HomeMy WebLinkAbout1985-049 Agrmt - Energy Asst ProgramCONTRACT "B"
FY 1986 LOW-INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
CONTRACT FOR PUBLICLY-OWNED UTILITIES
PARTIES
1. State of Oregon, Department of Human Resources, State Community Services
and its agents, hereinafter called SCS, and;
2. City of Ashland Electric Depto , hereinafter called HES
(Home Energy Supplier).
PURPOSE OF AGREEMENT
The purpose of this agreement is to provide a mechanism by which SCS and the
HES can carry out the provisions of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance
Program and specifically to assure that the funds available under this Act be
used in accordance with the requirements of Title XXVI of the Omnibus Budget
Reconciliation Act of 1981 (P.L. 97-35) and Title VI of the Human Services
Reauthorization Act of 1984 (P.L. 98-558). (The Low-Income Home Energy
Assistance Program shall be referred to in this agreement as LIEAP.) No HES
shall be paid without signing an agreement for payment.
Therefore, in exchange for the mutual promises herein, the parties agree to
the terms and conditions set forth below:
DEFINITIONS
An "eligible household" is one that has applied for and been approved for
energy assistance and for whom the HES has been notified by SCS that
payments will be made to HES on behalf of that household.
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"Account Payments" are payments which SCS pays to the HES on behalf of an
eligible household and may include prepayment for fuel prior to its
delivery as well as payment for bills incurred by the applicant prior to
the date of the application for LIEAP assistance and credit applied for
future usage.
SCS CONDITIONS
SCS or its agents will notify the HES of payments to be made on behalf of
its customers with an Energy Assistance Authorization. This notification
can be made orally, if necessary, but will always be verified with a
written authorization. An Energy Assistance Authorization will contain
the eligible household's utility account number, the name of the person
applying for energy assistance, the name appearing on the HES account for
the eligible household, the address of the eligible household and the
amount of energy assistance for which the household is eligible as well
as an authorization number.
LIEAP FY 1986
CONTRACT "B"
Page -2-
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SCS shall pay all valid Energy Assistance Authorizations promptly and no
later than 45 days after eligibility is established for a household by
SCS or its agents.
SCS will notify all eligible households of the amount of payments made on
their behalf to a HES.
SCS or its agents shall keep the HES informed in a timely manner of any
pertinent changes in LIEAP operation caused by federal or state
modification of the regulations.
HOME ENERGY SUPPLIER CONDITIONS
1. The HES may refer its customers to SCS, or its agents, for assistance.
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The HES agrees to charge a household, in the normal billing process, the
difference between the actual cost of the home energy used by that
household and the amount of the payment made by SCS to the HES on behalf
of that household under this agreement.
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The HES agrees not to discriminate, either in the cost of goods supplied
or the services provided, against the eligible household on whose behalf
payments are made, including service charges, reconnection charges and
payment plan arrangements.
The HES agrees that no household receiving assistance under LIEAP will be
treated adversely because of such assistance under applicable provisions
of state law or public regulatory requirements.
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A credit notation will be promptly applied by the HES to the eligible
household's account as soon as notification is received of authorization
for a valid payment from SCS or its agent. SCS will provide copies of
bills, if available, with the authorizations that are mailed to the HES.
If possible, a line identifying the payment as LIEAP funds will appear on
the billing statement after it has been received by the HES and as long
as any portion of it is still being carried as a credit. Payments will
be credited to the household's account promptly after being received by
the HES and no later than the next billing cycle.
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If billings include other than electricity charges, the LIEAP funds may
not be used for those charges. A LIEAP payment may only be applied as a
credit to electricity billings and a notation to that effect will be
shown on statements. If this is not possible, the balance remaining,
after payment is applied to the electrical portion of the bill, shall be
returned to the eligible household within 30 days of receipt of the
payment.
7. If the HES has received notification of the payment and it is not
received within 45 days, the HES shall contact SCS.
LIEAP FY 1986
CONTRACT "B"
Page -3-
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12.
