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) 
 

  1. The township will NOT pay utility deposits.
  2. 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. 
  3. 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. 
  4. The township will not consider the payment of delinquent utility bills if the applicant was ineligible for poor relief at the time the utility services were incurred, or the delinquent bill is older than forty-eight (24) months.
  5. The township will not consider the payment of "master metered" utility service when more than one household is served by the same meter. 
  6. The township will not consider the payment of estimated utility bills.
  7. 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 poor relief 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 poor relief applicants. (IC 12-20-16-3) 

 

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