TO: Low Income Consumer Advisory Task Force (LICATF) FROM: Denise Kuehn, Energy Efficiency Services Director DATE: August 7, 2015 SUBJECT: Questions Concerning the Success of the Better Buildings Grant – Establishing of the Loan Loss Reserve Submitted in July 17, 2015 Low Income Consumer Advisory Task Force 1. Question: How many had defaulted loans? Answer: None - The loan loss reserve program was established in October 2012. Since then, over $5.4 million in loans have been extended to over 632 residential customers providing the avenue to purchase energy efficiency measures over a period of up to ten years at a reduced interest rate. Through June 2015, these customers have repaid $1.3 million without any loan defaults requiring the use of loan loss reserve funds. Currently, AE is working with Velocity Credit Union to reduce the $1 to $1 leverage (loan loss reserve) previously required, create opportunities for those customers that have slightly lower credit scores and reduce the amount of the monthly payment. Over 1.1 MW of demand savings were attributed to this effort as reported under the AE Home Performance program. AE Revolving Loan Total Since Offering Launch (10/1/12 – 5/16/15) Applications Received / Audits Completed 1,904 Retrofits Completed 1,863 Total Rebate Payments $4,237,001 Number of Loans Pre-approved 759 Loan Amount Pre-approved $6,676,422 Buy Down Cost $357,308 Number of Loans Closed per Velocity 632 Loan Amount Closed per Velocity $5,430,306
MEMORANDUM TO: Low Income Consumer Advisory Task Force (LICATF) FROM: Debbie Kimberly, V.P., Customer Energy Solutions DATE: July 31, 2015 SUBJECT: Response to Low Income Consumer Advisory Task Force (LICATF) Preliminary Recommendations On June 12, 2015, the LICATF submitted an interim report with preliminary recommendations to the Mayor, City Council Members and Council staff. As the task force works to finalize its recommendations by October 1, staff has prepared a response to the interim report for your consideration and reference. The attached document is prepared in matrix form, and summarizes areas of staff agreement, and areas that pose concerns. Hopefully, this will be helpful in your deliberations in future meetings. Additionally, I’ve attached a catalog of all suggestions that have been introduced during the course of the 19 task force meetings held to date. To the extent it may assist in prioritizing recommendations of the task force, the document may lend itself to be used as a tool in a future meeting of the group. As always, I am prepared to answer any questions the task force may have. 1 Low Income Consumer Advisory Task Force Interim Recommendations AE Response LICATF Draft Recommendations 6-12-15 Items Currently being Done and/or AE Agrees Items in Disagreement Comments/Background Carryover All Unexpended Weatherization Funds (CAP and Supplemental Weatherization (AEWX) provided via the EES tariff) AE can support this approach. In 2013, the WX contract was not in place until late in FY13; as such, CAP and AEWX funds were underspent ($1.2 MM audited). In 2014, $1.375 M was spent on CAP ($375 K over budget) and $730K on AEWX ($120K under budget). So, going into FY15, roughly $1 M in ‘cumulative carryover’ funding remained. At this writing, staff anticipates obligating $1.5 million and $.5 million in CAP and AEWX funding in FY15. Additional funds may be encumbered when new weatherization contracts are finalized. Dedicating Multi-Family (MF) Program Funds to Affordable Housing AE supports increased outreach to MF housing that is occupied by a large percentage of low income residents. AE is developing a proof of concept launch in 2016. Properties will be identified using the Guide to Affordable Housing in the Greater Austin Area. Measures will be similar to the Earmarking 50% of MF budget for low and moderate income properties is a general number without a defined basis. AE does not income qualify residents, other than for the CAP program. To do so …
