Idaho’s use of LIHEAP funds in its Weatherization Assistance Program

1. 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%.

2. Idaho’s Liheap • Energy assistance payments • LIHEAP Crisis payments • LPW crisis • LPW weatherization

3. 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 1st through June 30th • 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.

4. 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.

5. 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-off, shut-off, 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.

6. 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 staff. • Prior approval is needed for all expenditures over $750 • Households can only apply for EACR funding once per calendar year

7. LIHeap weatherization • Program takes a House-as-System approach • Building science principles • Audit software to verify measure Saving-to-Investment Ratio (SIR)

8. 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 efficiency

9. 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

10. 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.

11. Waiver Authority • 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

12. 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

13. 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.

14. 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 efforts remained the same as the previous year

15. 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.

16. Additional factors supporting the waiver request

17. Current waiver progress • IDHW is addressing participant concerns with the plan before submission to HHS • Submission is expected within the month.

18. 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.