A. General Policy
Allowances for PHA-furnished utilities represent the maximum consumption units (e.g., kilowatt hours of electricity) that may be used by a family occupying a dwelling unit without a surcharge for the excess consumption against the resident based on cost.
Allowances for resident-purchased utilities represent fixed dollar amounts that are deducted from the total Tenant Rent chargeable to a resident who pays the actual utility charges directly to the utility suppliers. (See Appendix B)
The information which follows does not apply to dwelling units which are served by PHA-furnished utilities, unless check-meters are installed to measure the actual utility consumption for the individual dwelling units, except that residents in such units will be subject to charges for the consumption of resident-owned major appliances, or for the optional functions of PHA-furnished equipment such as air conditioners.
The PHA will take the following actions with respect to allowances:
1. For all check-metered utilities, establish consumption allowances for PHA-furnished utilities.
2. For all utilities purchased directly by residents, establish utility allowances for resident-purchased utilities.
3. Maintain a record of the basis on which allowances and scheduled surcharges are established and revised, plus records of any revisions to the allowances and scheduled surcharges. The PHA will make such records available for inspection by residents.
4. Notify all residents of proposed allowances, scheduled surcharges and revisions.
Transmit the notice to residents not less than sixty (60) days prior to the proposed effective date of the new allowances, scheduled surcharges or revisions and describe the basis for determining these.
Include in the notice a statement of the specific items of equipment and functions whose utility consumption requirements were included in determining the allowances, scheduled surcharges or revisions. Also include the name and address of the place where the PHA maintains, and residents may inspect, records pertaining to these matters.
5. Provide all residents an opportunity to submit written comments at least thirty (30) days before the proposed effective date of the new allowances, scheduled surcharges or revisions.
6. Maintain the resident comments and make them available for inspection by the
7. Establish separate allowances for each utility, and for each category of dwelling units that are reasonably comparable in utility usage.
8. Establish allowances for both PHA-furnished utilities and resident-purchased utilities so that they include a reasonable amount of consumption for:
a. Major equipment or utility functions furnished by the PHA for all residents, such as a heating furnace and a hot water heater;
b. Essential equipment, whether or not furnished by the PHA, such as a cooking stove, range or refrigerator; and
c. Minor items of equipment furnished by residents, such as toasters, radios and television sets.
9. In establishing allowances, take into account relevant factors affecting consumption requirements, such as the equipment and functions to be covered by the utility allowance; the local climate; design and construction of the housing development;
energy efficiency of appliances and equipment; utility consumption requirements of appliances and equipment to be covered by the TTP; insulation, weatherization and other physical aspects of the housing development; and temperature of domestic hot water, size of units; and number of occupants.
10. Incorporate into the utility allowance the full price of any utility for which the resident pays a fixed price. For example, garbage collection cost.
11. For dwelling units that are subject to consumption allowances for PHA-furnished utilities and have check-meters installed, establish surcharges for utility consumption in excess of the allowances. Base surcharge on the PHA’s average utility rate;
compute the surcharge on the PHA's average utility rate; compute the surcharge on either a straight per unit-of purchase basis (such as so many cents per kilowatt hour of electricity) or on a stated block of excess consumption, and describe in the PHA Schedule of Surcharges the basis for calculating such surcharges.
12. For dwelling units that are served by PHA-furnished utilities and have no check-meters installed, establish a Schedule of Surcharges. Such schedules indicate the additional dollar amounts residents will be required to pay, on the basis of the estimated utility consumption attributable to resident-owned major appliances or optional functions, such as air conditioning or PHA-furnished equipment. In such Schedule of Surcharges, state the resident-owned equipment or PHA-furnished equipment for which surcharges will be made, and the amounts of such surcharges, based on the PHA’s cost of the utility consumption estimated to be attributable to the reasonable use of equipment.
13. At least annually, review the basis on which the utility allowances has been established, and if necessary to adhere to the above standards, revise the allowances.
Include in the review all changes in circumstances, such as the completion of a modernization program, energy conservation measures, and changes in utility rates.
Following the annual review, the PHA will adjust the utility allowances if there is a ten percent (10%) or more change in the rates of one or more utilities.
14. On a case-by-case basis, grant individual resident relief from the surcharges for excess consumption of PHA-furnished utilities, or from the payment of utility supplier billings in excess of the allowances for resident-purchased utilities, on such reasonable grounds as the PHA deems appropriate. For example, special needs of the elderly, disabled, or special factors affecting utility usage that are not within the control of the resident. (Examples: use of a battery charger for recharging electric wheelchair batteries or use of oxygen equipment.)
15. Adopt the criteria for granting such individual resident relief, and the procedures for requesting such relief, at the same time as the methods and procedures for determining utility allowances. In each notice to residents (new or existing), include information about the availability of the individual resident relief.
16. If a resident's TTP is less than the resident's allowance for utilities, pay the resident a utility reimbursement, i.e., the difference between the TTP and the allowance for utilities. The PHA’s present utility allowances, by development, and by bedroom size, are listed in Appendix B.
17. Utility Reimbursement. The PHA has the option to pay the utility reimbursement to the family or directly to the utility company.
18. When a resident makes application for utility service in his/her own name, he/she shall sign a third-party notification agreement so that the PHA will be notified if the resident fails to pay the utility bill.
B. Reasonable Accommodation of Residents with Disabilities
Upon a request from a family that includes a disabled or elderly person, the PHA will approve a utility allowance that is higher than the applicable amount on the utility allowance schedule if a higher utility allowance is needed as a reasonable accommodation in accordance with 24 CFR Part 8 to make the program accessible to and useable by the family with a disabled family member.
Residents with disabilities will not be charged for the use of certain resident-supplied appliances if there is a verified need for special equipment because of the disability.