Page 1 of 3 LOW INCOME CONSUMER ADVISORY TASK FORCE MEETING MINUTES July 17, 2015 The Low Income Consumer Advisory Task Force convened in a regular meeting at Town Lake Center, 721 Barton Springs Road, Room 100, in Austin, Texas. Chairperson, Carol Biedrzycki called the meeting to order at 9:10 a.m. Task Force Members in Attendance: Carol Biedrzycki , Tim Arndt, Lanetta Cooper, Karen Hadden, Richard Halpin, Cyrus Reed, and Chris Strand. Members Dan Pruett and Kelly Weiss were not in attendance. Staff in Attendance: Austin Energy (AE) staff included Debra Athearn, Sady Bartlett, Debbie Kimberly, Brian Kennedy and Denise Kuehn. 1. CITIZEN COMMUNICATIONS Alan Graham, President of Mobile Loaves and Fishes-Provided information on what his non-profit was doing to serve the homeless population. They are developing a homeless housing development in far East Austin. He shared challenges and issues with development such as paying for property taxes and energy costs. He encourages the Task Force to look at the Gridmates model. The mission of Gridmates is to end energy poverty by enabling crowd funding of energy and energy sharing. People can give a small amount of energy to others in need. Al D’ Andrea, Owner McCullough Heating and Air Conditioning and a Free Weatherization contractor-He asked the Task Force to give consideration to LED light bulbs for energy efficiency measures as purchasing prices are now low. They can purchase them in bulk. The Task Force could also think of a 2-step program for Free Weatherization by doing a neighborhood-wide canvasing to install water-saving devices, smoke alarms, and LED’s. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A motion was made by Member Chris Strand to approve the June 19, 2015 meeting minutes and seconded by Member Cyrus Reed. The Chair proposed amending item 5 b. to add “staff provided a handout of current weatherization project contracts expire June 23, 2015 and new contracts are being negotiated”. Member Richard Halpin motioned to approve amended minutes. Member Strand seconded. All approved 7-0. 3. OLD BUSINESS a. Discussion and possible action on on-bill financing and/or repayment-This item was tabled and would be reposted for the August 7, 2015 meeting. Member Halpin asked staff to give exact numbers of defaulted loans. b. Discussion and possible action on amendments to the multifamily energy efficiency program-Member Tim Arndt presented document, “Comprehensive Multifamily Program Recommendation” (Back-up-Item 3b, June 19, 2015 Meeting). Discussion followed. Member Reed questioned staff on the cost-effectiveness …
Page 1 of 2 LOW INCOME CONSUMER ADVISORY TASK FORCE JULY 17, 2015 9:00AM – 12:00 PM TOWN LAKE CENTER – ROOM 100 721 BARTON SPRINGS ROAD AUSTIN, TEXAS 78704 For more information: http://www.austintexas.gov/content/low-income-consumer-advisory-task- force AGENDA CALL TO ORDER 1. CITIZEN COMMUNICATIONS The first 5 speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a. Approve minutes from June 19, 2015 meeting 3. OLD BUSINESS a. Discussion and possible action on on-bill financing and/or repayment b. Discussion and possible action on amendments to the multifamily energy efficiency program c. Discussion and possible action on low income energy efficiency program design including one-stop weatherization, goals, and cost benefit analysis 4. NEW BUSINESS a. Discussion and possible action on ECAD (Energy Conservation Audit Disclosure) b. Discussion and possible action on priorities for Low and Moderate income customers who are at risk of utility service interruption that are on a payment plan c. Discussion and possible action on Building Codes d. Discussion of public comments and possible action in response to comments 5. BRIEFINGS & REPORTS a. Austin Energy staff update on the weatherization program job status b. Status of data requests c. Committee Reports – possible reports from the Low Income Energy Efficiency Program Committee, Low-Moderate Income Energy Efficiency Program Committee, and/or Affordable Rental Property Committee Page 2 of 2 6. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS a. Discussion regarding future agenda items including a schedule of topics and issues and topics raised during briefings and citizen communications ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If requiring Sign Language Interpreters or alternative formats, please give notice at least 2 days (48 hours) before the meeting date. Please call Sady Bartlett at Austin Energy Department, 513-322-6123, for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Low Income Consumer Advisory Task Force, please contact Sady Bartlett at 512-322-6123.
