Item 3a-Vulnerable Populations Amendment_Lanetta Cooper — original pdf

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1 Amend No. 7 of the Residential recommendations to replace it with the following recommendation. Reason: The recommendation below is what the Task Force voted on. Proposed Recommendation Number _____ Recommendation for Vulnerable Populations August 21, 2015 Recommendation: A residential low income energy efficiency program should be created to provide window heating and/or cooling units including installation to low income families served by Austin Energy with at least one member who is: aged 62 or older, disabled, or a child six years of age or younger. This program would be implemented through the use of contractor rebates and the provision of energy efficient window cooling and/or heating units purchased by AE achieving discounts through the use of commitments to purchase a minimum number of appliances from one to three retailers in the Austin area. Targeted Underserved Group: Homeowners and tenants whose household income is between 0 and 250% federal poverty guidelines and who meet the qualifications stated above. Time Schedule: Implement in 2016. Brief Description: Provide emergency heating and/or cooling relief to vulnerable populations through the provision of energy efficiency cooling and/or heating window units. Program Description: This program would be provided through the use of contractor rebates and window cooling and heating units purchased at a discount through agreements with one to three retailers in the Austin area to purchases a minimum number of units. Contractors certified by Austin Energy would perform the work. Austin Energy would certify that the window unit(s) is (are) needed before the window unit is installed. Once that determination is made, Austin Energy would provide the window unit(s). After installation, Austin Energy would review the household to ensure the window unit was installed and installed properly. A rebate  2 check issued to the contractor to cover the cost of installation would be provided after the final Austin Energy review. As part of implementing this program, AE should consider providing the air conditioner units through a lending program taking into consideration storage and refurbishing issues involved in a lending program and the experience of other jurisdictions in the lending of air conditioner units. Budget: There are three funding components to this proposed program: 1. One-time funding to establish a contingency reserve to provide payment to the manufacturer-retailer if the guaranteed minimum level of cooling and/or heating appliances are not purchased; 2. Funding for rebates; and 3. The cost of the cooling and/or heating window units