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Vermont Department for Children and Families Seasonal Fuel Assistance Rules Economic Services Division 2902 Fuel Supplier Certification

2902 Fuel Supplier Certification (06/22/2024, 23-18)

a. A primary heating fuel supplier must be certified by the director of the Fuel Assistance Program in order to provide home heating fuel to program beneficiaries.

b. To be certified, fuel suppliers shall enter into certification agreements with the Department, consistent with statutory requirements (33 V.S.A. § 2607).

1. Firewood or wood pellet suppliers are excluded from certification requirements.

c. At a minimum, certification agreements must include:

1. Pricing and delivery methods that are advantageous for beneficiaries;

2. An agreement by the fuel supplier to not disclose any information about a beneficiary to any other person, including the name of the beneficiary, except for purposes directly connected with administration of the Fuel Assistance Program, or when required by law;

3. An agreement by the fuel supplier to conduct reasonable efforts to inform and assist beneficiaries in their service areas, maintain records of amounts and costs of all fuel deliveries, and send periodic statements to beneficiaries informing them of their:

i. Account balance as of their last statement;

ii. Deliveries or usage since their last statement;

iii. Payments made or applied, indicating the source of payment, since their last statement; and

iv. The ending credit or debit balance;

4. An agreement by the fuel supplier to provide the Department with beneficiary records on consumption and any other information as deemed necessary by the Department for efficient administration of the Fuel Assistance Program;

5. An agreement by the fuel supplier that it will not discriminate against beneficiaries in the cost of goods, services provided, or fuel delivery;