HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-193Florida Power & Light Company
FPL CARE TO SHARE® AGREEMENT - INDIAN RIVER COUNTY IN EAST SERVICE AREA
July, 2008 - July, 2013
THIS FPL CARE TO SHARE AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is entered into between
FLORIDA POWER & LIGHT COMPANY, hereinafter referred to as "FPL" and INDIAN
RIVER COUNTY, a political subdivision of the State of Florida hereinafter referred to as
the "Agency."
To assist the emergency needs of people in times of hardship, FPL and its customers
are providing a contribution fund known as the "Care To Share" fund for electric utility
payment.
As a condition to this agreement becoming effective, the Agency administering the
Care To Share funds will provide emergency energy assistance to residents in Indian
River County. The Agency will serve as the administrator and lead service provider for
the program and will be asked to coordinate with any other FPL Care To Share service
provider(s) in the county, as designated by FPL. The relationship between the Agency
and any other FPL Care To Share provider(s) can be formalized through an agreement
between the lead Agency and the other provider(s).
The Agency also will work with any other appropriate social service providers in its area
by sharing program information and promoting broad access to these community
resources through the formal FPL Care To Share structure.
Potential recipients shall have equal opportunity for assistance, and assistance remains
available twelve months per year. As a condition to this Agreement becoming effective,
the Agency represents and warrants to FPL that it is a political subdivision of the State of
Florida within the meaning of Article VIII, section1 of the Constitution Of The State Of
Florida. The Agency will determine the eligibility of energy assistance recipients, subject
to the Care to Share program standards. These standards cannot be added to or
deviated from without the prior consent of the appropriate FPL Area Special Consumer
Services Manager. No person shall subjected to discrimination in connection with the
FPL Care To Share program on the basis of age, gender, disability, race, color, creed,
national origin, religion, or ancestry contrary to applicable law.
The Agency signing this Agreement does hereby bind itself to the following terms and
conditions:
I. Eligibility Requirements
Potential recipients must contact the administering Agency to receive preliminary
screening and to make an appointment with the Agency representative when
appropriate. An eligible recipient is one who meets all the following criteria:
1. Applicant must physically reside in FPL's service area.
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2. Applicant must have an account with FPL or reside at the service location.
3. Must have identification with the same address as the FPL account. Some
examples include: a driver's license showing the FPL service address; a rent
receipt showing the client's name at the FPL service address; a water or phone
bill in the client's name showing the FPL service address; a mortgage statement
showing the client's name and the FPL service address.
4. Must show proof of a family or personal crisis.
5. Must have a delinquent FPL bill, final notice, or disconnect notice for the FPL
account. Current bill is also eligible, if caseworker deems appropriate.
6. Must have exhausted all other available sources for payment of electric service.
After available State and Federal funds for which the applicant qualifies have
been applied for or committed, the Care To Share funds may be used. The
exception is when the applicant is in imminent danger of losing electricity and
time does not allow applying for State and Federal funds.
7. Household income level should fall at or below 150% of the Federal poverty
level. The income of all persons residing at the service address are to be
included in household income. The administering Agency may exercise
flexibility in expanding income limits based on special recipient situations.
8. If assistance is provided, applicant must have a plan in place to maintain
additional/future household expenses.
9. Applicant or member of applicant's household, either together or individually,
must not have received a benefit under the Care To Share Program within the
last twelve months.
10. * Applicant or member of applicant's household must not have a history of fraud
or service tampering. This may include, but not limited to, using a minor or
fictitious name, unauthorized connecting of the meter, or tampering with the
service in any way.
* Note: FPL views fraud and service tampering very seriously. if a client with a
history of fraud or service tampering is permitted to receive an FPL Care To
Share Program commitment, FPL reserves the right to pursue payment from the
customer for any charges related to the fraud or service tampering activity.
None of those charges can be paid for by FPL Care To Share Program funds.
II. Care To Share Application and Documentation
1. Potential recipient's current participation in A.F.D.C., Medicaid, S.S.I., food
stamps, and public housing may be used for means testing.
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2. Caseworkers should verify "self -declaration" of recipient's income based on
established Agency guidelines to limit inappropriate disbursements.
3. The Agency's standard intake form will be utilized for the Care To Share
program.
4. Approved applications, as well as disapproved applications, will be maintained
as required under the Florida Administrative Code as may be amended.
III. Care to Share Payment Requirements
1. All FPL charges with the exception of deposits, non -electric optional products
and services, return check fees, and additional billings resulting from service
tampering (non -inherited current diversion charges) are eligible for the program.
Late payment fees assessed to customer accounts during the time Agency's
disbursement process to the utility is pending are eligible for the program.
2. If funds are available, and the recipient has no other means to pay, the Agency
must pay the entire delinquent amount up to the currently prescribed upper limit,
as determined by FPL. While this limit can be increased or decreased at the
discretion of FPL, the upper limit as of the date of this Agreement is $500.
3. No recipient or a member of recipient's household, either together or individually,
may receive more than a one-time benefit in a 12 (twelve) month period up to
the prescribed upper limit, as referenced in item III -2. No recipient or member of
recipient's household may circumvent this limitation by changing account names
among themselves or by moving to a new location.
4. Disbursement of funds by the Agency must be by check payable to Florida
Power & Light Company and must be received by FPL's Payment Processing
Center no more than 60 days from the commitment date.
5. Payment must be submitted in the name of the FPL customer of record.
6. Exceptions to the requirements listed above require the approval of the
appropriate FPL Area Special Consumer Services Manager.
