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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20081016Information.pdfIDAHO POWER RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS esIDA~PORCI An IDACORP COmpany LOW-INCOME PROGRAS Weatherization Assistance for Qualifed Customers The Weatherization Assistance for Qualified Customers ("W AQC") program provides financial assistance to regional Community Action Parership ("CAP") agencies in the Idaho Power Company service area. This is assistace helps cover weatherization costs of electrcally heated homes belonging to qualified customers with limited incomes. Idaho Power provides $1,212,534 in anual financial assistance to these CAP agencies which include the Canyon County Organzation on Aging ("CCOA")-weatherization, EI-Ada CAP, Eastern Idaho CAP, South Central CAP, and South Eastern Idaho Community Action Agency. Any unused fuds are caried forward for use in the following year. Idaho Power allows the CAP Agencies to spend up to $2,826.00 (up to 85 percent of the job cost) of Idaho Power fuds per weatherization job with a minimum of 15 percent of any job being fuded by the state weatherization assistance program. Ths is an anual average allowing the weatherization manager flexibilty to spend more dollars in one home and less in another home as needed for a whole-house approach to weatherization. Idaho Power monitors cost effectiveness by requiring that CAP agencies ensure each total project has a savings to investment ratio ("SIR") of 1.0 or better. The total project's SIR reflects all project measure costs, including measure costs that have no kWh savings. Measures with no kWh savings are referred to as "health and safety measures." These measures are limited to 15 percent anualy of the total costs and facilitate the effective performance of those measures yielding energy savings. Idaho Power provides materials to each CAP agency to educate special needs customers about energy efficiency. Topics include information about compact fluorescent light ("CFL") bulbs, ways to save 'energy, and winter and sumer energy saving tips-all of which help customers save on their monthly electrc bilL. Home Weatherization Pilot The Home Weatherization Pilot is a residential energy effciency program designed to serve customers just above the Idaho State poverty income level (150 percent of Federal Poverty Guidelines) who heat their homes electrically. The program follows the State of Idaho's Weatherization Assistance Program in curent established techncal aspects and WAQC in all aspects except: (1) the paricipant selection criteria and (2) Idaho Power's 100 percent fuding of each qualifying home weatherization job. P.O. Box 70 (83707) 1221 W.ldaho St. Boise, 10 83702 October 13,2008 Page 2 of7 Whereas WAQCis designed to serve customers with income up to 150 percent of Federal Povert Guidelines, the Home Weatherization Pilot is designed to serve customers who earn between 151 percent and 250 percent of Federal Povert Guidelines. This will enable Idaho Power to target customers with financial needs who may not be curently investing in energy efficiency. The pilot will explore the ability to leverage the infastrcture and collect savings while maintanig costs. The pilot will provide weatherization services to 20 electrically heated homes of Idaho Power customers. Home Energy Management, LLC, wil provide weatherization services to customers in the Southern region for the pilot. The pilot will be fuded with $66,000 Energy Efficiency Rider fuds. Each weatherization job will cost an average $3,000 for a total of $60,000. A 10 percent administrative fee will be paid to Home Energy Management, LLC, for a grd total of $66,000 for the program. Idaho Power administration costs should be minimal because the program will use established procedures for invoice payment as well as documentation. Physical audits wil be completed mostly by regional Idaho Power employees. Customers wil be selected from a pool of individuals who have placed applications with the CAP agencies through the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program ("LIHEAP"). Applications that do not quaify for that program and are above the state's poverty income level requirement are forwarded to Communty Action Parership Association of Idaho ("CAP AI"). CAP AI then sends a denial letter explainig why the household was denied energy assistace. Home Energy Management, LLC, will receive names of applicants located within the Southern region and offer weatherization services to the electrcally heated customers who fall within 151 percent to 250 percent of povert income leveL. Idaho Power expects to weatherize homes of20 customers before the end of December 2008. Project Share Project Share is a year-round home energy assistace program developed by Idaho Power to provide familes with emergency fuds to assist with energy costs without regard to heating source. Assistace is provided though contrbutions from customers, employees, and IDACORP shareowners. The fuds are administered primarly though the Salvation Ary of Ada County and Salvation Ary outreach offces throughout the service area. Customers of Idaho Power; Intermountain Gas; City of