(a) In determining the maximum allowable annual payment of Energy Crisis Intervention Program benefits for eligible households under Section 16367.5, the Department of Economic Opportunity may take into consideration the energy cost variations between baseline territories as established by the Public Utilities Commission or between counties within the state.
(b) Persons applying for benefits under this subdivision shall be entitled to submit an application for benefits at the designated community agencies during regular business hours. Applications shall be accepted and eligibility shall be determined immediately after the applicant has provided the evidence required under this subdivision. If the application is denied, the applicant shall be given a written statement of the reason for denial, availability of a fair hearing to contest denial, and procedure for exercising hearing rights.
(c) Service providers of energy crisis benefits shall accept applications for energy crisis benefits at sites that are geographically accessible to all households in the areas served by the providers. Service providers shall provide to low-income persons who are physically infirm, the means to do either of the following:
(1) Submit applications for energy crisis benefits without leaving their residence.
(2) Travel to the sites at which applications for energy crisis benefits are accepted.
(d) Persons eligible for energy crisis benefits shall receive some form of assistance to resolve the energy crisis not later than 48 hours after applying for the benefits. If, however, the person eligible for energy crisis benefits faces a life threatening situation, that person shall receive some form of assistance immediately and in no case later than 18 hours after applying for the benefits.
(Amended by Stats. 1987, Ch. 465, Sec. 1.)