HomeMy WebLinkAboutContract 60898CSC No. 60898
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an NRG company
January 10, 2024
Mr. Fernando Costa
Asst. City Manager
City of Fort Worth
200 Texas Street
Ft Worth, TX 76102
Re: 2024 Letter Agreement for Reliant Energy Retail Services, LLC CARE Program ("CARE").
Dear Mr. Costa,
Reliant Energy Retail Services, LLC (Reliant) is a certified Retail Electric Provider serving residential customers in the
Texas ERCOT Market and is required to establish and maintain an energy assistance program in accordance with the
rules and regulations of the Public Utility Commission of Texas. Neighborhood Services Dept, City of Fort Worth
(Agency) has a proven record of managing energy assistance and relief programs and is capable of processing Reliant's
customer payment assistance in an efficient, effective manner.
Each year Reliant allocates funding to support its CARE program. Reliant has invited Agency to participate in the annual
Reliant CARE program subject to the terms outlined in this letter agreement. Within 60 days of receipt of this signed
agreement, a completed IRS W-9 Form (required prior to first payment each year) and EFT form (for new agencies),
Reliant will contribute $5,000.00 to the Agency in support of the 2024 CARE Program.
The purpose of these contributions is to provide funding for energy assistance payments to Reliant customers under the
CARE program. The funds contributed for energy assistance payments must be deposited in a depository bank account
held in trust for Reliant and may only be used for payment of Reliant customer account balances. The Agency will not
discriminate during the distribution of CARE funds because of race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital
status, lawful source of income, level of income, disability, financial status, and location of customer in an economically
distressed geographic area.
Agency will accept program applications from potential clients and qualify Reliant customers as eligible recipients in
accordance with the following CARE program requirements:
• Each client recipient of CARE contributions must be a Reliant customer with an active account.
• The client recipient name must match the Reliant customer account name.
• Each client recipient should be notified that the contributions are from the Reliant CARE program.
• A client recipient on a Reliant prepaid service plan is eligible for CARE assistance payments.
• The maximum annual client assistance payment limit is $500.00.
• Client recipients of CARE contributions are eligible to receive multiple assistance payments on their account if
the cumulative amount does not exceed the maximum annual payment limit of $500.00 in accordance with the
Agency hardship criteria.
OFFICIAL RECORD
CITY SECRETARY
FT. WORTH, TX
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Agency Program Guidelines:
• Agency will distribute and discuss program guidelines in a training session with all volunteers and staff.
• Agency qualifies active Reliant customer.
• Agency contacts Reliant Agency Desk via phone to make an inquiry or pledge on behalf of the customer
(888) 363-3574
• Agency remits payment within 30-45 days from the pledge date to Reliant and includes documentation with
Customer Name, Customer Account # and Pledge Payment Amount that denotes CARE payment. Payment can
be sent by check or ACH:
o If paying by check, mail check and documentation to the Standard Payment Remittance Address:
Reliant Energy Retail Services, LLC
P. O. Box 1046
Houston, Texas 77251-1046
Attn: Credit Operations —Agency Assistance
Gayl Morris (Credit Operations — Agency Assistance Manager) 713-537-2864
o If paying by ACH, documentation should be emailed or faxed to Credit Operations —Agency Assistance:
Email: CreditOpsARencv@nrR.com
fax: 1-866-367-0343 or 713-488-5469
• Agency must submit a monthly report form by the 10th of each month to Reliant via email recording activity and
balance of funds regardless if funds were distributed ornot. Agency must submit the monthly report form in
order to be eligible to receive additional funding contributions under Reliant's annual CARE program.
o Email monthly report to both:
■ Sandee Treptow, STreptow@reliant.com direct phone 469- 277-4083
■ Credit Ops, CreditOpsApencv(@nre.com (888) 363-3574
Additional Agency funding opportunity under Reliant's annual CARE program is determined solely by Reliant and
is based on the need of customers served by the Agency, Agency's utilization of current and previous funds and
accurate timely reporting as well as the availability of CARE funds. Agency may request additional 2024 CARE
Program funds when Agency has pledged or utilized 75% of the 2024 contribution funds. Additional
contributions are subject to available 2024 CARE Program funds at time of request.
• Agency must also keep records of all transactions relating to the distribution of Reliant CARE contributions for a
period of 2 year(s) and will allow Reliant full access during normal business hours to inspect, audit or reproduce
all such records and books of related to this agreement. Reliant CARE contribution funds may not be allocated
or applied to operational or administrative expenses incurred by Agency.
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• Reliant can terminate this agreement at any time during the year by providing 30 days advance written notice to
Agency. Agency must take all necessary action outlined in the termination notice to conclude the program
work.
• All 2024 Care Program funds that are not utilized or pledged to aid qualifying Reliant customers by December
31, 2024, will be eligible to rollover to the next CARE program year, subject to approval by Reliant. In the event
Agency's participation in the CARE Program is terminated for any reason, all remaining funds that are not
utilized or pledged for qualifying Reliant customers must be returned to Reliant via check or ACH transaction
within 45 days of the date of termination.
To acknowledge your agreement to and acceptance of the terms and conditions outlined in this letter please sign below.
Keep a copy for your records and return a copy to Reliant attention Sandee Treptow at STreptow@reliant.com
Sincerely,
Leanne Schneider
Director, Reliant Community Relations
AGREED AND ACCEPTED
By
Name
Title
Date:
Agency Name: Neighborhood Services Dept. — City of Fort Worth
TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS
2024 RELIANTCARE PROGRAM
CONTRACT CSC No.