Page 1 of 3 LOW INCOME CONSUMER ADVISORY TASK FORCE MEETING MINUTES July 17, 2015 The Low Income Consumer Advisory Task Force convened in a regular meeting at Town Lake Center, 721 Barton Springs Road, Room 100, in Austin, Texas. Chairperson, Carol Biedrzycki called the meeting to order at 9:10 a.m. Task Force Members in Attendance: Carol Biedrzycki , Tim Arndt, Lanetta Cooper, Karen Hadden, Richard Halpin, Cyrus Reed, and Chris Strand. Members Dan Pruett and Kelly Weiss were not in attendance. Staff in Attendance: Austin Energy (AE) staff included Debra Athearn, Sady Bartlett, Debbie Kimberly, Brian Kennedy and Denise Kuehn. 1. CITIZEN COMMUNICATIONS Alan Graham, President of Mobile Loaves and Fishes-Provided information on what his non-profit was doing to serve the homeless population. They are developing a homeless housing development in far East Austin. He shared challenges and issues with development such as paying for property taxes and energy costs. He encourages the Task Force to look at the Gridmates model. The mission of Gridmates is to end energy poverty by enabling crowd funding of energy and energy sharing. People can give a small amount of energy to others in need. Al D’ Andrea, Owner McCullough Heating and Air Conditioning and a Free Weatherization contractor-He asked the Task Force to give consideration to LED light bulbs for energy efficiency measures as purchasing prices are now low. They can purchase them in bulk. The Task Force could also think of a 2-step program for Free Weatherization by doing a neighborhood-wide canvasing to install water-saving devices, smoke alarms, and LED’s. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A motion was made by Member Chris Strand to approve the June 19, 2015 meeting minutes and seconded by Member Cyrus Reed. The Chair proposed amending item 5 b. to add “staff provided a handout of current weatherization project contracts expire June 23, 2015 and new contracts are being negotiated”. Member Richard Halpin motioned to approve amended minutes. Member Strand seconded. All approved 7-0. 3. OLD BUSINESS a. Discussion and possible action on on-bill financing and/or repayment-This item was tabled and would be reposted for the August 7, 2015 meeting. Member Halpin asked staff to give exact numbers of defaulted loans. b. Discussion and possible action on amendments to the multifamily energy efficiency program-Member Tim Arndt presented document, “Comprehensive Multifamily Program Recommendation” (Back-up-Item 3b, June 19, 2015 Meeting). Discussion followed. Member Reed questioned staff on the cost-effectiveness …
Page 1 of 3 LOW INCOME CONSUMER ADVISORY TASK FORCE MEETING MINUTES June 19, 2015 The Low Income Consumer Advisory Task Force convened in a regular meeting at Town Lake Center, 721 Barton Springs Road, Room 100, in Austin, Texas. Chairperson, Carol Biedrzycki called the meeting to order at 9:10 a.m. Task Force Members in Attendance: Carol Biedrzycki , Tim Arndt, Lanetta Cooper, Karen Hadden, Richard Halpin, Dan Pruett, Cyrus Reed, and Chris Strand. Member Kelly Weiss was not in attendance. Staff in Attendance: Austin Energy (AE) staff included Sady Bartlett, Toye Goodson-Collins, Liz Jambor, Debbie Kimberly, and Denise Kuehn. 1. CALL TO ORDER a. Review, discussion and possible amendment of operating procedures-The Chair discussed the Task Force’s current operating rules and processes. She distributed the interim report that was submitted to Council on June 12, 2015. The Chair wanted input from the members regarding different procedures to reduce the current hectic process of submitting recommendations. Members discussed and offered comments. The Chair introduced Cynthia Tom with the City of Austin Law Department. She would provide a presentation on the Public Information Act (PIA), Records Retention, and the Texas Open Meetings Act (TOMA). She informed members that as the Task Force is coming towards the end of their work, they needed to keep the following guidelines in mind: A report from the Task Force needs to be supported by a vote of the quorum. Deliberations are not to happen behind closed doors or via email. Recommendations need to be voted on prior to finalizing the report. Members could convene in working groups of 4 or less. The report should not be distributed to the group unless it is in an open meeting; this allows the entire group to be able vote on the final report. Debbie Kimberly, VP of Customer Energy Solutions noted the amount of work done by both the group and staff. She supported the idea of giving more time to review the report in an open meeting and emphasized that Austin Energy (AE) staff’s role is to advise the Task Force. Member Strand asked the Chair to formally invite AE staff to sit at the discussion table. Staff joined the members at the table. Members Reed and Pruett wanted staff responses regarding the final report throughout the process. Member Cooper recommended Member Halpin to be parliamentarian to help facilitate and ensure clarity …
