TO:	Commissioners; TA Directors; CAP Coordinators; HEAP Coordinators

FROM:	Patricia A. Stevens, Deputy Commissioner, Division of Temporary Assistance

SUBJECT:	Energy Emergencies

EFFECTIVE DATE:	Immediately

CONTACT PERSON:	Temporary Assistance Energy Policy: Central Regional Team @ 1-800-343-8859, extension 4-9344
		Home Energy Assistance Program Policy: Western Regional Team @ 1-800-343-8859, extension 3-0332

This is to remind districts of the following energy emergency policies:

1. When the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) is open, the availability of HEAP benefits must be explored and used to alleviate any utility or non-utility energy emergency before the use of any Temporary Assistance (TA) program benefits.  The following escalation procedures must be used to address energy emergencies associated with heating, heat-related domestic energy, heating equipment and alternate housing accommodations:
•	The availability of regular HEAP must be explored before emergency HEAP can be considered.
•	If regular HEAP is not available, the availability of emergency HEAP must be explored.

2. When a utility arrears payment has been authorized for a TA or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipient, the district must guarantee payment of the recipient’s future utility service with that utility company for six (6) months or until the TA or SSI case closes, whichever occurs first.  This is applicable even when the calculation of the arrears payment results in a zero ($0.00) payment and the utility re-establishes or continues utility service for the TA or SSI recipient.

Additionally, if the guaranteed recipient changes residence during the guarantee period, the guarantee is affected as follows:
•	If a TA or SSI recipient moves within the guaranteeing district, the guarantee continues until the TA or SSI case closes, or the six-month guarantee period ends, or the recipient receives service from a different utility company, whichever occurs first.
•	If a TA recipient moves outside of the guaranteeing district, the guaranteeing district continues the guarantee until the TA case closes at the end of the transition period, or the six-month guarantee period ends, or the TA recipient receives service from a different utility company, whichever occurs first.
•	If a SSI recipient moves outside of the guaranteeing district, the guaranteeing district continues the guarantee until the SSI case closes, or the six-month guarantee period ends, or the SSI recipient receives service from a different utility company, whichever occurs first.