201504022014 WAQC Report.pdf

<EHmr"
?fl15 APitLISA D. NORDSTROM
Lead Counsel
I [e-mail]
April 1 ,2015
VIA HAND DELIVERY
Jean D. Jewell, Secretary
ldaho Public Utilities Commission
472 West Washington Street
Boise, ldaho 83702
Re: Case No. IPC-E-03-13, Order No. 29505 - Compliance Filing
2014 Annual Report of Weatherization Assistance for Qualified
Customers Program
Dear Ms. Jewell:
Enclosed please find eight (8) copies of ldaho Power Company's report on the
2014 activity for the Weatherization Assistance for Qualified Customers program filed in
compliance with Order No. 29505. lf you have any questions regarding the content ofthe report, please direct them to Darlene Nemnich at [phone] or
d nem n ich@idahopower. com.
Very truly yours,
X;P lbw
Lisa D. Nordstrom
LDN/KKI
Enclosures
SEffi*.
Weatheri zati on Assi sta n ce
for Qua I ified Customers
*i)
\l)
2014 Annual Report
April 1, 2015
ldaho Power Company Weatherization Assistance for Qualified Customers
Tnale oF CoNTENTS
Table of Contents................ ................... i
List of Tab1es............ ........... i
Description .........1
Background............... ...........1
Review of Weatherized Homes and Non-Profit Buildings By County .......3
Review of Measures Installed. ...............6
Overall Cost-Effectiveness ....................9
Customer Education and Satisfaction............ ........15
Plans for 2015 ....................18
LIsT oF TABLES
Table 1
2014 WAQC activities and Idaho Power expenditures by agency and county ..........4
Table 2
2014 Idaho WAQC base funding and unspent funds made available... ......................6
Table 3
2014 WAQC review of measures installed. ..........7
2014 WAQC Annual Report Page i
Weatherization Assistance for Qualifi ed Customers ldaho Power Company
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Page ii 2014 WAQC Annual Report
ldaho Power Company Weatherization Assistance for Qualified Customers
DescnrPTroN
The Weatherization Assistance for Qualified Customers (WAQC) program provides financial
assistance to regional Community Action Pannership (CAP) agencies in ldaho Power's service
area. This assistance helps fund weatherization costs of electrically heated homes occupied by
qualified customers who have limited incomes. The WAQC program also provides a limited pool
of funds for the weatherization of buildings occupied by non-profit organizations serving
primarily special-needs populations, regardless of heating source, with priority given to buildings
with electric heat. Weatherization improvements enable residents to maintain a more
comfortable, safe, and energy-efficient home while reducing their monthly electricity
consumption. Improvements are available at no cost to qualified customers who own or rent their
homes. Weatherization customers also receive educational materials and efficiency ideas on
using energy wisely in their homes. Local CAP agencies determine participant eligibility
according to federal and state guidelines.
BecxcRouND
In 1989, Idaho Power began offering weatherization assistance in conjunction with the State of
Idaho Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP). Through the WAQC program, Idaho Power
provides supplemental funding to state-designated CAP agencies for the weatherization of
electrically heated homes occupied by qualified customers and buildings occupied by non-profit
organizations that serve special-needs populations. This allows CAP agencies to leverage their
federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) weatherization funds and
serve more people with special needs.
2014 WAQC Annual Report Page 1
Weatherization Assistance for Qualified Customers ldaho Power Company
Idaho Power oversees the program in Idaho through five regional CAP agencies. The company
has an agreement with each CAP agency that specifies the funding allotment, billing
requirements, and program guidelines. The five regional CAP agencies include CCOA-
Aging, Weatherization and Human Services (CCOA), Eastern Idaho Community Action
Partnership (EICAP), EL ADA Community Action Partnership (EL ADA), South Central
Community Action Partnership (SCCAP), and Southeastern Idaho Community Action
Agency (SEICAA). In Oregon, Community Connection of Northeast Oregon, Inc. (CCNO)
and Community in Action (CINA) provide weatherization services for qualified customers in
Idaho Power's service area.
