Red Lake Nation News

APPLICATIONS FOR THE FFY 2015 ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM HAVE BEEN MAILED

The Minnesota Department of Commerce has sent out the energy assistance applications for the Red Lake Nation FFY 2015 Energy Assistance Program (EAP) for those that have applied the last heating season. IF you have not received your application in the mail, you can call the Red Lake CAP @ 679-1880 or one will be mailed to you.  You can pick up an EAP application after September 15, 2014.

We need three months income verification from the date that you sign the application, receipts of your last fuel (fuel oil, propane) delivery and the current electrical bill. All this information is necessary so that your application be processed. 

Maximum Energy Assistance Program Income Guidelines 2015 Maximum Energy Assistance Program Income Guidelines

Based on 50% SMI or 110%* of federal poverty guidelines, whichever is greater 

FURNACE REPAIR /REPLACEMENT
Energy Related Repair (ERR) benefit is a crisis benefit addressing hazardous and life threatening situations or cases where a home has no heat due to malfunctioning or nonfunctioning heating systems. As a crisis program, response to ERR requests must be immediate and the purchasing process must be expedited.

Eligibility
The EAP income eligibility process serves as the income eligibility determination process for ERR. ERR funds may serve a household that:
- Is currently eligible for EAP assistance, and
- Is a homeowner and occupies the home, and
- Has a hazardous and life threatening situation, has no heat, or has a malfunctioning heating system

ERR is only allowable for primary furnaces. The intention of ERR is to restore heat where there was once heat. In determining the appropriate ERR activity, the Service Provider should assess the structure of the dwelling and how the furnace functions to heat the house. This assessment allows the Service Provider to determine the validity of the ERR event using the intentions and definitions. Examples include:
- ERR focuses on the primary furnace and not secondary or back up furnaces unless the secondary furnace is required to resolve a situation where there is no heat or/and is a cost effective solution.
- In considering off-peak, back-up or dual furnaces, the Service Provider must determine the extent the dwelling is configured to rely on these systems.

- A household may have a secondary furnace that could be used as a primary furnace if the secondary furnace is both a legitimate option to restore heat and is a cost effective alternative. A secondary system can only be replaced as a cost control measure.
- Non-traditional furnace may not be replaced with ERR funds if it is redundant or a less expensive traditional furnace is possible. Examples are heat pumps, outdoor biomass furnaces/boilers, radiant floor, and fireplace inserts.
- Because most off-peak programs are voluntary, ERR repairs or replaces the primary furnace to restore heat and households are responsible for participation in vendor programs.
- ERR is limited to the wiring (dedicated circuit) that connects from the furnace to the service panel or from the furnace to the thermostat. A dwelling must have adequate electrical service to operate the heating system to be repaired or replaced.

ERR may not be used for:
- Non emergency repairs or replacements
- Repairs or a replacement not initiated by the EAP Service Provider
- Unoccupied dwellings
- If the dwelling currently does not have an installed furnace
- Structures not meeting the definition of a “Dwelling Unit”
-Rental units