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Through this final rule, the Department is standardizing the criteria for State heating and cooling standard utility allowances (HCSUA) used in determining a SNAP applicant household’s shelter expenses as part of the certification process.  The Department also plans to finalize the proposed rule, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Standard Utility Allowances Based on the Receipt of Energy Assistance Payments (81 FR 23189), in this final rule. This update is informed by studies of standard utility allowance methodologies and how representative they are of utility costs incurred by low-income households and public comments received on the proposed rule. Changes to the HCSUA will affect most SNAP recipients.