277-22 Exhibit(s)-Low Income Household Water Assistance Program.pdf

New Jersey Department of Community Affairs Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) Division of Housing and Community Resources 101 South Broad Street Trenton, NJ 08625 LIHWAP@dca.nj.gov CONTRACT FOR SERVICES BETWEEN Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) NJ DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS AND TOWNSHIP OF WEST ORANGE This Vendor Contract is entered into by and between the State of New Jersey, Department of Community Affairs, Division of Housing and Community Resources under the following terms: 1. Definitions a) Department means the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. b) Division means the Division of Housing and Community Resources. c) LIHWAP means the Low‐Income Household Water Assistance Program. d) LIHWAP payment includes home drinking water and wastewater benefits. e) Vendor means any private or public entity in the business of supplying water and/or wastewater related services to customers. f) LIHEAP means the Low‐Income Home Energy Assistance Program. 2. The Division agrees to the following: a) To provide funds for LIHWAP. b) To assign a vendor number/business code to each Vendor after the contract is signed. c) To issue to a Vendor a single check or Automated Clearing House (ACH) payment that includes benefits for all LIHWAP eligible households. A payment register shall precede the check or ACH deposit. The register includes the name of the LIHWAP applicant, the account name and number, the amount(s) to be applied to each customer, and the address and county of residence of the applicant. 3. The Vendor agrees to the following: a) To provide water and/or wastewater services to each eligible residential household in an amount equal to the LIHWAP payment received in the

or agrees to the following: a) To provide water and/or wastewater services to each eligible residential household in an amount equal to the LIHWAP payment received in the current program year. b) To charge LIHWAP eligible households using the Vendor’s normal billing process. c) To charge all LIHWAP eligible households the price normally charged for home drinking water and/or wastewater supplied to non‐eligible households. d) Not to discriminate against a LIHWAP eligible household with respect to terms, deferred payment plans, credit, conditions of sale or discounts offered to other customers. e) To provide to the Division, upon request, with written reconciliation and confirmation that benefits have been credited appropriately to households and their services have been restored, if terminated, on a timely basis or disconnection status has been removed, if applicable. f) To apply LIHWAP payments identified in the payment schedule as directed by the Agency and/or Division. g) To post all payments to customer accounts within 3‐5 business days upon receipt of payment register. h) To clearly enter on LIHWAP households’ bill the amount of LIHWAP payment(s) received in a manner which identifies the payment as received from the New Jersey Low Income Household Water Assistance Program or LIHWAP. i) To restore water services upon receiving LIHWAP payment, whether or not the payment resolved the arrears in its entirety, and to maintain services for at least 180 days. For those customers whose LIHWAP payment did not resolve the arrears in its entirety, the vendor shall immediately enter into a Deferred Payment Agreement (DPA) for the remaining arrears. j) Not to charge late fees, interest and penalty charges on outstanding amounts not covered by LIHWAP benefits. k) To provide monthly statements to LIHWAP households clearly indicating the cost of home drinking water and/or wastewater services provided. l) To send all refunds in compliance with LIHWAP Vendor refund policies no later than September 30, 2022.

wastewater services provided. l) To send all refunds in compliance with LIHWAP Vendor refund policies no later than September 30, 2022. 1 of 3 NJ LIHWAP