Dear Task Force Members, Here are a pair of recommendations I’ve heard repeatedly in our meetings. I tried to capture them in a cogent form for your consideration. I look forward to discussing them at out next mtg. I have two more that I am still crafting. Very Best, Richard Halpin Task Force Member DRAFT Recommendation: Create a one stop integrated, non-silo, city utility customer process” 1. The Low Income Consumer Advisory Task Force (LICATF) recommends to the City Council that the City Manager be directed to bring together all city agencies that interface with low income city electric and water utilities customers to break down the city department silos and create an integrated customer response problem solving system. This system should contain a clear and easy to access set of resources that will effectively answer customer questions expeditiously, connect them to the resources they need to help them solve their problem directly and or in tandem with the community consumer advocate. Furthermore the manager is directed to invite community organizations already working on comprehensive energy and water access solutions to be part of the team that creates this one stop customer system. Background: The LICATF has heard months of complaints from utility customers that the current system is replete with billing errors and often unresponsive to calls and concerns. In fact the current system is often abrupt and even rude to the customer base. This is a historically consistent experience and testimony. 2.. The LICATF recommends to Council that the City Manager direct Austin Energy (AE) to choose, through an open bid process, a community consumer advocate who will deliver comprehensive energy and water bill counseling to low and low mod income rate payers. This counseling partner will be already established in the community with a history of positive interaction, trust and confidence with this rate payer group. Their goal is to efficiently get the information, tools and resources to low and low mod rate payers that they need in a one or two stop approach to help the customer create a plan that will lower their bills and increase their success to pay their bills regularly. This established counseling group should be multi culturally, multi lingual with a track record of excellence in customer/client communication. It should produce an easy to read resource guide with program descriptions and contact information in a multilingual guide that will enable low …
Proposal For Economic Evaluation Of Task Force Recommendations The Low Income Consumer Advisory Task Force has an inherent fiduciary responsibility to ensure that the limited amount of funds available is spent to achieve maximum cost effectiveness for the targeted participants and Austin Energy ratepayers. Thus all recommendations by the Task Force will be analyzed and prioritized using the following metrics: A. Benefit/Cost analysis of the measure for the utility (kW peak saved/cost of measure) Analysis will be expressed in a numerical value. The higher the number = the greater the benefit. B. Payback analysis for the measure (cost of upgrade/kWh saved) Analysis will be expressed in number of years for payback. The lower the number of years = the greater the benefit. Historical data using actual utility bills will be used whenever possible. C. All measures will be compared with the impact to just increasing the % discount for CAP participants. Furthermore in order to impact as many dwellings as possible: Free Weatherization funds shall be limited to $1650 (pre ARRA cost per home adjusted for inflation) per single family dwelling. The measures performed will be prioritized using the two metrics above. Health and safety repairs will be limited to an average of $200 per single family dwelling.
Recommendation Number ____ Amend the ECAD Rules to Provide Recognition for efficient rental units Recommendation: The ECAD Rules should be amended to establish an award or official recognition that the multi-family facility is in the top 5% or 10% of energy efficiency based on the energy efficiency rankings.. Targeted Underserved Group: Low and moderate-income renters Time Schedule: Implement in 2015 Budget Impact: none Brief Description: Amending the ECAD Rules to provide recognition for apartments that are within the top 5 or 10% of energy efficiency rankings would allow Landlords to market the award. It creates a positive inducement without any real cost to AE. Community Need: A majority of Austin residents rent and renters disproportionally have lower incomes than homeowners. Rental properties, particularly those with lower rents are often not very energy efficient. Landlords have little incentive to improve energy efficiency at their properties because it’s the tenants who pay the electric bills. . Consumers should be provided the information they need to make an educated decision about where to live. Providing a marketing tool to Landlords showing the facility has very high energy efficiency would provide easily understood information to perspective tenants about the efficiency of the facility. Program Description: This recommendation is creating an award or such other official recognition for Landlords whose facilities are at the high end of energy efficiency. It creates a marketing opportunity for the Landlords and therefore creates an incentive to be energy efficient.
