LIHEAP / ECAP: Energy Crisis Assistance Program

340:20-1-17. Energy Crisis Assistance Program (ECAP)

The Energy Crisis Assistance Program (ECAP) makes payments only during open enrollment or a life-threatening energy crises. The household must show that it is experiencing crisis and meets program requirements. Refer to article LIHEAP/ECAP: Life-Threatening Energy Crisis

The following table summarizes the requirements for ECAP.

Energy Crisis Program
Program Requirements Open-enrollment ECAP Life-threatening
Application Period The open enrollment usually begins in March and ends when funds run out. OKDHS accepts requests year-round when a household member needs energy to address a life-threatening energy crisis.
How to apply? A household member submits an online, telephone, or paper application per request
340:20-1-17(d).
When a life-threatening energy crisis exists, the household provides verification and speaks to Energy Assistance Contact Center staff, but it does not need an application.
Required Verification The household must

  1. verify an energy crisis 340:20-1-17(f)(2) and
  2. prove it meets program factors. 340:20-1-17(f)(1).
The household must verify

  1. a household member is experiencing a life-threatening emergency due to an household energy crisis and
  2. the household meets program factors.
Processing Time Limit 48 hours from the complete application when all required verification is provided  340:20-1-17. Within 18 hours of the household providing all required verification
Payment Amount OKDHS may pay either a heating or cooling bill. The bill paid must resolve energy crisis 340:20-1-17(e).

OKDHS pays the minimum amount needed to resolve the crisis. We will not pay old debt that is being collected from a previous service address or utility account 340:20-1-17(g)(1).

For a prepaid or cash advance utility account, OKDHS pays the household’s average usage for one month plus, if applicable, the reconnection fee 340:20-1-17 ITS(6)(b).

 

OKDHS may pay the heating or cooling bill, but the bill paid must resolve the life-threatening energy crisis.

OKDHS pays the minimum amount needed to resolve the crisis. We will not pay old debt that is being collected from a previous service address or utility account.

For a prepaid or cash advance utility account, OKDHS pays the household’s average usage for one month plus, if applicable, the reconnection fee and arrearage owed for the current account.

Maximum Benefit The amount OKDHS approves for ECAP each year cannot exceed the maximum benefit amount in the Appendix C-7-A. The year runs from October 1 to September 30. The current maximum is $750 340:20-1-17(f)(3)(B).

A household may be approved more than once as long as the total amount approved each year is not more than the maximum amount 340:20-1-17(c).

When it takes more than the maximum benefit to alleviate the crisis, the household must explain how it will secure payment for the amount OKDHS is not paying. When the household cannot develop a feasible plan to prevent, cutoff or restore service, Energy Assistance staff will deny the ECAP application 340:20-1-17(f)(5).

For Life-threatening, Energy Assistance staff will attempt to contact the client over the phone to explain the ineligibility and the program requirements 340:20-1-17(d)(3).

Energy Crisis

In order to qualify the household must meet the criteria for an energy crisis and the energy provider 340:20-1-17(f)(2):

  • refuses to start or restore service without payment,
  • plans to cut off the household’s service unless the provider receives payment, or
  • declines to provide additional fuel without payment and the household’s fuel tank is at or below 10% for ECAP and at or below 25% for life threatening.
  • verifies a cash only, cash advance, or pre-paid account has less than a $25 minimum balance in the account.
  • enters into a payment plan with the household to prevent the service cut off.

Required Verification

The household documents an energy crisis with verification of these situations.

Examples include but are not limited to

  • verification of an active cutoff notice,
  • verification of a fee for a new connection or to reconnect, or
  • verification of a supplier’s refusal to provide additional energy without payment
  • verification of entering a payment plan to prevent service cut-off.

Cause of Crisis

The household must explain what caused the energy crisis and why it cannot handle the energy crisis with its available income. Energy Assistance staff will evaluate the household’s explanation 340:20-1-17(f)(3)& (4).

If a household resolves the energy crisis without an ECAP payment, an ECAP payment is unnecessary, and LIHEAP staff denies the application 340:20-1-17(d)(3).

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