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY:
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Jessika Williams
Assistant City Attorney
ATTEST:
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Jannette Goodall
City Secretary
M&C: M&C 24-0026
Dated: January 23,2024
RELIANT CARE
By: Leanne Schneider (signed electronically -see attached contract)
Title: Director, Reliant Community relations
Contract Compliance Manager:
By signing below, I acknowledge that I am the person responsible for the monitoring and
administration of this contract, including ensuring all performance and reporting requirements.
Victor Turner, Director
Neighborhood Services
OFFICIAL RECORD
CITY SECRETARY
FT. WORTH, TX
M&C Review
Page 1 of 2
A
CITY COUNCIL AGEND
Create New From This M&C
DATE: 1/23/2024 REFERENCE NO.: **M&C 24-0026 LOG NAME:
CODE: C TYPE: CONSENT PUBLIC
HEARING:
Official site of the City of Fort Worth, Texas
FoRT WORTH
19NS RELIANT
ENERGY 2023
RN]
SUBJECT: (ALL) Ratify Extension of the 2017-2022 Grant Agreement with Reliant Energy Retail
Services, LLC for its CARE Program to Extend the Term to December 31, 2023,
Authorize Execution of a New Agreement in a Total Amount Up to $100,000.00 for the
Reliant CARE Program from January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2029, and Adopt
Appropriation Ordinance
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Ratify the extension of the 2017-2022 Grant Agreement with Reliant Energy Retail Services,
LLC for its CARE Program to extend the term of the agreement to December 31,2023;
2. Authorize the acceptance of interest earned for the advanced funds in the amount of
$724.25;
3. Authorize the execution of a new agreement with Reliant Energy Retail Services, LLC in
an amount up to $100,000.00 for the CARE Program from January 1,2024 through December
31,2029; and
4. Adopt the attached appropriation ordinance increasing estimated receipts and appropriations
in the Grants Operating Other Fund, subject to receipt of the grant, in the amount of
$100,724.25, for the purpose of funding the CARE Program.
DISCUSSION:
Reliant Energy Retail Services, LLC, (Reliant Energy) developed the CARE Program (Program) as a
supplement to government and community aid programs designed to assist Reliant Energy
customers in financial distress to meet their electric utility related costs. The Program is funded by
voluntary contributions from Reliant Energy, its customers, its employees and third parties.
The Neighborhood Services Department's (NSD) Community Action Partners will administer the
Program. Eligible recipients of the Program must be a Reliant Energy customer with an active
account; the name must match the Reliant Energy customer account name; and recipients may
receive payments not to exceed $300.00 annually.
On June 06, 2017, the City Council authorized an agreement with Reliant Energy in an amount up to
$100,000.00, which ended on December 31, 2022 (Mayor and Council Communcation C-28269). The
CARE Program has since been extended through December 31, 2023. Therefore, staff requests
approval to extend the term of the City's arrangement with Reliant Energy to December 31, 2023 to
coincide with the extended term of the program. To avoid untimely agreement renewals, NSD staff will
monitor the terms in PeopleSoft's reporting module. Additionally, Staff requests authorization for the
execution of a new contract with Reliant Energy in the total amount up to $100,000.00 for the CARE
Program from January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2029.
During the period of June 2017 to September 30, 2023, the City received a total amount of
$73,732.98 from Reliant Energy in the form of advanced funds. These funds earned interest earnings
of $724.25 which need to be appropriated by the City for the program. A total of 254 Tarrant County
households have been assisted under this program with grant funds totaling $59,079.93. It is projected
that under the new agreement, up to 350 qualified households will receive assistance.
http://apps.cfwnet.org/council_packet/mc review.asp?ID=31734&councildate=1/23/2024 1/25/2024
M&C Review
Page 2 of 2
The term of the Agreement will begin on the date of execution of the Agreement. The Agreement will
automatically renew on a year-to-year basis until terminated. No indirect costs are allowed by Reliant
Energy and no matching funds are required.
This program serves ALL COUNCIL DISTRICTS and remaining parts of Tarrant County.
FISCAL INFORMATION/CERTIFICATION:
The Director of Finance certifies that upon approval of the above recommendations, and adoption of
the attached appropriation ordinance, funds will be available in the current operating budget, as
appropriated, in the Grants Operating Other Fund. The Neighborhood Services Department (and
Financial Management Services) will be responsible for the collection and deposit of funds due to the
City. Prior to expenditures being incurred, Neighborhood Services Department has the responsibility
to validate the availability of funds. This is an advance grant.
TO
Fund Department Account Project Program I Activity Budget Reference # Amount
ID ID Year (Chartfield 2)
FROM
Fund Department Account Project Program Activity Budget Reference # Amount
ID ID I Year (Chartfield 2)
Submitted for Citv Manager's Office bv: Fernando Costa (6122)
Originatinci Department Head:
Additional Information Contact:
ATTACHMENTS
Victor Turner (8187)
Sonia Singleton (5774)
Benedict George (7339)
Fid Table for Reliant Energv M&C.xlsx (CFW Internal)
ORD.APP 19NS RELIANT ENERGY 2023 21003 A024(r4).docx (Public)
Reliant Enerqv Proiect 101075 - Proiect Budget Summarv.0df (CFW Internal)
http://apps.cfwnet.org/council_packet/mc review.asp?ID=31734&councildate=1/23/2024 1/25/2024