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DSS LIHEAP working group kicks off review of bulk fuel-purchasing options; report due Jan. 31
Summary
The Department of Social Services convened a LIHEAP working group to review best practices and study whether bulk purchasing of home heating fuel is feasible; members will meet monthly through December and DSS plans to submit a report to the joint standing committees by Jan. 31 (meeting materials list 01/31/2005).
The Department of Social Services’ LIHEAP working group opened a series of monthly meetings to review best practices, gather documents from state counterparts and study whether bulk purchasing of home heating fuel could be used within the state’s LIHEAP program.
Cassie, the DSS representative leading the effort, told members the group will produce a report for the joint standing committees with a deadline shown in the meeting materials as "01/31/2005." She said, "this report of the work that we're actually going to be able to do here and share with everyone by that deadline of 01/31/2005," and urged members to provide materials and expertise to help inform the analysis.
The group agreed to a fast-paced schedule of monthly meetings in September, October, November and December and to post agendas, minutes, slide decks and recordings on a DSS LIHEAP working-group page. DSS staff said the meetings will be publicly viewable through a DSS YouTube link and that CTN picked up the session, and staff offered to distribute the Zoom link to members who want to invite outside experts.
Chris, a participant with experience collecting regional program information, urged the group to obtain formal vendor agreements and source documents from Northeast counterparts rather than relying on anecdotal recollections. Chris also reported limited precedent in government-funded LIHEAP programs for using bulk purchasing: "There there are no states, in the Northeast that I'm aware of that is used for bulk purchasing as the part of their LIHEAP, grant." He recalled a tabletop exercise roughly 20 years ago that examined fixed contracts and hedging instruments, which organizers then decided not to pursue, but said the policy environment has changed enough to warrant re-examination.
DSS discussed bringing in subject-matter experts; Cassie asked Chris to present on bulk purchasing at the third meeting. Cassie also described historical pricing practices: a fixed-margin pricing document originally developed by Paul Brecknell and a current county-tied reimbursement structure that DSS plans to summarize for new members.
No formal motions or votes were recorded at the session. Participants raised scheduling issues — one member noted a likely absence on Nov. 4 — and DSS said it would circulate save-the-dates and meeting invites. The working group encouraged members to submit documents for posting and asked anyone with vendor or procurement expertise to volunteer or recommend speakers at future meetings.
The working group will continue monthly and expects to present research and potential implementation options for a new pricing approach for home heating oil vendors beginning in 2026, with the next meeting scheduled for Sept. 3 (as discussed at the session).
