2014 States' Use of Assurance 16

Note: In 1994, a new provision, Assurance 16, was added to the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program statute. It provides LIHEAP grantees the option of spending no more than five percent of their LIHEAP funds on services that encourage and enable households to reduce their home energy needs and thereby the need for energy assistance, including needs assessment, counseling, and assistance with energy vendors.

State FY
% Funds
Description
Alabama
2014
2
Needs assessments focusing on target groups of the elderly, disabled and small children. Energy and financial counseling and assistance with energy suppliers with the goal to reduce shut-offs and disconnects.
Alaska
2014
0
 
Arizona
2014
5
Energy conservation education
Arkansas
2014
5
Case management, job referrals, budget counseling, energy education, meter reading
California
2014
5
Energy needs assessment, budget counseling, energy conservation education, advocacy with utilities, energy efficiency measures
Colorado
2014
0
Local agencies are allowed to spend up to 5% of LIHEAP
weatherization funds on energy education and counseling.
Connecticut
2014
$1 million
Risk assessment, counseling, energy education/awareness and assistance with energy suppliers/vendors
Delaware
2014
2
Energy conservation workshops and financial counseling
Dist. of Columbia
2014
5
Provide educational workshops to counsel participants on how to identify energy waste, increase energy efficiency, understand and read their utility bill in an effort to assist clients in reducing their energy costs.
Florida
2014
0.5
Dept. will explore ways to help clients reduce energy usage. May include contracting with local agency, state, or consultant to assess energy needs, develop energy education materials, or enhance energy education through vendors.
Georgia
2014
.001
Outreach to vulnerable groups, negotiations with fuel providers, consumer counseling, partnerships formed to strengthen and extend available resources to low-income households
Hawaii
2014
0
 
Idaho
2014
5
Energy conservation education, budgeting, assessment of household energy and weatherization needs, low-cost/no-cost weatherization supplies, increased outreach
Illinois
2014
5
Client education and counseling; outreach and coordination with other related programs targeted to elderly and persons with disabilities.
Indiana
2014
5
Case management with emphasis on self-sufficiency and energy conservation
Iowa
2014
5
Budget counseling, advocacy, energy education, low cost weatherization, needs assessment.
Kansas
2014
0
 
Kentucky
2014
.09
Budget counseling, energy conservation education, assistance with utility payment plans
Louisiana
2014
.8
State provides resources, services, and expertise to local agencies to enable them to provide energy conservation education and information to clients
Maine
2014
2
Outreach, budget counseling, needs assessments, home energy education and referrals.
Maryland
2014
5
Assistance with energy suppliers; referrals to weatherization, churches, fuel funds, shelters; counseling - earned income tax, renter's tax credit; alternative home heating, conservation information
Massachusetts
2014
2.65
Needs assesment (including consumption data collection); counseling; assistance with energy vendors (shutoffs, arrears management, budget plans); FastTrack emergency service; referral to energy conservation services
Michigan
2014
0
 
Minnesota
2014
5
Budget counseling; energy conservation education; vendor negotiations; advocacy with fuel suppliers on behalf of households; household energy assessments; referrals; case management; public relations and outreach
Mississippi
2014
5
Consumer education classes, vendor-sponsored workshops, low-cost/no-cost weatherization measures
Missouri
2014
0
 
Montana
2014
5
Administering agencies target client outreach and education activities such as energy education at public events; educating vendors about energy programs and establishing client referral practices; engaging youth in energy awareness to promote conservation.
Nebraska
2014
0
 
Nevada
2014
5
LIHEAP/EAP staff assists households by mediating with the utility companies and other energy vendors, coordinating sources of assistance, counseling, and making referrals to other agencies and programs.
New Hampshire
2014
5
Preventive services for households in crisis - targeted needs assessment; energy and financial counseling; assistance with energy vendors
New Jersey
2014
0
 
New Mexico
2013
0
 
New York
2014
0
 
North Carolina
2014
0
 
North Dakota
2014
0
 
Ohio
2014
2.5
Data obtained by the regulated utilities is used to target high usage households with energy efficiency education. Local agencies will provide case management to assist clients in determining the best payment plan options for their household budgets, including PIPP.
Oklahoma
2014
0
 
Oregon
2014
5
Case management (including needs assessments, budget planning and arrearage management), energy education, energy saving incentives (kits).
Pennsylvania
2014
0
 
Rhode Island
2014
4
Needs assessments, counseling, and assistance with energy vendors.
South Carolina
2014
5
Energy education accomplished through household assessment, agency referrals, income management counseling, energy workshops and educational materials, intervention with energy vendors to promote client responsibility and prevent energy crisis, and follow-up evaluation with the family to ensure progress.
South Dakota
2014
2
Work with other agencies to ensure that literature and applications are made available; post information on the website; help promote energy conservation through utility-sponsored events; client referrals.
Tennessee
2014
2
Local agencies can use up to 5% of their budget to provide energy conservation tips, and assistance with cutoff notices and other problems with energy suppliers.
Texas
2014
5
Identify household needs, provide literature and energy conservation education, refer client to other appropriate programs, encourage responsible vendor and consumer behavior. Subrecipients provide applications, forms, and energy education materials in Spanish, English, or other language when appropriate.
Utah
2014
0.44
energy conservation education, weatherization materials (e.g., caulking, heat deflectors, tape, etc.), and activities such as needs assessments, counseling, and assistance with utility vendors.
Vermont
2014
1
 
Virginia
2014
0.92
Energy savings and conservation tips are mailed with preprinted applications to 170,000 households at start of the heating season
Washington
2014
3.75
Needs assessments related to energy budget management, payment plans, and related services; assistance with energy vendors to encourage responsible vendor and consumer behavior and related client counseling.
West Virginia
2014
0
 
Wisconsin
2014
0
 
Wyoming
2014
5