Idaho Power submits this Weatherization Assistance for Qualified Customers 2014 Annual
Report in compliance with the Idaho Public Utilities Commission's (IPUC) Order No. 29505.
This report includes the following topics:
o Review of weatherized homes and non-profit buildings by county
o Review of measures installed
o Overall cost-effectiveness
o Customer education and satisfaction
o Plans for 2015
2014 WAQC Annual Report
ldaho Power Company Weatherization Assistance for Q ual ified Customers
Reuew oF WEATHERIZED HOMES AND NoIt.PRoFlT
Burorncs BY Gourury
ln2}l4,Idaho Power made $1,302,609 available to Idaho CAP agencies. Of the funds provided,
$1,190,073 were paid in20l4, while $112,536 were accrued for future funding. Of the funds
paid in 2014, $1,019,463 directly funded audits, energy efficiency measures, and health and
safety measures for qualified customers' homes (production costs) in Idaho, and $101,946
funded administration costs to Idaho CAP agencies for those homes weatherized. Idaho Power
funding provided for the weatherizationof 239Idaho homes and 5 Idaho non-profit buildings in
2014. The production cost of the non-profit building weatherization measures was $62,422,
while $6,242 in administrative costs were paid for the Idaho non-profit building weatherization
jobs. In Oregon, Idaho Power paid $45,475 in production costs for 11 qualified homes and
54,547 in CAP agency administrative costs for homes in Malheur and Baker counties. Table I
shows each CAP agency, the number of homes weatherized, production costs, average cost per
home, administration payments, and total payments per county made by Idaho Power.
2014 WAQC Annual Report Page 3
Weatherization Assista nce for Q ual ified Customers ldaho Power Company
Table 1
2014 WAQC activities and ldaho Power expenditures by agency and county
Agency County
Number Production Average
of Homes Cost Cost'
Administration
Payment to TotalAgency Payment
!daho
ccoA
EICAP
EL ADA
SCCAP
SEICAA
Total ldaho Homes
ldaho Non-Profit Buildings
Total ldaho Non-Profit
Buildings
Boise
Canyon
Gem
Payette
Agency Total
Lemhi
Agency Total
Ada
Elmore
Owyhee
Agency Tota!
Cassia
Gooding
Jerome
Lincoln
Twin Falls
Agency Total
Bannock
Bingham
Power
Agency Tota!
Lemhi
Ada
Twin Falls
Blaine
2
64
I
1
68
3
3
85
6
10
101
1
2
1
3
15
22
24
8
'13
45
239
1
1
2
1
5
$ 15,022
247,625
3,534
7,566
$ 273,747
11,625
$ 11,625
427,110
36,683
53,007
$ 516,799
1,831
8,752
2,883
9,835
77,607
$ 100,908
63,459
15,747
37,178
$ I16,383
$ 1,019,463
5,834
15,360
38,526
2,702
$ 62,422
7,511
3,869
3,534
7,566
4,026
3,875
3,875
5,025
6,114
5,301
5,117
1,831
4,376
2,883
3,278
5,174
4,587
2,644
1,968
2,860
2,586
4,266
1,502
24,762
353
757
27,374
1,163
1 ,163
42,711
3,668
5,301
51,680
183
875
288
984
7,761
10,091
6,346
1,575
3,718
I I,639
101,946
583
1,536
3,853
270
6,242
16,524
272,387
3,887
8,323
301,121
12,788
12,788
469,821
40,351
58,308
568,479
2,014
9,627
3,172
10,819
85,368
110,999
69,805
17,321
40,895
128,022
1,121,409
6,418
16,896
42,378
2,972
68,664
$
$
$
$
$
$
Tota!ldaho $ 1,081,884 $ 108,188 $ 1,190,073
Oregon
ccNo
CINA
Baker
Agency Total
Malheur
Agency Total
7,487
$ 7,497
37,987
$ 37,987
2
2
I
9
3,744
3,74
4,221
4,221
749
749
3,799
3,799
8236
8,236
41,786
41,786
Tota! Oregon homes 11 $ 45,475 4,134 $4,547 50,022
Tota! Program 255 $ 1,127,359 $ 112,736 $ 1,240,094
' Agency average cost total is equal to the production cost divided by the number of jobs.
