The monthly housing assistance payment is distributed as follows:
(a) The PHA pays the owner the lesser of the housing assistance payment or the rent to owner.
(b) If the housing assistance payment exceeds the rent to owner, the PHA may pay the balance of the housing assistance payment (``utility reimbursement'') either to the family or directly to the utility supplier to pay the utility bill on behalf of the family. If the PHA elects to pay the utility supplier directly, the PHA must notify the family of the amount paid to the utility supplier. [63 FR 23861, Apr. 30, 1998, as amended at 64 FR 56914, Oct. 21, 1999; 65 FR 16822, Mar. 30, 2000]