13.
14.
A reconnection charge or security deposit will not be charged to any
eligible household except where such charges were company policy prior to
October l, 1986. LIEAP payments can be applied to those charges, if
necessary. All deposits and accrued interest become the property of the
eligible household and shall be returned to the household at the time
specified in the deposit agreement.
If interruption in service to the eligible household has occurred,
reconnection of service will be made promptly upon notification of
authorization for payment by SCS. If a deposit is to be charged or a
balance is still owed after the LIEAP payment has been applied, there
should be arrangements made for payment of that amount. The payments
should be made in equal installments after execution of the agreement, in
addition to payments on current bills, if applicable. Disconnection can
take place after a reasonable notice if a customer fails to abide by
terms of the installment agreement.
In the event that services cannot be delivered by the HES because the
eligible household has been disconnected for non-payment of service prior
to notification of eligibility by SCS and cannot be reconnected because
the eligible household will not enter into a payment agreement under
terms acceptable to the HES, the HES will send to the eligible household
any energy assistance account payment received by HES on behalf of the
eligible customer within ten days of that decision. If payment has not
been received, the HES will notify SCS to send the payment directly to
the household.
In the event that services cannot be delivered by the HES because of a
discontinuation of service, the full amount of the unused line of credit
shall be returned to the eligible household or forwarded to the new HES
if the eligible household requests that be done. This shall be done
prior to the next billing cycle.
In the event the customer cannot be located after service is
discontinued, the full amount of the unused line of credit shall be
returned to SCS as soon as possible and no later than 45 days after the
service has been terminated. All payments returned to SCS shall be
accompanied by a notification showing the HES name, the household's name,
the Energy Assistance Authorization Number, the amount returned on behalf
of the eligible household and the date and reason for return.
In the event of death of the applicant after notification of eligibility,
the funds belong to the estate of the deceased. If there is none, the
funds should be returned to SCS with proper notification.
The HES will maintain an adequate accounting system to allow SCS to
verify the amount of home energy delivered to eligible households for
which payment was made by SCS, if necessary. Auditors and/or
investigators of SCS shall be allowed access to such LIEAP records as the
vendor may have which SCS determines are reasonably needed to monitor and
review the vendor's compliance with the provisions of this agreement and
to cooperate in the conduct of such reviews.
LIEAP FY 1986
CONTRACT "B"
Page -4-
15.
If requested by the customer or SCS, the vendor will provide, at no cost
to SCS or the customer, an annual consumption record for eligible
customers.
This agreement is effective upon execution by both parties. Acknowledgement
of this agreement shall be forwarded to all HES branch offices. This
agreement shall terminate upon the earlier of the following events: a change
in the requirements of Title VI of the Human Services Reauthorization Act of
1984 (P.L. 98-558), a change in the federal or state regulations promulgated
thereunder, a change in the State Plan for administering LIEAP or thirty days
after written notice of termination by either party. Termination by either
party shall not discharge any obligation owed by either party to the other or
to an eligible household if such obligation was incurred during the effective
period of this agreement.
Please sign two (2) copies and return to SCS by September 15, 1985. A signed
copy will be returned to the address below.
HOME ENERGY SUPPLIER
STATE OF OREGON
STATE COMMUNITY SERVICES
Si gnatUre '
City of Ashland Electric Depto
Company
Lo Gordon Medaris
Name (printed)
Mayor
Ti tl e (p'ri nted)
Lawrence R. Craig, SCS Manager
207 Public Service Building
Salem, OR 97310
(503) 378-4729
(503) 482-3211
Telephone
20 Eo Main Sto
Address
Date:
Ashland, OR 97520
City State ZIP
Same
Mailing Address for ~ayments
Same
City State
Date: September 4, 1985
ZIP
Please attach names, addresses, telephone numbers, and contact persons of all
branch offices and current rates.
Da¥id Fadden, 20 Eo Main Street, Ashland, OR 97520
0441s Karen Huckins, 20 Eo Main Street, Ashland, OR 97520