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ESSENTIAL
UTILITY SERVICE
4.00.00
UTILITY SERVICE AND/OR HEATING FUELS - The Trustee may,
in cases of necessity, authorize the payment of water, gas, other
fuels used for heating or cooking, and electric services; including
the payment of delinquent bills for such services, when necessary
to prevent disconnection or to restore terminated services.
There are, however, some limitations: (IC 12-20-16-3)
- The township
will NOT pay utility deposits.
- The utility
service must be in the name of an adult member of the requesting
household; an emancipated minor who is the head of the household,
or a landlord or former member of the household if the applicant
proves that the applicant is responsible for payment of the bill.
- The township
will not pay for utility service received as a result of a fraudulent
act by any adult member of a household requesting poor relief.
- The township
will not consider the payment of delinquent utility bills if the
applicant was ineligible for township assistance at the time the utility
services were incurred, or the delinquent bill is older than forty-eight
(24) months.
- The township
will not consider the payment of "master metered" utility service
when more than one household is served by the same meter.
- The township
will not consider the payment of estimated utility bills.
- During the
period the state's energy assistance program is in effect, the
township will not pay or consider the payment of utility bills
until after the state's energy assistance is credited to the applicant's
account.
4.10.00
ENERGY PROGRAMS - Applicants seeking township assistance with the
payment of energy bills must first utilize all available federal and
state programs designed to assist indigent households with the cost
of energy, and must furnish the township with written proof that an
application for such assistance has been requested from other governmental
sources. During that part of the year, however, when applications
are being accepted by the state's Energy Assistance Program, the township
shall inform an applicant of assistance for heating fuel or electric
services that assistance may be available from the state. The township
will either refer the applicant to the state's Energy Assistance program,
or the township may certify the poor relief applicant as eligible
using criteria established for this purpose by the state. The
certification shall be on an application form prescribed by the Indiana
State Board of Accounts. The township will neither certify nor
process Energy Assistance applications for non township assistance applicants.
(IC 12-20-16-3) |
