OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND
RENEWABLE ENERGY, DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
AUTHORIZATION:
Energy Conservation and Production Act, Title IV, Part
A, Public Law 94-385, 42 U.S.C. 6851-6872; Department of Energy Organization
Act of 1977, as amended, Public Law 95-91, 42 U.S.C. 7101; National Energy
Conservation Policy Act of 1978, Title II, Part 2, Public Law 95-619, 92 Stat.
3206; Energy Security Act of 1980, Title V, Subtitle E, Public Law 96-294;
Human Services Reauthorization Act of 1984, Public Law 98-558, 98 Stat. 2888;
State Energy Efficiency Programs Improvement Act of 1990, Public Law 101-440.
To insulate the dwellings of low-income persons,
particularly the elderly, persons with disabilities, families with children,
high residential energy users, and households with a high energy burden, in
order to conserve needed energy and to aid those persons least able to afford
higher utility costs.
TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:
Formula Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition
USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:
Improvement of the thermal efficiency of dwellings by
the installation of weatherization materials such as attic insulation,
caulking, weather-stripping, furnace efficiency modifications, certain
mechanical measures to heating and cooling systems, and replacement furnaces,
boilers, and air-conditioners. States may average expenditures per dwelling
unit for materials, program support and labor costs not to exceed $2,500
adjusted annually for inflation. Up to 10 percent of each grant may be spent
by a State and its sub-grantees for administrative expenses (a State may not
use more than 5 percent of the total State grant for such purposes).
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
Applicant Eligibility: States,
including the District of Columbia, and in certain instances, Native American
tribal organizations. In the event a State does not apply, a unit of general
purpose local government, or community action agencies and/or other nonprofit
agencies within that State becomes eligible to apply.
Beneficiary Eligibility:
All low-income households are eligible to receive weatherization assistance. A
low-income household is one whose combined income falls at or below 125
percent of the poverty level determined by the Office of Management and
Budget's poverty income guidelines or the basis on which Federal, State, or
local cash assistance payments have been made. A State may also elect to make
all homes eligible under the HHS Low-income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
eligible for weatherization assistance and may use either 150 percent of
poverty or 60 percent of State median income.
Credentials/Documentation:
The Department of Energy (DOE) requires that grantees meet certain statutory
and administrative requirements which can be found in the Weatherization
Program Guidelines available from DOE offices. Governors or their designated
agencies must apply for grants to the appropriate DOE office and submit State
Plans and applications pursuant to E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review
of Federal Programs." Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB
Circular No. A-87 for State and local governments.
Pre-application Coordination:
The standard application forms as furnished by the Federal agency and required
by 10 CFR 600. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372,
"Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should
consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in
his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be
followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for
review. Administrative procedures will be determined in accordance with 10 CFR
600 and with the Weatherization Program Guidelines (available from DOE
offices). After notice and a public hearing, a State must adopt a final plan
describing the proposed funding distribution and recipients. A copy of the
final State plan must accompany the grant application. No pre-application form
is required by the DOE. Consultation and assistance will be available from the
DOE in the preparation of the application.
Application Procedure:
Grant applications are submitted to the DOE office serving the applicant
State.
Award Procedure: Grant
applications will be reviewed by DOE office staff. Grant procedures will be
accomplished in accordance with Federal government regulations. Notification
of grant awards will be made by the DOE Office Director serving the applicant
State.
Deadlines: State
applications must be received within 60 days from the date the State receives
notification of eligibility to apply for funding.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:
Approximately 30 days.
Appeals: If an application
is disapproved, the DOE office Director shall issue a written notice which
will be sent to the applicant by registered mail. A public hearing will be
held no later than 15 days after receipt of such notice. The DOE office
Director will issue a final determination not later than 5 working days after
the public hearing. In the event of an adverse final determination by the DOE
office Director, the applicant may file a written appeal to the Secretary not
later than 10 working days after receipt of the DOE office Director's
determination. The Secretary will have 21 working days to consider the appeal
and if no action is taken the decision of the DOE office Director will stand.
Renewals: Financial
assistance will be provided from sums appropriated for any fiscal year only
upon annual application.
ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:
Formula and Matching Requirements:
The statistical factors used for fund allocation are: (1) Heating degree days
and the source is "State Level Heating and Cooling Degree Days,"
over a 30-year period (1951 to 1980), NOAA; (2) cooling degree days and the
source is "State Level Heating and Cooling Degree Days" over a
30-year period (1951 to 1980), NOAA; (3) the number of low-income owner
occupied dwelling units and the source is 1990 Decennial Census, from the
Bureau of the Census; (4) number of low-income renter occupied dwelling units
and the source is the 1990 Decennial Census from the Bureau of the Census; (5)
the percentage of total residential heating used for space heating and the
source is the "1987 Residential Energy Consumption Survey" published
by DOE, Energy Information Administration; and (6) the percentage of total
residential energy used for space cooling and the source is the "1987
Residential Energy Consumption Survey" published by DOE, Energy
Information Administration. The statistical factor used for eligibility is the
dwelling units occupied by families with incomes at or below 125 percent or if
the State elects, 150 percent or 60 percent of State median income as defined
under the HHS LIHEAP Program of the "OMB Poverty Guidelines."
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:
Authorized funding is established by ECPA, NECPA, and ESA.
POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Reports: Quarterly program and
financial reports. Semi-annual monitoring, leveraging, training, and technical
assistance reports.
Audits: In accordance with
the provisions of OMB Circular No. A- 133, (Revised, June 24, 1997),
"Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations,"
nonfederal entities that receive financial assistance of $300,000 or more in
Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for
that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $300,000 a year in
Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements that year, except as
noted in Circular No. A- 133.
Records: Records will be
required in accordance with 10 CFR 600.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION:
Account Identification:
89-0215-0-1-999.
Obligations: (Grants) FY 01
$135,000,000; FY 02 est $153,000,000; and FY 03 est $154,000,000.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance: The average State grant is $2,600,000.
Approximately 5 million homes have been weatherized with
DOE funds.
REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:
Weatherization Assistance guidelines published June 1,
1977. Amendments to guidelines published January 2, 1979, August 29, 1979,
February 27, 1980, June 1, 1981, March 1, 1982, January 27, 1984, January 4,
1985, December 5, 1985, March 4 1993, June 5, 1995, and December 8, 2000.
INFORMATION CONTACTS:
Regional or Local Office:
Boston: Hugh Saussy. Telephone: (617) 565-9710. Philadelphia: Brian Conner.
Telephone: (215) 656-6954. Atlanta: Jim Powell. Telephone: (404) 347-2888.
Chicago: Peter Dreyfuss. (312) 886-8575. Denver: Bill Becker. Telephone: (303)
275-4801. Seattle: Kathy Pierce. Telephone: (206) 553-1132.
Headquarters Office:
Director, Office of Building Technology Assistance, Mail Stop EE-42, Office of
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of Energy, Forrestal
Building, Washington, DC 20585. Telephone: (202) 586-4074.
Web Site Address: http://www.eren.doe.gov/buildings/weatherization_assistance
EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:
State funded local action agencies install energy
conservation measures in the homes of low-income persons.
CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:
DOE requires that grantees meet certain statutory and
administrative requirements which can be found in the Weatherization Program
Guidelines available from DOE Operations Offices.
