Workforce Services, Administration

Rule R982-402

Energy Assistance Programs Standards.

Notice of Proposed Rule

(New Rule)

DAR File No.: 36194
Filed: 05/15/2012 03:07:36 PM

RULE ANALYSIS

Purpose of the rule or reason for the change:

H.B. 139 which was passed in the 2012 General Session moved the Division of Housing and Community Development, Home Energy Assistance Target (HEAT) from what was known as the Department of Community and Culture (DCC) to the Department of Workforce Service (DWS). This proposed new rule simply changes the rule numbering and moves it to DWS.

Summary of the rule or change:

This new rule text is the same as the old rule. The old rule number was R195-2 and will now be R982-402. The statutory references have been changed to reflect the new code provisions. The old department and division names were also changed to reflect the changes in H.B. 139. No other changes were made.

State statutory or constitutional authorization for this rule:

• Section 35A-8-1403

Anticipated cost or savings to:

the state budget:

There will be no costs or savings to the state budget by this new rule because the rule already existed and any costs or savings are as a result of H.B. 139 and not this new rule.

local governments:

There will be no costs or savings to any local government's budget by this new rule because the rule already existed and any costs or savings are as a result of H.B. 139 and not this new rule.

small businesses:

There will be no costs or savings to any small business by this new rule because the rule already existed and any costs or savings are as a result of H.B. 139 and not this new rule.

persons other than small businesses, businesses, or local governmental entities:

There will be no costs or savings to any persons other than small businesses, businesses or local government entitles by this new rule because the rule already existed and any costs or savings are as a result of H.B. 139 and not this new rule.

Compliance costs for affected persons:

There will be no costs or savings to any affected persons by this new rule because the rule already existed and any costs or savings are as a result of H.B. 139 and not this new rule.

Comments by the department head on the fiscal impact the rule may have on businesses:

There are no compliance costs associated with this change. There are no fees associated with this change. There will be no cost to anyone to comply with these changes. There will be no fiscal impact on any business.

Kristen Cox, Executive Director

The full text of this rule may be inspected, during regular business hours, at the Division of Administrative Rules, or at:

Workforce Services
Administration
140 E BROADWAY
SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84111-2333

Direct questions regarding this rule to:

• Suzan Pixton at the above address, by phone at 801-526-9645, by FAX at 801-526-9211, or by Internet E-mail at spixton@utah.gov

Interested persons may present their views on this rule by submitting written comments to the address above no later than 5:00 p.m. on:

07/02/2012

This rule may become effective on:

07/09/2012

Authorized by:

Kristen Cox, Executive Director

R982. Workforce Services, Administration.

R982-402. Energy Assistance Programs Standards.

R982-402-1. Opening and Closing Dates for HEAT Program.

1. Each November 1, or the first working day thereafter, the HEAT Program opens for the general population.

2. The HEAT Program closes the following April 30, or the last business day of the month, or when federal LIHEAP funds are exhausted, whichever comes first. If federal LIHEAP funds are yet available, the program may be extended beyond April 30 and through to September 30 with the approval of the State HEAT Program Manager. Applications taken on or before the program closing date may be processed after the program closing date. If funds are exhausted before all applications are processed, notice of non-payment will be sent to the remaining unprocessed applications.

 

R982-402-2. U.S. Residence.

1. To be eligible for HEAT assistance, a person must meet at least one of the criteria for US residence listed below:

a. Be a US born or naturalized citizen as evidenced by any document verifying the individual was born in the US or naturalization papers.

b. Be lawfully admitted into the US for permanent residence as evidenced by an Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) form I-151 or I-551.

c. Be lawfully admitted into the US as a Refugee as evidenced by an INS form I-94 stamped "Admitted under the Refugee Act of 1980".

d. Be lawfully admitted into the US as a conditional entrant as evidenced by an INS form I-94 stamped "Conditional Entrant".

e. Be lawfully admitted into the US as a special agricultural worker as evidenced by a green colored INS form I-688 stamped PL 99-603 Sec. 210.

2. Persons not eligible to participate in the HEAT program are:

a. Persons who hold INS 1-94 who are admitted as temporary entrants.

b. Persons who hold an INS I-688 Sec. 210A (RAWS).

c. Persons who hold an INS I-688 Sec. 245A (AMNESTY).

d. Persons who hold an INS I-688A Sec. 210, 210A, or 245A (SAWS, RAWS, and AMNESTY).

e. Persons who have no registration card.

 

R982-402-3. Utah Residence.

There is no length of residency requirement. Individuals must be living in Utah voluntarily and not for a temporary purpose.

 

R982-402-4. Local Residence.

1. A household's completed HEAT application must be maintained in the office in the area where they reside.

2. Native American Residents of Daggett, Duchesne, and Uintah Counties who are enrolled in any federally recognized Indian Tribe have a choice of applying for utility assistance through the state HEAT program or through the Ute Tribal LIHEAP Program. Clients cannot receive assistance from both programs in the same program year.

3. Native American Residents of Washington, Iron, Millard, and Sevier Counties have a choice of receiving utility assistance through the state HEAT program or through the Paiute Tribal LIHEAP Program. Clients cannot receive assistance from both programs in the same program year.

4. Residents living on the Navajo Indian Reservation in San Juan county may apply for utility assistance through the Navajo Tribe or through the State HEAT Program. They cannot receive assistance through both programs in the same program year.

 

R982-402-5. Vulnerability.

