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SAHA Policy <br />The family must request the higher allowance and provide SAHA with information about <br />the amount of additional allowance required. <br />SAHA will consider the following criteria as valid reasons for granting individual relief: <br />The family’s consumption was mistakenly portrayed as excessive due to defects <br />in the meter or errors in the meter reading. <br />The excessive consumption is caused by a characteristic of the unit or owner- <br />supplied equipment that is beyond the family’s control, such as a particularly <br />inefficient refrigerator or inadequate insulation. The allowance should be adjusted <br />to reflect the higher consumption needs associated with the unit until the situation <br />is remedied. The resident should be granted individual relief until the allowance is <br />adjusted. <br />The excessive consumption is due to special needs of the family that are beyond <br />their control, such as the need for specialized equipment in the case of a family <br />member who is ill, elderly, or who has a disability. <br />In determining the amount of the reasonable accommodation or individual relief, SAHA <br />will allow a reasonable measure of additional usage as necessary. To arrive at the amount <br />of additional utility cost of specific equipment, the family may provide information from <br />the manufacturer of the equipment, or the family or SAHA may conduct an internet <br />search for an estimate of usage or additional monthly cost. <br />Information on reasonable accommodation and individual relief for charges in excess of <br />the utility allowance will be provided to all families at admission as part of the <br />information on payment standards and utility allowances in the briefing packet. SAHA <br />will also provide information on utility relief programs or medical discounts (sometimes <br />referred to as “Medical Baseline discounts”) that may be available through local utility <br />providers. <br />At its discretion, SAHA may reevaluate the need for the increased utility allowance at <br />any regular reexamination. <br />If the excessive consumption is caused by a characteristic of the unit or SAHA-supplied <br />equipment that is beyond the family’s control, such as a particularly inefficient <br />refrigerator or inadequate insulation, the individual relief to the resident will cease when <br />the situation is remedied. <br />Utility Allowance Revisions <br />At reexamination, the PHA must use the current utility allowance schedule [HCV GB, p. 18-8]. <br />SAHA Policy <br />Revised utility allowances will be applied to a family’s rent and subsidy calculations at <br />the first annual reexamination that is effective after the allowance is adopted. <br />EXHIBIT 1