March Power Point Presentation — original pdf

Customer Assistance Program March 19, 2014 Customer Assistance Programs Who are we? The Customer Assistance Program (CAP) encompasses all of the City of Austin sponsored programs designed to assist moderate to low-income customers in regards to their utility bill. What do we do? The goal of the Customer Assistance Program is to maximize the participation of eligible City of Austin utility customers by better promoting and presenting these programs to utility customers, civic, public, and private organizations. Why? Austin Energy promotes programs designed to provide assistance to customers in the areas of financial support, case management, dispute resolution, energy efficiency improvements and water conservation. 2 Program Components • Discounts • Financial Support Plus 1 • Medically Vulnerable Registry • Education Classes • Weatherization • Community Connections Resource Fair • Case Management Project • Affordable Energy Policy Summit • Pilot Projects 3 Discount Program-The Beginning •Established 1985 •COA Utilities’ first program to assist low income customers •Original Partner Utilities: •Austin Energy •Public Works •Watershed Protection •Austin Water joined in 2009 4 Discount Program-Description Provides significant monthly discounts to City of Austin utility customers for a continuous 12 month period. The average customer is provided about $64 in monthly discounts 5 Discount Program – The Present 6 •Case Management & Evaluation Case Management & Evaluation Case Management & Evaluation Weatherization Discounts Education Discount Program-Description Discounts available •Electric Service Customer Charge waiver •Discount (10%) on total electrical usage •Discount on Community Benefit Charge (CAP) •Water Service Customer Charge waiver •Water Tiered Fixed Charge Waiver •Water Volume Charge discount •Wastewater Service Customer Charge waiver •Drainage Fee 50% discount 7 Discount Program-The Present Discount Program •50% growth – enrollment •75% growth – funding •New qualifiers •All Medicaid types •Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) •Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) •Telephone Lifeline Program •Travis County Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) •Medical Access Program (MAP) •Automatic enrollment 8 Discount Program-The Present Education component •Required pre-requisite for all weatherization program participants •One interactive 4 hour class for the whole family •Flexible class schedules •Spanish classes available Weatherization component •Targets high usage customers •(4mth ≥2,500 kWh or 6mth ≥1,500 kWh) •Home energy audit •Appliance replacement 9 Discount Program-The Present Utility Discount Program (electric only) Customers Served 43,029 Average Household Savings Per Month $23.00 Customer Savings $11,921,603 10 *Numbers from FY06-12 Plus 1-Description The Financial Support Plus 1 program helps customers who are having financial difficulties and are unable to pay …