Note: Dollars are rounded.
Page 4 2014 WAQC Annual Report
ldaho Power Company Weatherization Assistance for Qualified Customers
The base funding for Idaho CAP agencies is $1,212,534 annually, which does not include any
carryover from the previous year. Idaho Power's agreements with CAP agencies include the
provision allowing a maximum annual average cost per home of up to a dollar amount specified
in the agreement between the CAP agency and Idaho Power. The intent of the maximum annual
average cost is to provide the CAP agency flexibility to service some homes with greater or
fewer weatherization needs. It also provides a monitoring tool for Idaho Power to forecast
year-end outcomes. The average cost per home served is calculated by dividing the total annual
Idaho Power production cost of homes weatherizedper CAP agency by the total number of
homes weatherized that the CAP agency billed to Idaho Power during the year. The maximum
annual average cost per home each CAP agency was allowed under the 2014 agreement was
$6,000. ln2}l4,Idaho CAP agencies had a combined average cost per home served of $4,266,
and Oregon CAP agencies averaged $4,134 per home. No CAP agency exceeded their maximum
average cost.
CAP agency administration fees are equal to 10 percent of Idaho Power's per-job production
costs. The average administration cost paid to agencies per Idaho home weatherized in 2014 was
$427, and the average administration cost paid to Oregon agencies per Oregon home weatherized
during the same period was $413. Not included in the dollar totals reflected in Table 1 are
additional Idaho Power staff labor, marketing, evaluation, home verification, and support costs
for the WAQC progtrm totaling $57,556 for 2014. These expenses were in addition to the
WAQC program funding requirements in Idaho specified in IPUC Order No. 29505.
In compliance with IPUC Order No. 29505, WAQC program funds are tracked separately,
with unspent funds carried over and made available to CAP agencies in the following year.
ln20l4, $90,075 in unspent funds from 2013 were made available for expenditures in Idaho.
2014 WAQC Annual Report Page 5
Weatherization Assistance for Q ual if ied Customers ldaho Power Company
Table 2 details the base funding and unspent funds from 2013 that were available in20l4 and the
total amount of 2014 spending.
Table 2
2014ldaho WAQC base funding and unspent funds made available
Agency
2014 Base
Funding
Available
Funds from
2013
Tot:.l2014
Allotment
Total 2014
Spending
ldaho
cco4..........
EtcAP..........
EL 4DA........
SCCAP
SEICAA
Non-profit buildings.......
ldaho Total
302,259
12,788
568,479
167,405
1 1 1,603
50,000
1,212,534
38,21',|
51,864
90,075
302,259
12,788
568,479
167,405
149,814
101,864
1,302,609
30'lj20
12,788
568,479
1 10,999
128,022
68,664
1,190,073
Note: Dollars are rounded.
Reuew OF MEASURES IUSTaILED
Table 3 details home counts for which Idaho Power paid all or a portion of the measure costs
during 2014. The Home Counts column represents the number of times any percentage of that
measure was billed to Idaho Power during the year. If totaled, measure counts would be higher
than the total homes weatherized because the number of measures installed in each home varies.
