216A.103 - IOWA AFFORDABLE HEATING PROGRAM ESTABLISHED.
216A.103 IOWA AFFORDABLE HEATING PROGRAM
ESTABLISHED.
1. The division shall establish an Iowa affordable heating
program for the purpose of assisting low-income persons in paying for
primary heating fuel costs.
2. In order to be eligible for participation in the Iowa
affordable heating program, an applicant must meet all of the
following requirements:
a. Meet the income guidelines established pursuant to the
federal low-income home energy assistance program, with income at or
below one hundred ten percent of the federal poverty income
guidelines established by the office of management and budget. The
division may adjust the income threshold by rule as necessitated by
budgetary restrictions.
b. Participate in annual level payment plans for both gas and
electric services if such plans are available to the participant.
The division shall develop an alternative plan for participants whose
energy providers do not provide such plans.
c. Participate in the weatherization assistance program, if
eligible.
d. Have insufficient finances, as determined by rule, which
prohibit the payment of the entire cost of the heating of the
applicant's home.
e. Submit to the administering agency within thirty days of
application for participation in the program third-party verification
of all of the following:
(1) The gross income of all of the members of the applicant's
household in accordance with the rules adopted for the low-income
home energy assistance program.
(2) The applicant's unreimbursed medical expenses for the time
period corresponding to that used for the income calculation with
proof of personal responsibility for these expenses.
f. Participate in counseling, provided by the administering
agency, regarding energy efficiency.
3. In determination of the amount of the affordable heating
payment for which the participant is eligible, the following formula
shall be used:
a. An annual adjusted income amount shall be calculated.
(1) To be eligible, an applicant must also apply and be eligible
for participation in the low-income home energy assistance program.
A participant's income shall be determined as the amount verified on
a low-income home energy assistance program application.
(2) A participant's adjusted income shall be determined by
subtracting from the verified income, the actual costs incurred for
each of the following:
(a) Annual rental or mortgage payments, real estate taxes, and
real estate insurance payments not to exceed a maximum established by
division rule based on the statewide low-income housing cost average.
(b) Annual unreimbursed medical expenses, not to exceed two
thousand four hundred dollars.
(c) Annual child support and alimony payments.
(d) The annual costs of water, basic local telephone, and
nonheating electric services as defined by division rule.
(e) Annual child care costs incurred by a participant due to
employment or participation in an academic or job-training program.
b. A predicted heating cost shall be calculated.
(1) When applicable, the predicted heating costs shall be the
annual total calculated under section 216A.103, subsection 2,
paragraph "b", for level payment plans.
(2) Where subsection 3, paragraph "b", subparagraph (1) does
not apply, the predicted heating cost shall be based upon, but is not
limited to, primary heating fuel usage incurred during the
twelve-month period immediately preceding application, first adjusted
for weather and then adjusted for rate changes occurring during the
twelve-month period immediately preceding application.
c. Following the calculation of the participant's adjusted
income and predicted heating cost, the participant's adjusted heating
cost shall be calculated by:
(1) Adding the predicted heating cost figure to any scheduled
repayment of an arrearage which has been negotiated between the
participant and the primary heating fuel provider. The arrearage
shall not exceed three hundred dollars annually. Any remaining
arrearage shall be considered in subsequent years.
(2) Subtracting from the figure determined under paragraph
"b" the federal low-income home energy assistance program grant,
if a grant is received.
d. The division shall promulgate rules to establish a
standard percentage not to exceed twenty-five percent of household
heating costs to adjusted income, taking into consideration household
family size. For each participant, the administering agency shall
determine the percentage of adjusted heating cost to adjusted income.
If the participant's percentage exceeds the standard percentage, an
affordable heating payment shall be made as prescribed by rule. The
payment shall be made to the participant's primary heating fuel
provider and credited to the participant's heating account for the
year in which the participant is eligible.
(1) When offered by the primary heating fuel provider, the
provider shall calculate or recalculate the participant's annual
level payment plan after all forms of assistance are credited. A
monthly level payment shall be established. However, each level
payment shall not be less than a monthly minimum as established by
division rule.
(2) Reconciliation shall occur as prescribed in the rules of the
Iowa utilities board or, at a minimum, annually, for unregulated
heating fuel providers.
4. A participant in the Iowa affordable heating program who
maintains the monthly level payment shall be protected from
disconnection of service by the participant's primary heating fuel
provider.
5. The administrator shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A
which establish the criteria under which a participant in the Iowa
affordable heating program would be determined ineligible for
continued participation in the program. The criteria shall include
but are not limited to a requirement that the participant maintains
the monthly level payment in order to maintain eligibility in the
program.
6. Any moneys appropriated for the Iowa affordable heating
program which are not expended by April 30 of each fiscal year shall
be used to fund the low-income energy assistance program. Section History: Recent Form
90 Acts, ch 1242, §7; 90 Acts, ch 1246, §1
C91, § 601K.103
92 Acts, ch 1087, §1--8
C93, § 216A.103