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. Public Service Commission (PSC) regulated vendors. If the vendor is set up in the Agency's eligibility system, the Agency can pay them directly instead of sending a payment to the client. If the fuel vendor is not PSC regulated, the Agency will pay the client directly. These are typically wood, coal, propane, and kerosene vendors. Some of the home energy suppliers are vendors in the Agency's eligibility system. These are Public Service Commission (PSC) regulated vendors. If the vendor is set up in the Agency's eligibility system, the Agency can pay them directly instead of sending a payment to the client. If the fuel vendor is not PSC regulated, the Agency will pay the client directly. These are typically wood, coal, propane, and kerosene vendors. 9.2 How do you notify the client of the amount of assistance paid? If a client is found eligible for energy assistance, he/she will receive an approval letter that tells the client the amount that he/she have been approved for and the method of disbursement. For the heating payment the client should receive notice no later than 30 days after the Agency has received the application. If this is a crisis payment, the application is processed the day that the client comes in to apply and the client is informed during the application process, and will receive a decision letter in the mail as well. 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? The vendor agreement contains the following statement: Households that receive LIHEAP in the normal billing process will be charged no more than the difference between the cost of the home energy used and the payment that is provided by the DoHS. example 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? The vendors accept the LIHEAP payments as they would any other payment. The clients are not coded differently in the vendor systems for receiving LIHEAP. Our eligibility system creates a payment file, and if refunds are necessary vendors return LIHEAP funds back to the State Auditor's Office. Vendors have a direct line of communication with the Auditor's Office to resolve any issues. The vendors have been trained in how to handle any funds that need to be returned. The vendor agreement also states no household that is receiving LIHEAP will be treated adversely because the household receives assistance from the DoHS. Example of vendor agreement signed for each: 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. Direct payments are made to clients who use bulk fuel unless crisis funds are involved. In a crisis, vendor payment is preferred unless the client must self-deliver in partial amounts and no vendor is willing to set up a "credit" account. 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.