3-003.01H1b Eligibility for Standard Utility Allowance (SUA)

475 NAC 3-003.01H1b

Any household which is billed for a heating or cooling expense on a recurring basis separately and apart from its rent or mortgage is entitled to the SUA. A household must have a recurring heating or cooling cost or receive or anticipate they will receive a Nebraska Low Income Energy Assistance Program (NLIEAP) payment during the period the SUA is intended to cover. If the household does not expect to receive another NLIEAP payment in the next season and does not pay heating or cooling costs, the household is no longer entitled to the SUA.

Recurring means that the household is billed on a regular basis or the expense is incurred on a regular basis. A household that only incurs cooling costs for two weeks out of the year is not entitled to the SUA. A household that incurs heating or cooling costs several months out of the year is entitled to the SUA. A household which incurs recurring cooling or heating fuel costs on an irregular basis (i.e., propane) but is otherwise eligible to use the SUA may continue to use the SUA between billings. A household only needs to receive one NLIEAP payment for its current residence during the SUA year to entitle the household to the SUA for the entire SUA year.

Cooling costs that entitle the household to the SUA are those costs related to the operation of an air conditioning system, evaporative cooler, swamp box, or room air conditioner(s). The use of a fan does not qualify the household for the SUA.

Utility costs for the operation of a space heater, electric blanket, heat lamp, a cooking stove, etc, when used as a supplemental heating source do not qualify a household for the SUA. The cost of operating an electric blower for an oil or gas furnace does not qualify a household for the SUA.

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