Recommendation Number ____ Amend the ECAD Rules to Require Additional Disclosure Recommendation: The ECAD Rules should be amended to require the Energy Guide to list the estimated average summer monthly electric cost and the estimated average winter monthly electric cost, as well as the annual average electric cost. Targeted Underserved Group: Low and moderate-income renters Time Schedule: Implement in 2015 Budget Impact: none Brief Description: The Energy Guide is required to be provided to prospective tenants. It currently provides an annual monthly electric cost. Because the rates AE charges in the summer are much higher than in the winter, providing a summer average electric cost and an average winter average electric cost would be more useful to prospective renters, than just the annual average. This would be similar to how auto dealers break down average miles per gallon into in-city and highway average miles per gallon. Community Need: A majority of Austin residents rent and renters disproportionally have lower incomes than homeowners. Rental properties, particularly those with lower rents are often not very energy efficient. Landlords have little incentive to improve energy efficiency at their properties because it’s the tenants who pay the electric bills. . Consumers should be provided the information they need to make an educated decision about where to live. Program Description: This recommendation is simply requiring additional information be provided the prospective tenant to ensure the tenant has a grasp on the cost of his/her electric bills in the summer when rates are high.
Recommendation Number ____ Recommendation for ECAD enforcement Recommendation: Austin Energy should develop a plan for fully enforcing the entire ECAD ordinance, especially for those multi-family facilities whose electric cost is 150% of average electrical cost, and should present that plan to the Electric Utility Commission, the Resource Management Commission and the City Council for approval. Austin Energy should include funding for full enforcement of ECAD, according to the approved plan in its FY 2017 budget proposal Targeted Underserved Group: Low and moderate-income renters Time Schedule: Implement in 2015 (requirement) and 2016 (funding for enforcement) Budget Impact: cost of enforcement Brief Description: Create an action plan to enforce the ECAD ordinance, particularly the provision mandating Landlords whose facilities incur electric costs greater than 150% of the average cost to make energy efficient improvements to reduce usage by 20%. Community Need: A majority of Austin residents rent and renters as a class have disproportionally lower incomes than homeowners. Rental properties, particularly those with lower rents are often not very energy efficient. Landlords have little incentive to improve energy efficiency at their properties because it’s the tenants who pay the electric bills. Although landlords of multifamily properties (excluding duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, and units designated as condominiums) are required to have energy audits conducted on buildings that are at least 10 years old and are required to disclose the results compliance is spotty at best. The status quo is that renters are often blindsided by high electric bills after signing a lease. In some cases, a rental property with higher rent, but lower electric bills would be more affordable overall. Consumers should be provided the information they need to make an educated decision about where to live. Enforcing the ordinance would ensure that prospective tenants would receive the energy guide and audit required under the ECAD ordinance before they decide to rent. Moreover, greater enforcement of the required improvements for multi-family facilities with high electric costs would result in greater energy efficiency, thereby resulting in reduced electric bills. Program Description Austin Energy should develop a plan for fully enforcing the entire ECAD ordinance and present that plan to the Electric Utility Commission, the Resource Management Commission and the City Council for approval. Actions recommended include: creating a marketing campaign to educate the community and community activists; investigating the multi-family facilities to verify whether the elements of the ECAD ordinance are being carried out; and …
Recommendation on Building Codes The Task Force finds that continued improvement in base energy codes to reduce peak and overall energy use is of benefit to low-income and middle-income residents and to Austin Energy overall. By reducing the energy use of new and rehabilitated buildings Austin can lower emissions and water use from existing fossil fuel plants, reduce the need to buy expensive peak power off the market and potentially provide demand response capabilities to meet peak demand or even participate in energy markets. The Task Force reaffirms the goal of making new home construction in Austin, Texas to be net-zero energy capable by the end of 2015, while recognizing there are challenges with fully meeting this goal. We recommend in 2015 that Austin Energy work with the relevant advisory committees, city departments and city council to adopt: 1. The 2015 IECC codes for residential construction, including local amendments to reach the net-zero-energy capable homes approved by City Council in 2007; 2. The local amendments should consider new technologies like making all homes “solar-ready,” incorporating demand response, energy storage and electric vehicle charging technologies as appropriate. 3. City Council should adopt a policy that builders of all new single family homes built after 2016 should offer buyers an optional solar package, either on the rooftop or as part of a community solar project. 