Finding Text
Condition: The 2022 program year heating funds reconciliation report was not completed and submitted to the State of Delaware in a timely manner. Criteria: Charities receives advanced funding from the State of Delaware to make payments to energy vendors on behalf of eligible program participants. In some instances, a participant?s approved benefit amount may exceed the amount of funds actually utilized by the energy vendor. At the end of each heating season, Charities must perform a reconciliation of unused heating benefits, request the return of unutilized benefits from the energy vendors, and refund the State of Delaware by June 15th. Cause: Turnover in program staff and lack of established procedures to reconcile DEAP payment vouchers with the corresponding funding invoices. Effect: Unused heating benefits were not refunded to the State of Delaware by June 15, 2022. Recommendation: We suggest that Charities implement procedures to ensure the final heating funds reconciliation report is completed accurately and any related refund is remitted to the State of Delaware in accordance with the established timeline.