Burley, Weiser, Heybur, and Rupert utilities; and United Electrc Co-op. Inc. may quaify for the program. Idaho Power launched Project Share in 1982 with fuding provided mostly though Idaho. Power customer donations and some matching fuds by IDACORP shareowners. Since the 1998/1999 plan year, Idaho Power customers and IDACORP shareowners have contributed a total of $2,371,996 to the Salvation Ary for Project Share, an average of $237,200 anually. Additionally, customers of other paricipating utilties are encouraged to contribute to Project Share. October 13, 2008 Page 3 of7 Idaho Power solicits donations using a varety of methods. Throughout the year we communicate with customers through at least one Idaho Power bil insert and one bil message, usually in October and November of each year. Radio advertisements are periodically purchased by IDACORP shareowners. In December 2007, Idaho Power paricipated in a $10,000.00 IDACORP shareowner-fuded "Season of Hope" campaign sponsored by KTVB to raise awareness around Project Share and increase contributions. Additionally, in 2007, Idaho Power developed the Comfort Café promotion to raise awareness for and contrbutions to Project Share. Teaming with White Cloud Coffee, lines of coffee, hot chocolate and lemonade were created and sold under the Comfort Café labeL. The campaign included advertisements, point-of.,purchase displays, and news coverage. Upcoming communication: · Direct mail solicitation scheduled for October 2008 to all curent Project Share donors. · Radio spot scheduled to ru on radio stations throughout the service area in November and early December 2008. · Article about Project Share to ru in Customer Connection in November to be received by all Idaho Power customers. · 2008 "Season of Hope" sponsorship. Campaign launching in November 2008 continuing through January 2009. PAYMENT PLANS Budget Pay The Budget Pay option allows customers flexibility when paying their bils. It helps them budget for utility bils thoughout the year and prepare for months when usage may be higher. Customers with no past due balance (no arrears) may choose to have their electrcity charges spread out evenly over a 12-month period. The monthly payment is based on the customer's average 12-tnonth biling history or an estimate of futue charges. The payment amount is reviewed at least once a year against actual usage and an adjustment in the monthly payment is made accordingly. PAYMENT ARRNGEMENTS Standard Payment Arrangement This options allows eligible customers who have past due balances to pay half of the past due amount or the 61-90 day balance (whichever is greater) now, with the remaining balance plus the curent bil due in 30 days. Winter Payment Program This option allows customers to lower winter heating costs for five months with lower monthly payments. November through March payments are equal to half of the paricipant's Levelized Pay amount. Balances remaining afer March can be eligible for a Standard Payment Arangement or Levelized Payment plan. October 13,2008 Page 4 of7 Eligible customers include those who declare they ate unable to pay their utility bil in full and whose households include children, elderly, or infrm persons. For the 200712008 winter season, there were 2,563 accounts for which a Winter Payment Plan was established. Levelized Pay This option allows customers to pay their past due balance over a 12-month period. The monthly payment is equa to one-twelft of the past due balance in addition to their current monthly biling which is based on the Budget Pay Plan. ENERGY EFFICIENCY RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS Several ofIdaho Power's energy effciency programs can help low-income customer reduce their monthly electric bils: . Rebate Advantage . Energy House Calls . ENERGY STAR~ Home Products . A/C Cool Credit program . Heating and Cooling Effciency Program . ENERGY STAR~ Lighting Rebate Advantage This program offers incentives to eligible customers who purchase a new electrically-heated ENERGY STARtI manufactured home. ENERGY STARtI homes are designed to be more energy efficient than standad ones, providing customers with additional comfort and more affordable power bils. Idaho Power Company offers a $500 sales rebate to customers purchasing a new ENERGY STAR~ home and connecting that home to an Idaho Power residential account. Additionally, the sales consultant who sells the home is eligible for a $100 sales bonus. Idaho Power recognizes there are up-front costs affiiated with choosing a more . effcient home and wants to help customers with these costs and allow them to reap the long-term benefit of lower electric bils. In addition, Idaho Power wants to encourage sales consultants to discuss energy efficiency with their customers. Eligibility requirements: Any customer who signs a sales agreement for a new, all-electric ENERGY ST ARtI home and who establishes an Idao Power residential account to serve that home is eligible to apply for a rebate. Sales of used homes or indirect sales of new homes are not eligible for this program. October 13,2008 Page 5 of7 Energy House Calls This program includes a free package of services, including duct sealing, designed to help save energy for