4. If Austin Energy allows an alternative compliance path such as a Home Energy Ratings Index (HERS), the number should be set appropriately so as not to undermine the net-zero energy capable goal or overall building envelope performance. 5. Either the 2015 IECC codes for commercial construction – including larger multi-family units -- or an equivalent code such as the ASHREA 90.1 – 2013 code 6. Consider local amendments to the commercial codes to incorporate onsite renewable energy, demand response, storage and electric vehicle charging stations. 7. Consider setting a net-zero capable goal for all other buildings, including commercial buildings by 2020 by creating a task force to research and provide recommendations on achieving net zero energy for all new buildings. 8. Updating our Austin Green Building Programs to inspire builders to go beyond base codes. 9. Improving coordination between the Austin Energy Green Building and code development department and permitting and compliance so that builders actually comply with energy codes. The Task Force believes that by updating our base energy code, Austin can continue to be …
Questions for Austin Energy 1. The 2012 GDS report provided the Task Force stated at p. 2 that AE uses “Salesforce.com” to store data. a. Please explain how AE uses “Salesforce.com” including an explanation of what data is stored and how it is stored. b. How does, if at all, AE track pre and post weatherization installations consumption involving its customers (include energy performance star) c. Has AE formatted its billing histories so that it can pull up by energy efficiency program pre and post EE program installations consumptions? If not, why not and what would AE need to do to be able to create a data base that could be accessible by EE program. (I am assuming the use of billing data aggregated by EE program and not individual customer data). 2. Please verify that the attached documents were created by AE. For each document, please identify when it was created and its purpose. 3. Please provide copies of any histories of AE low income weatherization program,. The following questions Nos. 4-6 do not have to be answered if AE has provided the information in any histories of the program in no. 3 above Please just note that where in the proffered document the answer is located. 4. When did AE start providing low income weatherization? 5. For each year since it has started providing low income weatherization, how has AE funded the program? (if AE provided utility funding in addition to D.O.E. grant funds, please break out) 6. What EE services for the low income weatherization program have been provided since the start of the low income weatherization program? Please note changes and the times the changes were made. 7. Please describe how AE tracks the demographics of its customers who participate in AE’s EE programs. In your description, please address whether AE is tracking applications as well as participations. If AE is not tracking application demographics, please explain why not? If AE is not currently tracking the demographics of its customers but it is intending to in the near future, please describe how it plans to do so.
MEMORANDUM TO: Low Income Consumer Advisory Task Force (LICATF) FROM: Denise Kuehn , Director of Energy Efficiency Services DATE: July 17, 2015 SUBJECT: DOE Better Buildings Grant Loan – Loan Loss Reserve Question by Member: Tim Arndt The following information is in response to questions that member Tim Arndt requested in regards to the DOE Better Buildings grant loan – loss reserve fund. Per member Mr. Arndt’s email request on June 2015: “Please provide me with an update on the use of funds associated with the Better Buildings DOE grant. Council approved an ordinance to Council authorization will allow Austin Energy to move funds from its Better Buildings Grant Fund to its Enterprise Fund to continue this highly successful program by promoting, developing and offering similar financing mechanisms, including a lower credit score threshold for customers. Associated RCA: http://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=222774 Current fund balances: committed; and funding available for loans along with the budget for staffing who are charging their time to this enterprise fund.” Staff Response: The loan loss reserve funds were established by the Better Buildings grant and are deposited at the Velocity Credit Union. Of the total initial amount invested, $5,015,000, approximately $3,700,000 is currently used to secure existing loans. Over $5.6M loans have been authorized to 600 qualifying applicants since October 2012. As of May 2014, the funds had been totally committed which resulted in changes to the Home Performance Loan program in order to allow the fund to rebuild from repayments. The current available balance is approximately $1,300,000 which can be used to secure new loans, surety bond expenses, and other approved DOE expenses. Currently, no staff is charging time against the Velocity Credit Union funds. Any use of these funds other than under the current program criteria, must be approved by DOE. AE must provide an official request and allow 90 days for DOE consideration of various factors including any additional risk associated with the repayments of the loans. 2 There recently have been staffing changes at Velocity Credit Union (VCU). Austin Energy (AE) is working with VCU and other City agencies to develop financing mechanisms that would provide options for low and moderate income customer. Preliminary discussions with new staff at VCU include the ability to have less than a dollar leverage option which has not been an option in the past.
