a separate site address from other occupants of the building—however, a roomer/boarder does not share in providing, or being provided for, the necessities of life (e.g. food, living costs) with other residents of the structure. Tribal per capita payments from casinos – Casino profits paid by a tribe directly to enrolled tribal members. Vendor – A company who delivers fuel in bulk, such as oil, propane, wood, pellet, etc., or provides electricity or natural gas continuously via wire or pipes. The terms Home Energy Supplier and vendor are used interchangeably. Voided Application – An application that has been determined to be incomplete, in error, or withdrawn after it has been signed by an intake worker.