residents of manufactured homes heated by an electric fuace or heat pump. Idaho Power has arranged to provide the following services to eligible customers: . Test electrc heating system ducts for air leaks . Seal the leaks . Install compact fluorescent light bulbs . Replace air filters, check hot water temperature and more Approximately 90 percent of manufactued homes have leaky ducts. By sealing them, customers enjoy a more comfortable home and save money on electricity bils. ENERGY ST ARtI Home Products This program. offers incentives to Idaho Power residential customers living in single and multi- family residences; including manufactued and modular homes. Products must be installed in homes within Idaho Power's service area. Qualifying products: . Clothes washers - $50. Must have been purchased on or after April 1 , 2008. . Refrgerators - $30. Must have been purchased on or after August 1,2008. Refrigerators must be larger than 7.75 cubic feet to qualify for an incentive. . Light fixtures - Up to $15 per fixtue. Incentive not to exceed purchase price. Must have been purchased on or afer August 1, 2008. . Ceilng fans - Up to $20 per fixtue. Incentive not to exceed purchase price. Must have been purchased on or afer August 1, 2008. Only ceilng fans with light kits and ceiling fan light kits wil quaify for incentives. Ceilng fans without lights do not quaify. Idaho Power routinely evaluates opportities to add new products to the list of items that receive incentives. A/C Cool Credit This program incents customers with a $7 monthly credit for allowing Idaho Power to cycle their air conditioning system during June, July, and August afternoons when demand is at its highest. A remote-controlled switch is installed on or near paricipating customers' air conditioners. On selected sumer weekdays usually between 2 and 8 p.m., Idaho Power may activate the switch, cycling the air conditioner off and on in 15- to 20-minute intervals over a two- to four-hour period. Switches must be installed by the 15th of June, July, or August in order to receive a credit on the following month's bilL. October 13, 2008 Page 6 of7 ENERGY ST ARtI Lighting Idaho Power parers with manufactuers and retailers to offer promotional pricing on select ENERGY STARtI qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs ("CFLs"). These efficient light bulbs use about 75 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs and last up to 10 times longer while providing the same amount of light, saving customers money in the long ru. Price, product availability, and selection vares by retailer. ENERGY ST ARtI Homes Northwest ENERGY ST AR~ Homes Nortwest is a residential constrction program providing incentives to builders, suppliers, and subcontractors building energy efficient homes. ENERGY STARtI homes are 30 percent more efficient than those built to Idaho energy code. Advantages of ENERGY STAR~ certified homes: · Reduced Utilty Bils-Spend less on monthy utility bils, thans to the energy-efficient constrction, effective insulation, and features of ENERGY ST AR~ homes. Up to 30 percent savings on heating, cooling and hot water costs. · More Value Per Square Foot- ENERGY STAR~ homes are built in all price ranges, styles, and featues. ENERGY STARtI builders work with customers to constrct the home they want at the price they can afford. · Healthier Indoor Air-Breathe easier in ENERGY STARtI Homes, built to reduce indoor pollutats that contribute to allergies and astha. Proper ventilation and sealed ductwork also protect against the build up of moistue and unealthy air. · Low Maintenance- ENERGY STAR~ homes come with durability advantages like energy-effcient widows that reduce sun damage to futue and window coverings. High-quaity heating and cooling equipment will last longer and perform better than standard equipment. . Comfortable and Quieter Homes-Tight constrction and improved insulation not only will keep out excessive heat, cold and noise, but also ensure consistent temperatues between and across rooms. Properly sized heating and cooling equipment also cycles on and off less frequently, which removes more humidity and provides unform comfort. · Tested and Certifed-All ENERGY STAR~ quaified homes are certified to meet the U.S. Environmenta Protection Agency's strict gudelines for energy effciency, and an independent third par verifies this exemplar performance. Heating and Cooling Effciency Program The residential Heating and Cooling Effciency Program provides incentives for the purchase of qualified high-efficiency heating and cooling equipment and services. October 13, 2008 Page 7 of7 Eligibility requirements: residential customers, builders of new constrction homes, and property owners or managers who reside in, build, or own homes within Idaho Power's service area; and . Have purchased and instaled qualified equipment or had services completed on or after March 1,2008 (for Idaho applications) and on or after August 27, 2008, for Oregon applications). . Have installed their equipment or had services completed by a paricipating contractor trained by the program and has signed an HVAC Contractor Paricipation Agreement with Idaho Power (for all incentives except evaporative coolers).