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. 9.2 How do you notify the client of the amount of assistance paid? An email is generated from the SmartSimple LIHEAP software program. If the client requests support with establishing an email account, agencies can provide assistance, and additional communications will be sent via mail to those individuals. 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? Nineteen (19) sub-grantees have vendor agreements with all vendors. Section A of the Vendor Agreement States:The Home Energy Supplier agrees to the following conditions and terms: To participate in the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) in accordance with the approved LIHEAP State Plan and Federal regulations. 1. To accept benefit checks and vouchers on behalf of eligible households for the purpose of providing LIHEAP services for clients identified to receive such benefits. 2. To apply benefit check or voucher amounts to the energy accounts of eligible and certified households. 3. To not discriminate against the eligible customers in offering deferred payment or level payment plans or in the other conditions of sale, credit, or price to the customer. 4. To record the LIHEAP payments to the Home Energy Supplier's books as a credit to the LIHEAP households’ current active energy account. 5. To provide, at no cost, the LIHEAP customers’ energy consumption history for the previous twelve (12) months, or available history. 6. Refunds. If a credit would result in an overpayment of a household’s account and the Vendor’s internal policies do not allow for such a positive balance, the Vendor shall provide only the specific amount of the overage directly to the household. If a household’s account becomes inactive prior to the Vendor’s receipt of payment from the LIHEAP Agency, the Vendor must try to provide such funds directly to the household and, if the Vendor is unable to locate the household, the Vendor shall send the funds to the Tennessee Department of Treasury as unclaimed property; 7. To permit and cooperate with State and/or Federal investigations undertaken in connection with Section 2608, Title XXVI, Low Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 as amended, concerning the use of funds received under this title in order to evaluate compliance with the provisons and assurances made by the State. Such investigations may require examination of appropriate books, documents, papers and records pertaining to customers served with funds under this program. Reasonable notice will be made to the Home Energy Supplier in advance of any investigationand the costs of conducting such an investigation will be borne by the Department. 8. 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? Section A.4 of the LIHEAP Vendor Agreement states: "To not discriminate against the eligible customers in offering deferred payment or level payment plans or in the other conditions of sale, credit, or price to the customer." 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.