Section 1715-02-.03 - REQUEST FOR A GRANT FROM THE UDRF(1) A grant request must include the grant request form approved by the Board or be made pursuant to a public portal or website approved by the Board, if such is available. (a) The grant request must be complete, and must include the following information:1. A summary of the need for a grant. This includes a summary of what the payments will be used for and why existing funds or customer revenue is insufficient to cover these expenses;2. The FDU's most recent audit, or written explanation why such audit cannot be provided; and3. A feasibility study performed by the Tennessee Association of Utility Districts ("TAUD") or other qualified entity. This feasibility study may be the study required by T.C.A. § 7-82-704(a). Any entity other than TAUD must be approved by Board staff.(b) The grant request may include any supplementary information the applicant wishes to include.(2) The Board or Board staff may request any additional information necessary to determine whether the Utility qualifies for a grant, and how or when payments should be made.(3) Grant requests and additional information may be submitted by the USPS or other delivery service, email, or by any other means made available by the Board.(4) Grant requests will only be approved upon a showing that all eligibility requirements are met. This includes the requirements set forth above, in addition to statutory and other requirements. It is the burden of the applicant to establish eligibility for these payments.(5) Grants are presumed to take the form of reimbursement for expenses incurred and will be paid to the merged Utility when proof of expenditures is submitted to Board staff. Grants may take other forms upon Board approval.(6) Quarterly Reports (a) Any Utility that receives grant payments under this section must submit a quarterly report to the Board on a form approved by the Board.(b) Reports must be submitted within 90 days from the date of the first disbursement of funds, and every 90 days thereafter.(c) Two quarterly reports must be submitted after the date of the last grant disbursement.(d) These reports may be submitted in the same manner as a grant request.Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1715-02-.03
New rules filed January 23, 2023; effective 4/23/2023.Authority: T.C.A. §§ 4-5-202, 7-82-702(a)(1), 7-82-704(b), and 7-82-707(a)(2).