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6-III.D. APPLYING UTILITY ALLOWANCES [24 CFR 982.517] <br />Overview <br />A PHA-established utility allowance schedule is used in determining family share and PHA <br />subsidy. A family's utility allowance is determined by the size of dwelling unit leased by a <br />family or the voucher unit size for which the family qualifies using PHA subsidy standards, <br />whichever is the lowest of the two. See Chapter 5 for information on the PHA’s subsidy <br />standards. <br />For policies on establishing and updating utility allowances, see Chapter 16. <br />Flat Fees [24 CFR 982.517(b)(2)(iii)] <br />The PHA may base its utility allowance payments on actual flat fees charged by an owner for <br />utilities that are billed directly by the owner, but only if the flat fee charged by the owner is no <br />greater than the PHA’s applicable utility allowance for the utilities covered by the fee. If the <br />owner charges a flat fee for some but not all utilities, the PHA must pay a separate allowance for <br />any tenant-paid utilities not covered in the flat fee. <br />SAHA Policy <br />SAHA will not base utility allowance payments on flat fees charged by the owner. <br />PBV Developments [24 CFR 982.517(b)(2)(iv)] <br />If a tenant-based voucher holder resides in a project with project-based voucher (PBV) units and <br />the PBV units use a site-specific utility allowance in accordance with PBV regulations, the PHA <br />must use the project-specific utility allowance schedule. <br />Reasonable Accommodation and Individual Relief <br />On request from a family that includes a person with disabilities, the PHA must approve a utility <br />allowance which is higher than the applicable amount on the utility allowance schedule if a <br />higher utility allowance is needed as a reasonable accommodation to make the program <br />accessible and usable by the family member with a disability [24 CFR 982.517(e)]. (See Chapter <br />2 for policies regarding the request and approval of reasonable accommodations.) <br />Further, the PHA may grant requests for individual relief from charges in excess of the utility <br />allowance on reasonable grounds, such as special factors not within control of the resident, as the <br />PHA deems appropriate. The family must request the higher allowance and provide the PHA an <br />explanation of the need for individual relief and an explanation about the amount of additional <br />allowance required [see HCV GB, p. 18-8]. <br />PHAs should develop criteria for granting individual relief, notify residents about the availability <br />of individual relief, and notify participants about the availability of individual relief programs <br />(sometimes referred to as “Medical Baseline discounts”) offered by the local utility company. <br />EXHIBIT 1