FFY2013 EAP Annual Training

1. FFY2013 EAP Annual Training Part 3: Xcel Energy; Energy Vendors; Public Utilities Commission; Internal Controls; Documentation, Program Eligibility

24. Xcel Energy Q&A

25. Chapter 3 Energy Vendors

26. Chapter 3 Energy Vendors Training Highlights • Context • New chapter content • Increasing EV knowledge • Increasing EV responsibility • Energy vendor training • Energy vendor monitoring • Reminders and areas for improvement

27. Chapter 3 Context Context for Improvements • Significant improvements this year • “The Finding” • Crisis JAD • National Program Integrity Working Group Final Report • Revision process engaged: • Vendor SMEs (Thank you) • PUC • The big 4 energy vendors - Xcel, CPE, MERC, MN Power • DOC attorneys

28. Chapter 3 New Content Increasing EV knowledge of program • Primary Heat and Crisis • Program benefit description • Eligibility requirements • Allowable costs • Crisis information verification required of energy vendors • Broken down by type of vendor • Specifies information SPs will ask • Specifies post delivery verification for delivered fuels • Instructions to reduce ineligible Crisis deliveries • Delivered fuel vendors

29. Chapter 3 New Content Increasing EV abilities • Instructions for searching eHEAT for payments • Resources for payment questions • Instructions for entering refunds in eHEAT

30. Chapter 3 Active Participation • Coordinated Responsibility Model • Accuracy, effectiveness, efficiency and integrity of services • Role in internal controls • Consumption, account information and benefit delivery • Conduct control measures • Before applying payments to account • Post payment as well • Some lack ability – need to work towards it • Implement and maintain eHEAT security policies • More improvements coming

31. Chapter 3 Active Participation Control measures: • Account credits: Crisis payments do not create a credit on an account • Account for an unoccupied dwelling: Payments are applied only to active accounts at occupied dwellings • Household refund requests: Requests are reviewed for potential noncompliance issues first and are only granted after September 30 • Households that have moved: Refund EAP within 10 days of a move • Questionable payments: Payments are questioned if they appear abnormal to EAP practices • Two EAP households’ payments to one account: Only one EAP household’s payments are applied to one account

32. Chapter 3 SP/EV Agreement Changes to the Agreement • “Dwelling” language added throughout • Cable, internet, telephone added to unallowable expenses • eHEAT security requirements FFY13 signed agreements must be received before distributing payments

33. Chapter 3 EV Training Roles DOC • Big 4 (76% of FFY12 EAP HHs) • Associations • Plans to develop training tools Service Providers • Assure all energy vendors understand program services, requirements, policies, and procedures • Invest time now – decrease issues later

34. Chapter 3 EV Monitoring • Project Planning • Coordinated effort • Improvements to the Monitoring Report • Great job this year – many issues discovered • Issues identified should be reported to the DOC • T&TA (Training & Technical Assistance) opportunity • Year round activity • Thank you!

35. Energy Vendors Q&A

36. Energy Assistance Program Fall Training August 15-16, 2012 Public Utilities Commission Brian Swanson Stay Warm Minnesota

37. Public Utilities Commission • Who is the Public Utilities Commission? • What is the Cold Weather Rule? • How can Energy Assistance providers assist customers with Cold Weather Rule protection?

38. Public Utilities Commission • Regulate • Local and in-state long distance telephone companies • Investor-owned electric and natural gas utilities • Permitting for power plants, pipelines, transmission lines • 5 Commissioners • Appointed by the Governor • Serve staggered terms • FT employment • 40 staff

39. Public Utilities Commission • Services provided by the PUC Consumer Affairs Office • Mediation between utility companies and their customers • Consumer Education • Telephone Discount Programs • Cold Weather Rule • Utility Resource • Public Comments

40. Public Utilities Commission • Interagency Relationships • Attorney General • Department of Commerce • Federal Communications Commission • Governor • Legislators (State and Federal) • Public Utilities Commissions in other states • Social Service Organizations

41. Cold Weather Rule • Protects customers from having heat shut off in the winter • Residential • Heat affected • Electric and natural gas • October 15 through April 15

42. Cold Weather Rule • Regulated Cold Weather Rule (CWR) Companies • Alliant Energy/Interstate Power & Light • CenterPoint Energy • Community Utility Company • Dakota Electric Association • Great Plains Natural Gas • Greater Minnesota Gas • Island Gas/Sheehan’s Gas Company • Minnesota Energy Resources Corp (MERC) • Minnesota Power • Northwest Natural Gas • Northwest Natural Gas of Murray County • Northwestern Wisconsin Electric • Otter Tail Power • Xcel Energy

43. Cold Weather Rule Pre-season bill inserts • Explanation of the Cold Weather Rule • Explanation of no-cost and low-cost methods to reduce energy consumption • Third-party notice • Ways to avoid disconnection • Information regarding payment agreements • Explanation of the customer's right to appeal • List of names and telephone numbers for county and local energy assistance and weatherization providers in each county served by the utility

44. Cold Weather Rule CWR Payment Plan • Reconnect service OR prevent disconnection • Available to all residential customers, regardless of income • Payment installments need not be equal; may be based on factors such as lump sum payments or additional income expected during payment period • If income at or below 50% of state median, payments no more than 10% of household income

45. Cold Weather Rule • Disconnect notice • Ten working days prior to disconnection date • CWR insert must be included • What’s next?

46. Cold Weather Rule • Customer contacts utility • NO written application required • Household income at/below 50% of state median income • Enter into mutually acceptable CWR payment plan • Consider household’s financial resources and circumstances • No more than 10% of household income • Make and keep CWR payment plan • Customer must contact utility to request modification of CWR payment plan • Payment agreement ends April 15 unless utility and customer agree to a different end date

47. Cold Weather Rule • Customer contacts utility • NO written application required • Household income greater than 50% of state median income • Enter into mutually acceptable CWR payment plan • Consider household’s financial and other extenuating circumstances • Make and keep CWR payment plan • Customer must contact utility to request modification of CWR payment plan • Payment agreement ends April 15 unless utility and customer agree to a different end date

48. Cold Weather Rule • Customer contacts utility • Utility and customer do NOT agree on a CWR payment plan • Utility informs customer of right to appeal • Utility sends appeal form to customer • Customer has 10 working days to complete appeal and send to PUC • PUC has 20 working days to issue decision on appeal

49. Cold Weather Rule • Customer contacts utility • Customer fails to keep CWR payment plan • Customer subject to disconnection

50. Cold Weather Rule • Customer does not contact utility • Must investigate whether occupied or vacant • If vacant, proceed with disconnection • If occupied… • Make contact with customer • Offer CWR payment plan • Customer subject to disconnection without CWR payment plan