New Mexico Administrative Code
Title 8 - SOCIAL SERVICES
Chapter 150 - LOW INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
Part 410 - GENERAL RECIPIENT REQUIREMENTS
Section 8.150.410.9 - ENERGY RESPONSIBILITY
Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 18, September 24, 2024
A. Energy cost: To be eligible for LIHEAP benefits, the household must incur an energy cost. The energy cost may be for a primary heat source, i.e., the energy source or fuel with which the household is predominantly heated, or for a secondary heat source. A secondary heat source is an energy source that is essential to the process of providing heat to the home. The energy cost may be for a cooling cost. The cooling cost may be for a primary source, i.e., evaporative cooling or refrigerated air, or secondary cooling. Secondary cooling is the use of energy to operate portable fans, ceiling fans, whole house fans, gable vent fans, or power attic vent fans.
B. Secondary heat source: Electricity to ignite a gas or steam furnace is the most common example of an allowable secondary heat source for LIHEAP purposes. Electricity used only for lighting purposes or to operate fans to distribute heat from a wood-burning stove is not considered an allowable secondary heat source for LIHEAP purposes.
C. Wood-gathering households: Households who use wood as a fuel to heat their home and gather the wood themselves are considered to have a heating responsibility. Regardless of whether a direct or indirect cost was incurred to obtain the wood the household meets this requirement.
D. Direct or indirect utility responsibility: The heating/ cooling cost may be direct in the form of a utility payment or fuel purchase, or indirect in the form of a non-subsidized rent payment which either designates or does not designate the included utility cost, or costs associated with obtaining wood for heating households.
E. Crisis intervention: To be eligible for LIHEAP regular or life-threatening crisis intervention, the household must meet the eligibility criteria for regular benefits as specified in 8.150.500.8 NMAC, must not have received a LIHEAP benefit in the current federal fiscal year and, in addition, be able to provide verification that proves the applicant household is facing a current or impending energy crisis, established with any one of the following:
F. Community referrals: In circumstances where the household is not eligible for crisis intervention, or if a balance remains after the crisis/life threatening intervention has been provided, the household shall be informed of other resources in the community, which may be able to assist the household in meeting its energy expenses.