For example, Table 3 shows 72 homes received a compact fluorescent lamp/light (CFL)
measure. Each home received more than one bulb. Consistent with the Idaho WAP, the WAQC
program offers several measures that have costs but do not necessarily save energy or for which
the savings cannot be measured. Included in this category are health and safety measures, vents,
furnace repairs, other, and home energy audits. Health and safety measures are necessary to
ensure weatherization activities do not cause unsafe situations in a customer's home or
compromise a home's existing indoor air quality. Other non-energy saving measures are
Page 6 2014 WAQC Annual Report
ldaho Power Company Weatherization Assistance for Qual ified Customers
allowed under this program because of their interaction with the energy-saving measures.
Examples of items included in the "other" measure category include vapor barriers, dryer vent
hoods, and necessary electrical upgrades. The EA5 energy audit program (EA5) is a software
program approved for use by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and chosen by the Idaho
Department of Health and Welfare (IDHW) for use in the Idaho state WAP and, therefore,
it is used by Idaho CAP agency weatherization managers. The EA5 includes material costs,
labor costs for installation, agency and contractor support costs, and estimated savings for
individual measures.
Table 3
2014 WAQC review of measures installed
Home Counts Production Costs
ldaho Home and Non-Profit Measures
Windows
Wall insulation
Ceiling insulation
Vents
lnfiltration
Health and safety...........
Other ...........
Water heater
Pipes ...........
Refrigerator*
Fumace tune .............
Furnace repair...........
Furnace replace.........
cF1..............
Audit............
Total ldaho Homes and Non-Profit Measures
126
113
11
99
12
85
133
45
33
22
4
32
6
3
9
164
72
143
176,377
75,717
10,323
72,536
1,262
68,982
29,888
26,385
13,662
7,336
3,868
1,688
19,384
688
9,100
550,279
2,311
12,098
1,081,884
Continued on next page.
2014 WAQC Annual Report PageT
Weatherization Assistance for Q ual ified Customers ldaho Power Company
Table 3 (continued)
Home Counts Production Costs
Oregon Home Measures
Windows......
Ceiling insulation
Floor insu|ation ..................
lnfiltration.....
Ducts ...........
Health and safety...........
Pipes ...........
Total Oregon Homes Measures
'10,359
11,056
15,438
3,530
468
4,302
322
45,475
*One ldaho refrigerator replacement was a commercial refrigerator for a non-profit food bank.
Note: Dollars are rounded.
Annually, Idaho Power physically verifies approximately l0 percent of the homes
weatherized under the WAQC progftrm. This is done through two methods. The first method
includes the Idaho Power program specialist participating in ldaho's and Oregon's state
monitoring process that reviews weatherized homes. The process involves utility representatives;
weatherization personnel from CAP agencies; Community Action Partnership Association of
Idaho, Inc. (CAPAI); and the IDHW or Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS)
reviewing homes weatherized by each of the CAP agencies. CAP agency weatherization
departments weatherize homes in accordance with federal guidelines.
The second method involves Idaho Power contracting with two companies-The Energy
Auditor, lnc., and Momentum,LLC-that employ certified building performance specialists to
veriff installed measures in customer homes. The Energy Auditor verifies homes weatherized for
the WAQC program in Idaho Power's eastern and southern Idaho regions. The owner of Energy
Auditor is certified by Performance Tested Comfort Systems and is an ENERGY STARo home
performance specialist. Momentum verifies weatherization services provided through the WAQC
program in the Capital and Canyon regions of Idaho and in Idaho Power's Oregon service area.
Page 8 2014 WAQC Annual Report
ldaho Power Company Weatherization Assistance for Qualified Customers
The owner of Momentum is a Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET@) certified home
energy rater. After these companies verify installed measures, any required follow-up is done by
the CAP agency personnel.
Ove naLL Gosr-E F F EcrvEN ESS
Prior to 2012, reported annual savings and individual project screening for the WAQC program
were determined solely using annual savings estimates from the Idaho WAP EA4 energy audit
tool (EA4).1n2012, the Idaho WAP, and therefore the WAQC program, upgraded to the EA5.
