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PY26 WHEAP Manual

Revised: August 2025 application process, benefits will be based on the proxy fuel table. When an amount is used from the proxy table to calculate benefits, the fuel use is set at 75% of the projected average cost for the fuel and building type.

The information entered in the Energy Usage section of the application must be the reported cost of the household’s primary heating fuel usage and electric costs. In cases where electric is used for primary heat, total electric costs only need to be entered once. 3. Comparisons to Heat Proxy Table The HE+ System automatically compares adjusted actual heating costs to the Heat Proxy Fuel Table. The heat proxy amount is based on 75% of the average costs for the same dwelling type, fuel type, and number of rooms. a. If the adjusted actual heating costs are greater than two times the proxy for the same dwelling type, fuel type, and number of rooms, benefits will be based on two times the proxy amount, rather than actual costs. b. If the adjusted actual heating costs are less than the proxy, benefits will be based on the proxy rather than actual costs. 4. Proxy Fuel Tables There are situations where actual fuel costs are not available for calculating benefits, such as heat included in rent. To permit calculation of WHEAP benefits, an amount is taken from the appropriate proxy table. Each table is a collection of average costs. There are a number of tables to provide numbers based on fuel type and other factors, such as the number of rooms and the fuel used for making hot water. 5. Heat Proxy Table When annual cost is zero, the HE+ System uses the appropriate amount from the Proxy Fuel Table to calculate the benefit.

The HE+ System reduces the appropriate average heating cost by 25% as an incentive to use actual fuel costs. 6. Electric Proxy Tables When annual cost is zero, the HE+ System uses the appropriate amount from the Proxy Electric (PB) Table to calculate the benefit. When electric is the only fuel source for the dwelling, the non-heating electric portion is determined by reducing by half the total reported consumption to determine the amount used in calculating the electric benefit (if the applicant is a customer of a Public Benefits participating utility). 7. Number of Rooms The HE+ System uses the number of rooms in a dwelling as a measure of the size of the dwelling. In counting the number of rooms, there are areas that are not counted such as bathrooms, unfinished basements, entryways, hallways, laundry rooms, porches, closets, and unheated attics. The maximum number of rooms allowed in the HE+ System is nine (9). See Section 4.4.17 for information on counting the number of rooms.

2.4 WHEAP – General Emergency Crisis and Prevention Assistance Eligibility To receive Crisis Assistance, households must be eligible for WHEAP as established by an HE+