IV, Public Energy Assistance Programs
The Care To Share Program is designed to fill voids in existing energy assistance
programs that have exhausted their resources or where recipient's needs exceed
program limits. Caseworkers should contact and document efforts to link recipient
with LIHEAP, EHEAEP, and National Food and Shelter (FEMA) program energy
funds.
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V. FPL/Agency Interface
FPL will solicit its customers to contribute to the "Care To Share" Emergency
Energy Assistance Fund via the customer's monthly electric statement and may as
an option supplement customer contributions with corporate contributions. FPL will
determine in its sole discretion the method by which contributions will be collected.
FPL will collect and distribute these funds to the administrative Agency proportional
to the amount of donations received in the area to which the Agency has agreed to
provide program services. FPL corporate contributions will be distributed to the
administrative Agency at the discretion of FPL.
FPL will work closely with the Agency on timing of Agency funding. FPL funds will
be disbursed to the Agency on a quarterly basis. Commitments must be itemized
using an FPL Payment Transmittal form or computer generated facsimile of the
FPL Payment Transmittal form. FPL Transmittal envelopes must be used when
remitting agency payment and FPL Transmittal forms. In some cases
agencies may not be able to use the Transmittal envelope because of their
accounting system. In those cases the assigned ASSIST P.O. Box 02-5231,
Miami FL 33102-5231 must be used. No deductions from contributions will be made
for overhead, salaries, administrative costs or any other expense incurred by the
Agency.
FPL's Assistance and Referral Representatives (ASSIST Reps) will serve as the
utility's primary liaison on a day-to-day basis with Agency caseworkers concerning
billing inquiries. ASSIST Reps will be contacted in a timely manner concerning
committed program funds for each recipient. FPL Area Special Consumer Services
Managers, as listed in this agreement, may serve as alternate contacts when
necessary, and will serve as primary contact persons concerning the on-going
administration of the program. Special Consumer Services Managers have the
authority to consider exceptions to the FPL Care To Share Program requirements.
These are considered on a case-by-case basis.
The agency will encourage energy conservation through referral of the client to
FPL's free energy survey service (1 -800 -DIAL FPL) and by distributing FPL
conservation information when appropriate. The agency will also encourage FPL's
various billing and payment options as appropriate for the recipient, including FPL
62PIus, Friendly Reminder and Budget Billing.
VI. Auditing
The appropriate Agency designee will routinely review recipient files and the
program process. The Agency will include the Care To Share fund in its internal
auditing schedule and report any significant irregularities to FPL. In addition, the
Agency, and/or its designees, will provide to the FPL area contact representative,
on a quarterly basis * (due April 15, July 15, Oct. 15 and Jan. 15) copies of FPL
Transmittal forms indicating the following:
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1. Total recipients served during the preceding quarter by county.
2. Total amount disbursed during the preceding quarter by county.
3. Beginning balance in Care To Share fund, by county.
4. Care To Share funds provided to each county.
5. Total amount remaining in Care To Share fund, by county.
Copies of quarterly audit reports will be provided to the Agency by the FPL area
contact employee.
In addition, when an agency employee is to receive assistance, the Administrator of
the Indian River County Health Department must contact the FPL Area Special
Consumer Services Manager in advance for approval.
* Please note that FPL may request monthly reporting from the agency to further
monitor program activity and program funds balance.
VII. General
The Agency and FPL personnel will strive to provide this community resource with a
high degree of professionalism, reflecting positively on the program's donors, FPL
and the Agency administrator.
The Agency and
Agreement:
FPL have named the following designees for purposes of this
FPL State Contact:
Louis Gonzalez
Coordinator, Special Consumer Services
P. O. Box 029100
Miami, FL 33102-9100
(305) 552-3274
FPL East Service Area Contact:
Dianne Verner
Special Consumer Services
P. O. Box 8768
West Palm Beach, FL 33407
(561) 640-2540
Indian River County Contact:
Jason Brown,
Director of the Office of
Management and Budget
1801 27`h Street
Vero Beach, Florida 32960
(772) 226-1214
Human Services Contact
Bradley Bernauer
Human Services Program Manager
c/o Gifford Health Center
467528 th Court
Vero Beach, Florida 32967
(772) 226-1422
Upon its execution, this Agreement shall supersede any previous agreements and
remain in force for five years — from July 1, 2008, through and including July 1, 2013.
Either party has the right at any time on ninety (90) days written notice to the other to
terminate or amend the Agreement. Should this happen, any remaining funds will be
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returned to FPL along with an accounting.
The Parties understand this program is designed to be flexibleao-pthe.cuere t' eds of
the community, and modifications may be made from time tc�tiMe—to make'theproagram
more effective. Any modifications to this Agreement must bis� -by,iTi'tatQal agreep)pnt ,af the
Parties in form of a written amendment. _ • : s,
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Florida Power & Light Company �nd'the agency cata l this
Agreement to be executed on the date indicated below. =;, -r ••.•z•••, ..•',
Provider: Agency:
FPL, Florida Power & Light Company
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By: _ 7Special Coordi or
Address: Florida Power & Light Company
P.O. Box 029100
Miami, FL33102-9100
Date:.L i 3 L�
Indian River County Board of County
Sandra L. Bowden
Approved by BCC: (Date)
Chairman
June 17, 2008
Attest: Jeffrey K. Barton, Clerk of Circuit Court
By:
Deputy Clerk
Approved:
By:
Joseph A. Baird
County Administrator
Approved as to -Form and Legal Sufficiency:
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