The EA5 is used for the WAQC program in conjunction with the Idaho WAP for leveraging
funds by weatherization managers who are billing the State of Idaho and Idaho Power for each
completed home weatherization job. In the field, the weatherization auditor uses the EA5 to
conduct the initial audit of potential energy savings for a home. The EA5 compares the
efficiency of measures prior to weatherizationto the efficiency after the proposed improvement
and translates that change into savings-to-investment ratio (SIR). The output of the EA5 SIR is
similar to the participant cost test (PCT) ratio. If the EA5 computes an SIR of 1.0 or higher,
the CAP agency is authorized to complete the proposed measures. In addition to the individual
measure SIR, the entire job is required to show an SIR of 1.0 or higher.
In20l4, the total utility cost (UC) benefit/cost (B/C) ratio for the WAQC program was 0.51,
while the B/C ratio from the total resource cost (TRC) perspective was 0.42. ln20l4,the B/C
ratios declined compared to 2013 due to the downward change in the DSM alternative costs from
the 2013 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) that Idaho Power uses to value energy efficiency.
ln20l3, the UC B/C ratio was 0.95, while the TRC B/C ratio was 0.74. Based on20l4 savings
and costs, the WAQC program continued to not be a cost-effective program in2014.
2014 WAQC Annual Report Page 9
Weatherization Assistance for Qualified Customers ldaho Power Company
ln20l2,Idaho Power contracted with D&R International, Ltd., to conduct an impact evaluation
of 20ll WAQC activities. The impact evaluation was completed and provided to Idaho Power in
February 2013. Results indicated significantly lower realizedenergy savings forthe WAQC
program compared with initial EA4 savings estimates from 201l. The average per-home savings
reported in the impact evaluation were2,684 kilowatt-hows (kWh). As a result of the evaluation
results and recommendations by the evaluator, the EA5 was no longer deemed an accurate
sonrce for annual savings estimates for WAQC projects. For reported savings in20l2 and20l3,
the evaluated average per-home savings of 2,684 kWh were used.
ln2Dl4,Idaho Power conducted a billing analysis on participants' billing datafrom2}l2,
and the results were used to report savings for 2014. The additional billing data analysis was
done to increase Idaho Power's understanding of savings resulting from the program and to
incorporate one of the recommendations from D&R Intemational-to use a control group.
This would account for non-weather related changes in energy use not attributable to the
program's weatherization measures. Homes where WAQC weatherization projects were
completed during 2010 were used as a control group to eliminate change in energy consumption
due to factors other than program weatherization. For the updated billing analysis, Idaho Power
also wanted to explore whether savings could be further differentiated between housing type
(single-family versus manufactured home), heating footprint of the home, and number of
occupants in the home. In contrast, the D&R International2012 analysis only compared
customer's billing data before and after weatherization.
All updated billing analysis and data preparation was done in accordance with the
Whole-building Retrofit with Consumption Data Analysis Evaluation Protocol document
published in April 2013 by the DOE at energy.gov/eere/about-us/ump-protocols.
Page 10 2014 WAQC Annual Report
ldaho Power Company Weatherization Assistance for Q ual ified Customers
Similar methods of consumption analysis of billing data were also used in recent regional
studies, including the Final Summary Report for the Ductless Heat Pump Impact and Process
Evaluation prepared by Ecotope, Inc., and published by the Northwest Energy Efficiency
Alliance (NEEA) in February 2014 at neea.org/docs/default-source/reportslel4-274-dhp-final-
summary-report-(final).pdflsfrrsn:8 and SEEM Calibration, Phase 1, published by the Regional
Technical Forum (RTF) in May 2014 atrtf.nwcouncil.org/measures/support/SEEM/Default.asp.
Total claimed estimated savings for 2014 projects were 533,800 kwh, with 184,587 kWh from
single-family homes and336,401 kwh from manufactured homes. An additional 12,812 kWh
resulted from weatherization projects at non-profit sites. Idaho Power's analysis results
showed differences between average savings in manufactured and single-family type homes.
