Effective 11/14/2024, the Life Threatening Energy Assistance program will determine eligibility for households with a medical extension if the utility provider does NOT issue an additional cutoff notice when the medical extension expires.

Households Must:

 Meet the Energy Assistance program factors such as:

• Household, Citizenship, Vulnerability, Income guidelines, etc.
• Have a verified energy crisis per policy 340:20-1-17 (f)(2) for the utility that powers the equipment.

Guidance:

Households with medical claims can be eligible for LT energy assistance while receiving a medical extension with the utility provider. The household meets the crisis definition, of having a verified active cutoff order, if the provider does not issue an additional cutoff notice once the medical claim expires.

• If all other required verification is provided determine eligibility, the household does not need to call back once the medical claim expires.
• The following FTP providers have confirmed they do NOT issue an additional notice once the medical claim expires.
  • AEP/PSO
  • OEC – Oklahoma Electric Coop
  • Ozarks Electric Coop
  • Peoples Electric Coop
  • Canadian Valley Electric Coop
• OG&E has confirmed they issue an additional notice once the medical claim expires. Households that have a medical claim with OG&E do NOT meet the crisis definition until the additional cutoff notice has been issued.
• All other providers that offer medical claims, confirm with the provider if they issue an additional notice once the medical claim expires. If a cutoff notice is issued to the household once the medical claim expires it does not meet the crisis definition until the notice is issued.
• Ask the utility provider:
  • Does the household currently have a medical/life threatening claim to prevent cutoff?
  • If yes, what is the expiration date of the current medical/life threatening claim?
  • If yes, is an additional cutoff notice issued once the medical claim expires?
• As with all crisis programs we will pay the minimum amount needed to prevent cutoff for one month.
• Approvals must comply with the ECAP maximum benefit amount limit.

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