Page 1 of 3 MEMORANDUM TO: Low Income Consumer Advisory Task Force (LICATF) FROM: Denise Kuehn, Director of Energy Efficiency Services DATE: July 17, 2015 SUBJECT: ECAD Questions by Member: Lanetta Cooper from June 19th, 2015 Meeting The following information is in response to questions that member Lanetta Cooper requested regarding Austin City Code Chapter 6-7, Energy Conservation Audit and Disclosure (ECAD) Ordnance (No. 200110421-02) Amended April 21, 2011. Question 1: Who enforces ECAD? (What department and what City offices?) Staff Response: Austin Energy is committed to implementation and Austin Municipal Courts handles a complaint-driven process when citizen complaints are filed. Question 2: How many full-time employees are dedicated to enforcement? Staff Response: The Austin City Code defines enforcement as a complaint-driven process that capitalizes existing resources and procedures. As such, no dedicated City personnel are required to accomplish enforcement. Austin Energy’s (AE) Customer Energy Solutions division (including: Energy Efficiency Services, Data Analytics & Business Intelligence, Green Building, Key Account Management), AE’s Corporate Communication and Marketing Communications divisions, Austin Water Conservation division and City of Austin’s Office of Sustainability personnel resources are committed at different levels of support with implementation and community education campaigns of the Austin City Code. 2 Question 3: How many multifamily rental units as defined by ECAD exist in Austin and how many of those have been verified to the in full compliance with ECAD? Staff Response: Preliminary ECAD 2014 Multifamily Market Statistics. Fiscal Year Apartment Properties Within the Austin City Limits Apartment Properties Exempt from Ordinance Apartment Properties Not Exempt from Ordinance Apartment Properties Audited Non Exempt Properties Audited FY 2014 1,369 368 1,001 850 85% Question 4: How many single-family homes, duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, and condo’s are rented in Austin? Staff Response: Austin Energy is not responsible for collecting housing data. It is the responsibility of the City Demographer. The City Demographer has provided the attached TENURE BY UNITS IN STRUCTURE, Universe: Occupied housing units, 2013 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimate. The provided American Community Survey includes housing unit estimates, for both owner-occupied and renter-occupied. It is the Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program that produces and disseminates the official estimates of the population for the nation, states, counties, cities and towns, and estimates of housing units for states and counties. Question 5: How many enforcement actions have been taken? Staff Response: Currently, no legal actions have been taken through the Austin Municipal Court processes. …
MEMORANDUM TO: Low Income Consumer Advisory Task Force FROM: Liz Jambor, Manager, DABI DATE: July 17, 2015 SUBJECT: Multifamily Retrofit Report ______________________________________________________________________________ Summary In 2014, a paper, "Hard to Reach Markets: Delivering Comprehensive Retrofits in the Multifamily Sector", was submitted to the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) covering work in the multifamily segment performed as part of the Better Buildings grant. This paper was written with the sole purpose of sharing the unique efforts undertaken, and experiences gained, when providing comprehensive retrofits in multifamily communities. The development of the paper, from data gathering and analysis, to report writing and presentation, required the work of 3 grant employees, covering over 150 staff hours. The final result was a well-accepted presentation at the 2014 ACEEE Summer Study Conference as well as the electronic publication of the paper by ACEEE. The paper was never designed to be an ongoing report, but rather to share some of the grant experiences with others in the utility sector. The LICATF has requested further information regarding this report. While we will not be updating the paper, we can provide information regarding the properties that were upgraded through the Better Buildings efforts as compared to similar properties. This information demonstrates the impact of the efficiency improvements. It also coordinates the information with the ongoing rebate/rent impact report provided to Council via Resolution No. 20130523-069. Overall, the data shows an approximate 10% decrease in energy consumption as measured by an annual Energy Use Index (EUI) for those apartment complexes that had energy efficiency upgrades made through the Better Buildings grant. There are several factors in the multifamily space that impact energy use, most importantly, the transitory nature of apartment dwellers. That a 10% decrease was seen is a positive outcome. Additionally, while not weather-normalized, the data anecdotally shows a decrease in energy consumption from a cooler summer to a hotter summer, a trend opposite of what is expected with an increase in summer temperatures. In other words, these efficiency-improved buildings used less energy during a warmer summer. 2 From the initial report and the current EUI data, we can conclude that energy savings is possible in the multifamily sector through comprehensive energy efficiency improvements. We will continue to evaluate our multifamily rebate program to ensure the provision of quality retrofits at a sustainable dollar per kW cost. Data Analysis To best conduct the comparative analysis, apartment …
