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Low-Income Efficiency Programs that Work

Parul Dubey on October 26, 2017 - in Energy

Energy efficiency programs are especially important for low-income customers. Well-designed programs can help relieve the significant energy burdens faced by low-income families and also provide benefits like increased comfort and healthier homes. But getting these programs right takes careful planning. Low-income customers face several major barriers to participation in utility efficiency programs, ranging from lack of resources for efficiency upgrades to aging housing stock that may need health and safety improvements.

 

In a new report, we highlight utility programs that are successfully reaching a large number of low-income customers and delivering deep energy savings to participants. These programs are located across the country and serve both electric and gas customers. They are delivered to customers by utilities, community action agencies, and statewide administrators. By conducting interviews and digging through data on participation, energy savings, and program spending, we distilled the key factors to which low-income program implementers credit their success. These factors include the following:

 

Simplifying interactions by assigning a single point of contact for customers and for contractors. Some programs work with only a single contractor, simplifying communication and ensuring a strong relationship between contractor and utility. Others noted that simplifying customer-facing communication is key. In Ohio, agencies implementing the Home Weatherization Assistance Program also deliver ratepayer-funded electric and natural gas efficiency programs, making comprehensive efficiency upgrades convenient and accessible for customers…

 

To read the report, visit: http://aceee.org/research-report/u1713 

 

To continue reading the blog post, visit: http://aceee.org/blog/2017/10/low-income-efficiency-programs-work 

 

About ACEEE: The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy acts as a catalyst to advance energy efficiency policies, programs, technologies, investments, and behaviors. For information about ACEEE and its programs, publications, and conferences, visit aceee.org

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