1. An eligible household must be vulnerable to home heating costs.

a. The following households are considered responsible for home heating costs:

i. Households who are presently paying heating costs directly to energy suppliers on currently active accounts.

ii. Households who are currently paying energy costs indirectly through rent.

2. Residents in the following households are not considered responsible for home heating costs and are not eligible for HEAT assistance:

a. Nursing homes;

b. Hospitals;

c. Prisons and jails;

d. Institutions;

e. Alcoholism and drug treatment centers;

f. Group homes administered under a contract with a government agency or administered by a government agency;

g. Households not connected to a heat source;

h. Households whose utility bills are paid regularly by an outside party;

 

R982-402-6. Subsidized Housing - Roomers And Boarders.

Eligibility for HEAT assistance: a household living in a federal, state, or local subsidized housing or anyone renting a room in a private house or apartment must pay an identifiable surcharge for heat in addition to their rent or they must pay a utility bill for heating costs directly to a utility provider.

 

R982-402-7. Social Security Numbers.

1. Adults who apply for HEAT assistance must provide verification of their Social Security Numbers (SSN) or apply for SSN cards. Verification of Social Security Numbers are required for all household members.

a. There are four ways to provide a correct SSN. The client can submit one of these three documents.

i. An official SSN card

ii. Official documents from Social Security Administration including award letters, benefit checks or a Medicare card

iii. An SSA receipt form 5028 or 2880.

iv. Official document from another government agency.

 

R982-402-8. Eligible HEAT Household.

1. Household members need not be related.

2. Multiple dwellings including duplexes and apartment buildings, are considered separate households.

 

R982-402-9. Age and Emancipation.

Household members 18 years of age or older or emancipated are considered adults. A child can be emancipated by age, marriage or court order.

 

R982-402-10. Weatherization Referrals.

Participation in the weatherization program is not a condition of eligibility for HEAT.

 

R982-402-11. Energy Crisis Intervention.

1. A crisis is any weather-related emergency, any supply shortage emergency, or any other household energy-related emergency as approved by the region or state office.

a. Examples of household energy-related emergencies may include energy costs above 25% of the client's gross income, arrearages when the client has demonstrated a good faith attempt to resolve the problem or repairs to prevent loss of energy from a dwelling.

b. Examples of household energy-related non-emergencies may include payments that will create a credit balance on a utility account, payments on utility accounts previously sent to a collection agency or capital improvements to rental property.

2. To be eligible for energy crisis intervention, a household must be eligible for HEAT during the same HEAT program year.

a. If the local office determines that a household is eligible to receive energy crisis intervention benefits and is in a life threatening situation, energy crisis intervention benefits will be provided within 18 hours. Regular energy crisis intervention benefits will be provided within 48 hours of eligibility determination.

b. The director or HEAT supervisor must approve all crisis intervention expenditures.

c. HEAT payments are issued to the vendor. In emergencies a check may be issued to the client.

d. Energy crisis intervention payments are limited to a maximum of $500 per household per utility (e.g. gas and electric) per HEAT program year unless prior approval for an amount larger than $500 per utility is obtained from the supervisor or state office.

 

R982-2-12. Supplemental Programs.

Household who qualify for HEAT assistance may also receive supplemental payments from other utility programs, such as "Reach", "Lend-A-Hand", and Catholic Community Services utility fund.

 

R982-402-13. Security Deposits.

1. Public Service Commission (PSC) Regulated Utilities

a. A PSC regulated utility is required to waive the security deposit requirement for all Heat and Moratorium clients during the period of the Moratorium.

b. Monies received by a regulated utility from third-party sources, including monies provided by HEAT, REACH, CONCERN or similar programs, shall not be applied to the security deposit.

2. Non Regulated Utilities

a. If the company has signed a HEAT contract, the company has agreed not to charge a security deposit to a HEAT client from November 15th through March 15th. This does not apply to the service initiation fees that are routinely charged as a condition of service.

 

R982-402-14. Consumer Complaints.

1. Public Service Commission (PSC) Regulated Utilities

a. Consumer complaints against a PSC regulated utility should be referred to the Public Service Commission.

2. Non Regulated Utilities

a. Consumer complaints against a non regulated utility should be referred directly to the individual utility company.

 

R982-402-15. Credit Balances on Utility Accounts.

1. If the household discontinues service with their utility supplier, and the household so elects, the disconnecting supplier will forward any HEAT credit balance remaining on the account to the household's new utility company. The new utility company must operate in Utah. The household must furnish, to the disconnecting utility supplier, the name and address of the new utility company within 30 days after termination of service.

2. If the household elects to have the HEAT credit balance refunded directly to them, the disconnecting utility supplier will do so if the household still resides in Utah. The household must furnish, to the disconnecting utility supplier, their new address within 30 days after termination of service. Otherwise, the credit balance shall be refunded to the HEAT Program.

3. In no case shall HEAT credit balances be forwarded to utility companies not operating in Utah or to clients no longer residing in Utah.

4. If the client fails to give the disconnecting utility company the information for either option one or option two listed above, the utility company can hold the credit balance for an additional 30 days. If reconnection with the same utility has not occurred, any remaining credit balance must be refunded to the HEAT program.

5. Once credit balances are refunded to the HEAT program they become part of the general HEAT budget and are redistributed in the form of benefits to additional eligible households.

 

KEY: energy assistance, residency requirements, opening and closing dates, HEAT

Date of Enactment or Last Substantive Amendment: 2012

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: 9-12-10