Page 1 of 2 MEMORANDUM TO: Low Income Consumer Advisory Task Force (LICATF) FROM: Denise Kuehn, Director of Energy Efficiency Services DATE: July 17, 2015 SUBJECT: On-Bill Repayment Questions by Members: Lanetta Cooper, Cyrus Reed, and Dan Pruett from June 19, 2015 Meeting The following information is a response to questions that members Lanetta Cooper, Cyrus Reed, and Dan Pruett requested at the June 19, 2015 LICATF meeting in regards to on-bill repayment. Lanetta Cooper: 1. How would a customer's partial payment be applied? 2. Can a customer be disconnected for failure to pay on the loan? 3. Will a late payment penalty fee be assessed against the loan repayment portion of the bill? 4. If the EE savings assumed for setting the amount of loan repayment are not realized, what happens to the loan repayment amount? (Can there be a re-negotiation?) 5. How realistic is this proposal? Will loan entities actually request this service? Cyrus Reed: 1. Is it focused on all buildings or only multifamily? 2. Does the loan follow the person or meter and how do they disclose to the next person? 3. How does AE get credit in its goals for any savings that result from repayment program? Dan Pruett: 1. Who pays third party? 2. Who determines credit worthiness? Staff Response On-bill repayment is not a current offering of Austin Energy. Currently, this potential program is being further investigated with the key stakeholders including other City agencies. 2 Questions such as loan criteria, credit scores, assessment of the amount of risk to the City, and the impact on electrical service if bill is unpaid are all being discussed and reviewed with respect to current City of Austin polices. Additional discussions are being held with Velocity Credit Union with regard to their lending practices, processes, and other considerations. We have met with Austin Energy Accounts Payable, Finance and Customer Care to review the technical aspects. Ongoing research will continue.
TABLE OF CONTENTS I. Executive Summary II. Background III. Recommendations a. Residential i. History of low income energy efficiency programs ii. Appliances iii. Weatherization iv. Financing v. solar b. Multi-family i. History of multi-family low and moderate income multi-family energy efficiency programs ii. Appliances iii. Weatherization iv. Financing v. solar c. Structural d. Miscellaneous IV. Appendix INTRODUCTION The Low Income Consumer Advisory Task Force was created by Council resolution adopted August 28, 2014. The Task Force was directed: to look for and recommend improvements to current low and moderate income energy efficiency programs; to consider and recommend new programs and new approaches for low and moderate energy efficiency and renewable energy programs; and to set program funding and demand savings goals for low and moderate income energy efficiency programs. Over this past year the Task Force has heard from the community and City departments. Many of their comments were incorporated into the recommendations provided in this report. The report commences with a short section on background information about the Task Force and about Austin Energy’s low and moderate income customers. The recommendations set out in this report are organized into four categories. The first category addresses residential energy efficiency programs including both homeowners and tenants living in single family residences. The second category involves multifamily facilities. Structural recommendations comprise the third category. These recommendations seek systematic changes to effect greater economical and energy efficiencies and to improve customer service. A miscellaneous category is included in this report to catch concerns not within the direct purview of this Task Force’s directives but involve issues and ideas that were raised many times by the community. An appendix of significant documents is attached. All documents referenced in this report as well as all other documents provided the Task Force over the course of this past year are posted on the Task Force’s website at: http://low-income-consumer-advisory-task-force. A Table of contents and an executive summary complete the report. This report is limited by the facts available to the Task Force. We found the data for the energy efficiency programs and for the energy efficiency rates funding these programs was not always consistently reported. Some data was not collected or not formatted in a manner to be meaningful or to be accessible. Consequently, the report applied the data in a conservative manner using tempering factors and noting when underlying data resources had been collected at different …
