Vermont's Heating Fuel Assistance Program
Certified heating oil, kerosene, and propane suppliers must choose one of the mandate discount pricing programs. Under the Margin Over Rack pricing option the daily price is posted by the fuel assistance office. The Vermont Fuel Assistance Rack Price (VFARP) can be found here. A fuel dealer that opts for Discount-Off-Retail (DOR) pricing must provide a 15-cent discount on the daily cash price. This means if a dealer offers discount for cash or prompt payment by non-fuel assistance customers, the 15-cent discount must be deducted from that lower price. While the 15-cent discount also applies for crisis fuel deliveries, the additional cash or prompt payment discount is only required on seasonal fuel assistance deliveries, not crisis fuel deliveries. All community action agencies are under direction to use the dealer of record first when ordering a crisis fuel delivery.
Fuel assistance funds can only be used for fuel delivered between November 1 and April 30. Benefits cannot be used for repairs, services, or special trip charges. Up to 17% of a client’s seasonal fuel assistance benefit can be applied to a fuel product back balance, but only with their permission.
A Vermonter may be eligible for fuel assistance if the gross household income is equal to or less than 185% of the federal poverty level based on household size. To apply for fuel assistance, contact the Vermont Benefits Call Center at 1-800-479-6151
When it comes to fuel oil tank inspections, there is no “winter exemption” when it comes to first fills. Vermont’s Aboveground Storage Tank Regulations require a fuel company to inspect a tank when they fill it for the first time. If you are not certified to inspect tanks, you can not conduct a tank inspection. Find out who is certified and how to become certified at vermontfuel.com/list.
A heating fuel company must be certified in Vermont in order to receive fuel assistance funds for Vermont customers.
A list of fuel & utility suppliers certified with the Fuel Assistance Program can be found here.
Click here to download Certification Agreement. Click here to download Terms and Conditions.
Click here to sign up for Margin Over Rack (MOR). Click here to sign up for Discount off Retail (DOR).