Transcript LIHEAP in Idaho - Weatherization Assistance Program

IDAHO’S USE OF LIHEAP FUNDS IN ITS
WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
 LIHEAP funding maintaining our Weatherization network is
more important than ever with decreased federal funding
 Idaho has asked for a waiver to increase LIHEAP WAP funding
from 15% up to 25%.
IDAHO’S LIHEAP
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Energy assistance payments
LIHEAP Crisis payments
LPW crisis
LPW weatherization
HEATING ASSISTANCE
 Provides monetary assistance to qualifying individuals for
their primary heating utility billing
 Benefit amount is determined by a benefit matrix
 Season starts October 1 st through June 30 th
 October is allocated for Homebound and individuals from off -site
intake sites.
 Other applicants are provided heating assistance starting Nov. 1.
 End date of season depends on amount of available funding.
 Heating assistance beneficiaries are referred for
Weatherization services.
CRISIS ENERGY ASSISTANCE (EACR)
 Purpose of this fund is to address and ameliorate energy
issues which may pose health and/or safety risks to low income households, particularly the elderly, disabled and
households with small children
 Two primary uses of EACR funding
 To mitigate out of fuel, imminent shut-off, or shut-off
 Provide energy efficient or measures that address health and safety
issues within the dwelling.
WHAT CONSTITUTES A CRISIS?
 Generally, any activity that is necessary to resolve a crisis is
allowable, such as providing temporary shelter until heat can
be restored by the repair or replacement of a furnace.
 Allowable measures include, but are not limited to: furnace
repair, furnace replacement, broken window repair, broken
window replacement, imminent danger of shut -of f, shut-of f, or
out of fuel. A crisis may also exist due to extreme cold or
heat which constitutes a threat to the health and/or safety of
a member of the household.
EACR LIMITS
 The funding amount limit is $750
 If the circumstances require an expenditure of more than
$750, the LIHEAP or WX Manager shall consult with CAPAI or
the CERM staf f.
 Prior approval is needed for all expenditures over $750
 Households can only apply for EACR funding once per
calendar year
LIHEAP WEATHERIZATION
 Program takes a House -as-System approach
 Building science principles
 Audit software to verify measure Saving-to-Investment Ratio (SIR)
LIHEAP FUNDING
 LIHEAP funding is a critical component of maintaining a base
weatherization infrastructure.
 LPW weatherization reduces the long -term energy and heating
bills of low -income families
 DOE reports that weatherization returns $2.50 in energy and
non-energy benefits for every $1 invested.
 Weatherization addresses health and safety, participant
comfort, as well as energy ef ficiency
CURRENT LIHEAP BREAKDOWN
55.92% Heating assistance
4% Crisis assistance
15% weatherization assistance
10 % carryover to the following fiscal year
10% administrative and planning costs
5 % services to reduce home energy needs including needs
assessment
 0.08% used to develop and implement leveraging activities
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LIHEAP WEATHERIZATION WAIVER
REQUEST
 Idaho is requesting that the percentage allocated to
weatherization by increased from 15% up to 25%.
 Percentage allocated will be determined by IDHW in response
to current funding sources for our weatherization network.
WAIVER AUTHORIT Y
 Authority to request a waiver appear in the July 6, 1982
Federal Register 47 FR 29472 Part 96 of Title 45 of the Code
of Federal Regulations as amended, with final rules published
May 1 , 1995 in 60 FR 21322
REVIEWING A GRANTEE’S WAIVER
REQUEST
 HHS may grant a Good Cause Waiver if it determines that the
grantee, in this case, IDHW:
 Demonstrates good cause why a waiver should be granted;
 Provides all required information:
 Shows adequate concern for timely and meaningful public review and
comment; and
 Proposes weatherization that meets all relevant requirements
WAIVER CRITERIA
 Two criteria are expected to be met in order to grant the
waiver
 The total number of households receiving benefits in the current year
will not be fewer than those that received benefits in the previous
year
 Benefits in the current year will not be less than the benefits received
in the preceding year.
 The State of Idaho does not meet the criteria set forth in
either of these sections.
GOOD CAUSE WAIVER
 The following demonstrates why the waiver should be granted
 Household application drop attributed to family living arrangements
 There was no appreciable improvement to the economy to warrant a drop
in household applications
 Benefit amount had been reduced to correspond with the
anticipated number of applications
 As well, the season for the previous year had been extended
due to remaining funds
 Outreach ef forts remained the same as the previous year
WAIVER OPPOSITION
 There was zero participation by outside groups at the public
hearing
 To our knowledge, there was only group that filed a formal
comment in opposition to the waiver
 That group was a utility who might see their monetary funding from
LIHEAP energy assistance decrease.
ADDITIONAL FACTORS SUPPORTING THE
WAIVER REQUEST
ID Low-Income Weatherization Program
Annual Program Funding Expenditures by Funding Source in Millions
25
20
BPA
15
DOE SERC
DOE ARRA
10
DOE
HHS
5
0
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
CURRENT WAIVER PROGRESS
 IDHW is addressing participant concerns with the plan before
submission to HHS
 Submission is expected within the month.
CONCLUSION
 LIHEAP funding is instrumental in providing assistance for our
low -income participants
 The three provisions: energy assistance, energy assistance
crisis, and weatherization assistance work together to provide
a safety net to our clients.
 The LIHEAP Waiver Request can provide additional flexibility
to the State in meeting the needs of our clients and our direct
service providers.