Manufactured home savings per home were similar to the findings of the previous D&R
Intemational analysis evaluation results, with savings of 2,568 kWh per year. Single-family
homes, when arralyzed independently from manufactured homes, revealed fewer savings than the
2012 evaluation results provided to Idaho Power in 2013, with an updated estimate of 1,551 kWh
per year per home. The effects of fruther segregating savings analyses by the heating footprint of
the home, number of occupants, and climate were not statistically significant across all housing
types and therefore were not factored into saving estimates. Idaho Power plans to continue
monitoring savings from WAQC through further billing analyses. Additionally, the RTF is
analyzrngmanufactured-home audit data from 201 I to 2012 to validate regional savings models
used for manufactured-home savings estimates for heat pumps and weatherization. The resulting
collaboration with the RTF will provide insights into how to potentially enhance analysis
methods and techniques of the program.
2014 WAQC Annual Report Page 11
Weatherization Assistance for Qualified Customers ldaho Power Company
For the five WAQC non-profit projects in2014,Idaho Power used the savings estimated at
1.03 kWh per squa"re foot of weatherized heated space. This was based on the average decrease
in annual energy intensity from the billing analysis of single-family homes resulting in an annual
savings for non-profits of 1.03 kWh/heated square foot. The small number of projects and the
lack of homogeneity among non-profit projects did not allow for a billing analysis based on
previous projects. Non-profit projects were excluded from the D&R International impact
evaluation. Idaho Power continues to look for methods to best estimate savings for
non-profit-type proj ects.
ln2}l3,Idaho Power administered a process evaluation of the WAQC program through the
third-party contractor Johnson Consulting Group. The contractor gathered data from a variety of
sources, including reviews of program materials, the program database, and in-depth interviews
with key agency and Idaho Power staff and stakeholders from May through August 2013.
In addition, Johnson Consulting Group conducted a literature review about low-income program
non-energy benefits (NEB) and cost-effectiveness policies used in other areas.
The recommendations from the IPUC staff s report and IPUC Order No. 32788 were used for a
cost-effectiveness analysis for 2014. These recommendations include the following:
. Applying a l0O-percent net-to-gross (NTG) value to reflect the likelihood that WAQC
weatherization projects would not be initiated without the presence of a program
o Claiming 100 percent of project savings
o Including an allocated portion of the indirect overhead costs
. Applying the l0-percent conservation preference adder
Page 12 2014 WAQC Annual Report
ldaho Power Company Weatherization Assistance for Q ual ified Customers
o Claiming one dollar of benefits for each dollar invested in health, safety,
and repair measures
o Amortizing evaluation expenses over a three-year period
A contract was signed with Kearns ENTerprises" to develop a home audit tool to be used in
Idaho Power's Weatherization Solutions for Eligible Customers program starting in 2015.
The updated tool was designed to capture key data and more details regarding measures installed
for health and safety. Updated calculations for estimates of energy savings and measure
information to more accurately report program effectiveness were built into the program.
The new Home Audit Tool (HAT 14.1) was distributed in January 2015 to contractors
participating in the Weatherization Solutions for Eligible Customers progftrm and will be tested
throughout 2015 in that program. The WAQC program will use the tool if the Idaho state WAP
adopts it.
Updates to the energy audit tool included the following:
o Heating degree days and lives of measures to be used in calculating SIRs and estimated
energy savings were updated.
o Data-entry points were programmed into the tool as checkboxes to better categonze items
installed under the Health and Safety category. This will allow consistency between
agencies and will add quantitative capabilities for future reporting of NEBs.
o Data-entry points were added to the tool to more easily calculate SIRs and estimated
savings for refrigerator replacements.
