Office of Consumer Advocate

1
Energy Savings and GHG Reductions from Low Income
Energy Efficiency Programs in New Hampshire

• Office of Consumer Advocate
• Meredith Hatfield

2
Office of Consumer Advocate

• OCA is an independent state agency authorized by
  RSA 36328.
• The OCA represents residential customers of New
  Hampshire's regulated utilities ? electric,
  natural gas, telephone and water.
• The OCA receives advice on matters concerning
  residential ratepayers from an Advisory Board
  representing diverse interests.
• The OCA participates on behalf of residential
  consumer interests in proceedings before the
  NHPUC, other state regulators, federal regulators
  and in the courts.
• The OCA's mission is to advocate for reasonably
  priced, safe and reliable utility services.

3
Residential Energy Efficiency Reduces Energy
Consumption Provides Other Benefits

• An Energy Efficient home needs less energy to
  heat, cool, and maintain the comfort of
  occupants.
• Less energy consumed for heat and comfort means
  fewer gallons of oil, cubic feet of natural gas
  or propane, and kWh of electricity consumed.

4
Energy Programs for NHs Low Income Households

• Federally funded
• LIHEAP (Fuel Assistance) Heating Bill Assistance
• Dept. of Health and Human Services
• Weatherization Assistance Program (Wxn)
• Dept. of Energy
• NH Electric Ratepayer Funded (SBC 0.003/kWh)
• Home Energy Assistance (CORE EE Program)
  (0.0018)
• Electric Assistance Program (0.0012)
• NH Gas Ratepayer Funded
• Low Income Weatherization and other programs
• Residential Heating Discount Rate

5
Program Delivery

• Wxn and LIHEAP managed by OEP, delivered by CAAs
• Gas and electric EE programs delivered by
  utilities in partnership with CAAs
• High level of coordination to leverage funding
  sources

6
Program Eligibility Info

• Gas L.I. Programs 185 FPG
• CORE EE Programs 185 FPG
• DOE Wxn Program 185 FPG
• That translates to annual income of
• 18,889 for household of 1
• 38,203 for household of 4

7
Budgets and Customers Served
8
Avoided CO2 Generation

• From DE 06-135 CORE EE Programs Plan for 2007
• 2. From DG 06-032 and DG 06-036 EE Plan
  Filings for KeySpan and Northern Utilities,
  respectively

9
Less Energy Consumed GHG Reductions
Dependent upon generation mix
10
Unmet Need

• Wxn program has a long waiting list.
• 07 Federal Wxn budget cut by 15.
• Federal funding for fuel assistance is 10x more
  than for Wxn.
• Wxn is only EE funding for non-regulated fuels.
• Core program funding level since inception.

11
Possible Approaches

• Begin with an assessment of the states EE
  potential what should our goal be?
• VT, ME, ACEEE, NEEP studies of potential
• Existing programs will capture less than 20 of
  achievable EE by 2013. (NEEP)
• Then develop policies to achieve that potential
  (remember electricity costs 14 and EE costs
  2/kWh)
• Must address lack of resources for non-regulated
  fuels

12
Other issues

• Need for assistance to local communities for
  compliance with building codes major cost
  savings, long-term impact
• Need better public education and access to
  programs
• What is best delivery mechanism for EE?

13
Contact infoMeredith HatfieldOffice of
Consumer Advocate21 S. Fruit StreetConcord, NH
03301(603) 271-1174meredith.a.hatfield_at_oca.nh.go
v