Item 5 - Home Energy Savings Presentation — original pdf

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Home Energy Savings Resource Management Commission Hammad Chaudhry Energy Efficiency Services Director June 2025 © Austin Energy Item 5Home Energy Savings Home Energy Savings provides rebates to help residential customers make whole-home energy improvements. Benefits include energy savings, utility bill savings, better indoor air quality and a more comfortable, more energy efficient home. Improvements may include • Replace or tune-up HVAC system • Replace or repair duct work • Weatherstrip doors • Seal air leaks • Attic insulation • • Install solar screens Install smart thermostats • Air balancing 2 Successes • Consistently high customer satisfaction scores • Popular free in-home energy assessments and online energy quiz • Increased rebates 90%+ Customer Satisfaction Over Past 5 Years 300+ Free In-Home Energy Assessments Performed in Past Year 35% Increase in Average Rebate per Project 3 Challenges • Year over year customer participation decline 456 392 336 FY22 FY23 FY24 • Average total project increase cost is a barrier to customers 30% Increase in Overall Cost to Customers • Sunset of Texas Gas incentives • Program design changes • Economic uncertainty 4 Program Changes Based on Contractor Feedback November 2022 focus group included nine contractors. 1 Pre-Built Scopes Added a free in-home assessment for customers. 2 Free Contractor Training New free training for contractors and staff called Back to Basics. Goal is for contractors to pass final inspections the first time. 4 Training Reimbursement Continued to offer 30% reimbursement on training. 5 Marketing Support Provide more co-branded materials. Created a marketing kit for contractors in 2024. 3 Reduced Requirements Removed Building Performance Institute (BPI) certification requirements and reduced the National Comfort Institute (NCI) certification requirements. 6 Clearer Standards Revised program handbooks to include an inspection checklist for both contractors and utility field staff to follow. 5 Home Energy Savings Program: National Benchmarking Program Requirement Licensing Austin Energy energize CT Mass Save PSEG NJ Applicable w/ TX Dept of Licensing & Regulation More Stringent More Stringent More Stringent Insurance Proof of State Minimum Similar Similar Similar Certifications National Comfort Institute (NCI) Duct System Optimization and Air Balancing More Stringent Including Building Performance Institute and OSHA required for lead installers More Stringent - similar to energize CT for all installers More Stringent and similar to Mass Save Specialized Equipment Either own or have access to equipment More Stringent with requirement to own More Stringent similar to energize CT More Stringent similar to energize CT Warranty Trainings Written 1 year Similar Similar Similar Mandatory Back to Basics More Stringent w/Multiple Similar to energize CT Similar to energize CT required Trainings (4-day Bootcamp) Quality Assurance / Quality Control (QA/QC) 10% for projects but 100% Austin Energy post inspection Slightly More Stringent – 20% projects QA/QC, 100% desk review Similar to energize CT Similar to Austin Energy 6 Future Paths for Home Energy Savings Beneficial Electrification Iterative Program Design Targeted Marketing 7 ©Austin Energy. All rights reserved. Austin Energy and the Austin Energy logo and combinations thereof are trademarks of Austin Energy, the electric department of the City of Austin, Texas. Other names are for informational purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective owners.