CT HB05426

Commissioner of Social Services shall convene a working group to study best practices in other states for fairly compensating deliverable fuel vendors in energy assistance programs while maximizing recipient funding, with report due January 31, 2025.

Working group shall include representatives from fuel vendor organizations, community action agencies, Department of Administrative Services, energy assistance recipients, and the Office of the Consumer Counsel.

Commissioner shall study feasibility of developing a common application and benefits portal for low-income home energy assistance and Operation Fuel, Incorporated, with report due July 1, 2025.

Commissioner shall establish county and regional pricing standards for deliverable fuel and reimburse fuel providers based on delivery-date prices, effective July 1, 2024, with new fair-compensation pricing standards to take effect November 1, 2025.

Fuel vendors may electronically submit authorized fuel slips or invoices for payment, and commissioner must include new pricing standards in the annual program plan by August 1, 2025.