2014 WAQC Annual Report Page 13
Weatherization Assistance for Q ual ified Customers ldaho Power Company
o Housing-type data-entry points were added to clariff housing types and increase the
capability of estimating savings by housing type.
o A support cost was hard-coded into the new progftIm to calculate a maximum
percentage of support cost per measure. Sub-contracted labor no longer receives this
financial support.
o A data-entry point calculating a minimum percent of Idaho Power costs required to
be paid by the landlord for participation when a home is not owner-occupied was
hard-coded into the progftlm.
o Data-entry points were added to count the number of CFL and light-emiuing diode
(LED) installations to better estimate savings.
o All necessary items to ensure information is transmitted into an Idaho Power
database through proper file transfer protocol were included for the security of
customer information.
In addition, the University of Idaho Integrated Design Laboratory GDL) developed a
weatherization heat pump calculator to check estimated energy savings reported by the new
HAT 14.1 when a heating system has been replaced as a part of weatherization in a home.
HAT 14.l will be used forjobs submitted through Idaho Power's Weatherization Solutions for
Eligible Customers program in 2015.
Page 14 2014 WAQC Annual Report
ldaho Power Company Weatherization Assistance for Qualified Customers
GusroMER EoucnrtoN AND SansreciloN
Idaho Power provides materials to each CAP agency to help educate qualified customers who
receive weatherization assistance on using energy effrciently. Included in the materials are copies
of the Idaho Power booklets 30 Simple Things You Can Do to Save Energt ard Energt Saving
Ilps, which describe energy conservation tips for the heating and cooling seasons, and a
pamphlet that describes the energy-saving benefits of using CFLs, LEDs, and other tips for
choosing the right bulb. Idaho Power actively informs customers about WAQC through energy
and resource fairs and other customer contacts. Idaho Power's Customer Service Center
regularly informs customers about the program.
To stay current with new programs and services, Idaho Power attends state and federal energy
assistance/weatherization meetings and other weatherization-specific conferences, such as the
Affordable Comfort Conference by the Building Performance Institute. Idaho Power is also
active in the Policy Advisory Council, helping advise and direct Idaho's state weatherization
application for funding to the DOE.
As described in the Review of Measures Installed section above, Idaho Power used independent,
third-party verification companies across its service area to randomly check approximately
10 percent of the weatherization jobs submitted for payment by the program. These home
verifiers ensure the stated measures are installed in the homes of participating customers and
discuss the program with these customers. Home verifiers visited 44 homes, requesting feedback
about the program in2014. When asked how much customers learned about saving electricity,
35 customers answered they learned "alot" or "some." When asked how many ways they tried to
save electri city, 39 customers responded "a lot" or "some."
2014 WAQC Annual Report Page'15
Weatherization Assistance for Qualified C ustomers ldaho Power Company
As recommended by Johnson Consulting Group in the 2013 process evaluation, a customer
survey was developed to assess major indicators of customers' satisfaction and progftlm
operations consistently throughout the service area. The 2014Weatherization Programs
Customer Survey was provided to all progftlm participants in all regions upon completion of
weatherization in their homes. Survey questions gathered information about how customers
learned about the program, reasons for participating, how much customers learned about saving
energy in their homes, and the likelihood of household members changing behaviors to use
energy wisely.
Idaho Power received survey results from237 of the 250 households weatherized by the program
in20l4. Of the 237 swveys received back from customers, 228 were from Idaho customers and
9 from Oregon customers. Some key highlights include the following:
o Over 47 percent of respondents learned of the program from a friend or relative,
and another almost l5 percent learned of the progftrm from an agency flyer.
Nearly 6 percent leamed about the weatherization program by receiving a letter in
the mail.
o Almost 90 percent of the respondents reported that their primary reason for participating
in the weatherization program was to reduce utility bills, and over 45 percent wanted to
improve the comfort of their home.
o Almost 74 percent reported they learned how air leaks affect energy usage, and just
over 65 percent indicated they learned how insulation affects energy usage during the
weatherization process. Another almost 57 percent of respondents said they learned how
to use energy wisely.
