Delaware Weatherization Assistance Program
Public Hearing Notes
Friday, February 9, 2007
Present: William Pelham, Chairman, Weatherization Policy Advisory Committee; Maureen Tucker, Manager, Community Service Block Grant Program; J.R. Blevins, PAC Member; Karen Brady, Weatherization Coordinator, Neighborhood House, Inc.; Helen Drayton, Weatherization Director, First State Community Action Agency; Cindy Rule, Secretary, Office of Community Services; Ken Davis, Weatherization Program Manager, Office of Community Services.
Introductions
Meeting called to order at 10:30 a.m. by William E. Pelham, Chairman.
Ken Davis, Weatherization Program Manager, was asked to discuss the purpose of the hearing and to provide background information on the Delaware Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP).
The WAP installs energy efficient improvements in homes of low-income people to reduce energy consumption and cost and to improve the health and safety of people in their homes.
The WAP is administered by Delaware Health and Social Services, Division of State Service Centers, Office of Community Services (OCS). In accordance with U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) rules and regulations, the OCS must conduct a public hearing to obtain comment and testimony from the public prior to submitting the State Plan for Program Year 2007, which begins on April 1, 2007.
The State Plan was placed on public display throughout the state for at least 10 days prior to the public hearing. The plan was displayed at the Office of Community Services and at Neighborhood House in New Castle County, at Catholic Charities in Dover in Kent County, and at First State Community Action Agency in Sussex County.
WAP services are provided statewide. Persons with incomes at or below 200% poverty are eligible for services. Clients that apply for the Fuel Assistance Program (FAP) are referred to WAP by Catholic Charities. The Fuel Assistance Program is also administered by the OCS. When applying for the fuel program, clients are asked if they have ever received WAP services. If the answer is no, their name is placed put on waiting list for the weatherization program after verifying that the client has not previously received assistance. Approximately, 700 new clients are added to the WAP waiting list each year. WAP brochures are available at Catholic Charities and workers use them to explain the services offered by the WAP to clients. Elderly and disabled clients can recertify annually for FAP and WAP services by mail. All other clients must re-apply for FAP and WAP in person annually at Catholic Charities in one of their three county offices throughout the state.
The OCS administers the statewide operations of the WAP, which includes overseeing all program operations; including program monitoring, and providing training and technical assistance to the agencies and their private contractors. The OCS will contract with Neighborhood House, Inc. and First State Community Action Agency, Inc. during Program Year 2007. Neighborhood House handles weatherization projects in New Castle County and First State Community Action Agency handles
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projects in Kent and Sussex Counties. Both agencies subcontract with the Energy Services Group (ESG) for energy audit and quality control services. The agencies also subcontract with private construction and heating contractors to install energy efficiency improvements in the homes of clients in their respective counties. Energy improvements include caulking; weather-stripping; blower-door-guided air sealing; insulation of attics, side walls, crawl spaces, hot water heaters, hot and cold water pipes; repair or replacement of primary windows and doors; and furnace repairs or replacements.
The total WAP budget is $2,146,727 in Program Year 2007. The U.S. Department of Energy is providing $612,727 and the other $1,534,000 will be provided by the state. Approximately, 633 homes will receive weatherization assistance statewide at an average cost of $2,880 per home. In the past, the WAP has served approximately 500 homes at an average cost of $2,500 per home.
Open Discussion
Karen Brady: Can Carbon Monoxide detectors be provided and installed under WAP?
Ken Davis: There is nothing that prevents the installation of CM detectors under WAP. We might want to consider making CM detectors a standard installation. New to the market are CM detectors with a 10-year Lithium battery that can only be used in the detector, which will decrease the likelihood of the batteries being removed for other uses.
Maureen Tucker: How does Carbon Monoxide relate to WAP?
Ken Davis: Faulty furnaces can emit hazardous gasses including Carbon Monoxide. The energy audit can detect hazardous gas emissions. If levels exceed program standards, the WAP is required to take action to eliminate the problem including furnace repair or replacement. Carbon Monoxide detectors can help make homes safer.
Karen Brady: Can WAP repair or replace gutters and downspouts to prevent water deterioration and mold contamination in the home?
Ken Davis: Yes. The WAP can address these issues under health and safety, as well as under incidental repairs where we are protecting other weatherization measures installed.
Bill Pelham: Are services guaranteed?
Ken Davis: Yes, subcontractors guarantee their work for a period of one (1) year.
Maureen Tucker: Do the nonprofit agencies authorize all work recommended by the energy audit?
Ken Davis: The agencies usually issue proceed orders to private contractors for all of the recommendations contained in the energy audit.
Bill Pelham: Can the WAP provide temporary space heaters if the furnace is broken?
Ken Davis: In an emergency situation where the furnace is not working and a heating contractor is not immediately available, electric space heaters can be supplied temporarily to keep the family warm until the furnace can be repaired or replaced.
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Bill Pelham: How is the WAP advertised to subcontractors?
Ken Davis: the nonprofit agencies advertise through local newspapers, word of mouth and trade organizations. Karen Brady added that the contractors must be willing to accept the prices included on the Weatherization Program “Price List”, and they must be willing to wait 30 days for payment.
Comment and Testimony
Maureen Tucker: The WAP State Plan should be displayed at more locations to increase awareness of the program. The State Plan should be on display at all State Service Centers and at other places around the state. You should look into seeing if the State Plan could be put on the Delaware.Gov website or on the Intranet. You probably need to check with Jay Lynch the Communications Director. Parts of the State Plan that refer to funding amounts should be made available at the public hearing.
Helen Drayton: Currently, the agency that performs the energy audit under the WAP provides literature, education, information and gives out energy efficient light bulbs.
Karen Brady: WAP is in need of more advertisement. Not enough people know about the program and outreach is somewhat limited to Catholic Charities. Everyone wants to increase outreach to people, especially the elderly and disabled. The state needs to see if we can get more creative in our advertising of WAP.
Helen Drayton: I recently spoke at a Senior Center in Dover area to explain the WAP. Senior Centers have a lot of information about the program available to its members, but some elderly people have too much pride to accept help. We need to find a way to get more people to apply for the program.
Karen Brady: Neighborhood House has noticed that there is an increase in the amount of time it takes for the agency to receive reimbursement for contractor payments from the state. This increases the amount of time that the subcontractors have to wait to be paid for work completed. Many subcontractors are small businesses and do not have unlimited lines of credit to purchase equipment and materials needed to complete the jobs. These small businesses operate on a tight budget; especially heating contractors during the height of the heating seasons. We suggested that the state look at ways to reduce the waiting time for subcontractors and expedite job completion.
JR Blevins: Years ago, I had the same problem staying afloat while waiting on payments from the state. However, we are a much larger company today and can weather the storm. But, small companies in the program need the cash flow to operate. Unless we find a way to speed up payments, I think that it will be difficult to attract small contractors to the program.
Meeting adjourned 12:05 p.m.