Page 16 2014 WAQC Annual Report
ldaho Power Company Weatherization Assistance for Qual ified C ustomers
o Over 79 percent reported they were very likely to change habits to save energy,
and almost 80 percent reported they have shared all of the information about energy use
with members of their household.
Over 86 percent of the respondents reported that they think the weatherization they
received will significantly affect the comfort of their home, and nearly 94 percent said
they were very satisfied with the program.
o Over 86 percent of the respondents reported that the habits they were most likely to
change was turning off lights when not in use, and over 6l percent said that washing fuIl
loads of clothes was a habit they were likely to change to save energy. Turning the
thermostat up in the summer was reported by nearly 51 percent, and tuming the
thermostat down in the winter was reported by almost 58 percent as a habit they and
members of the household were most likely to change to save energy.
A summary of the above survey is included in the Demand-Side Management 2014 Annual
Report's Supplement 2: Evaluation available online at
idahopower. com/EnergyEffi ciency/reports. cfm.
Also recommended in the Johnson Consulting Group 2013 process evaluation was that
Idaho Power begin developing a new energy audit tool. The tool was completed in 2014 for
Idaho Power's Weatherization Solutions for Eligible Customers program and may be accepted
by the Idaho state WAP.
In Oregon, Idaho Power filed an updated tariff for the program. The tariff removed funding for
the non-profit pooled funds. This change allowed Idaho Power to increase funds used to
2014 WAQC Annual Report Page 17
Weatherization Assistance for Q ual ified Customers ldaho Power Company
weatherize homes. This funding shift occurred in2014 and allowed additional funds to be
spent on efficiency improvements in qualified customers' homes in Oregon.
Pmrus FoR 2015
As in previous years, unless directed otherwise, Idaho Power will continue to provide financial
assistance to CAP agencies while exploring changes to improve program delivery and continue
to provide the most benefit possible to special needs customers while working with Idaho and
Oregon state WAP personnel. Unless the IPUC directs otherwise, Idaho Power will continue its
efforts to improve this program while at the same time offering it to the company's customers on
an ongoing basis.
Idaho Power will continue to participate in the Idaho and the Oregon state monitoring process
of weatherized homes and will continue to veriff approximately 10 percent of the homes
weatherized under the WAQC program via certified home-verification companies.
Idaho Power will continue its involvement with the State of Idaho's Policy Advisory Council
that serves as an oversight group for weatherization activities in Idaho as well as review state
grant applications for federal funding.
Idaho Power plans to selectively market the WAQC program throughout 2015. The program
will be promoted at resource fairs, community special-needs populations' service-provider
meetings, and CAP agency functions to reach customers who may benefit from the program.
Additional marketing for this progftrm will be conducted in cooperation with
weatherization managers.
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ldaho Power Company Weatherization Assistance for Qualified Customers
Idaho Power will continue working in partnership with the IDHW, OHCS, CAPAI,
and individual CAP agency personnel to maintain the targets and guidelines and improve
the overall WAQC progr{rm.
In 2015, Idaho Power will support the whole-house philosophy of the WAQC progr.rm and the
Idaho and Oregon WAP by continuing to contract a $6,000 annual maximum average per-home
cost. Based on the required funding, Idaho Power estimates 195 homes in Idaho and Oregon and
approximately 6 non-profit buildings in Idaho will be weatherized in 2015. In Idaho during 2015,
Idaho Power expects to fund the base amount plus available funds from 2014 to total $1,325,070
in weatherizationmeasures and agency administration fees. Of this amount, $83,200 will be
provided to the non-profit pooled fund to weatherize buildings housing non-profit agencies that
primarily serve qualified customers in Idaho.
Service-area wide, Idaho Power will provide the WAQC program 51,375,642 in funding in
2015 for the weatherization of homes and buildings of non-profit agencies serving
qualified customers.
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