13 Reduction of home energy needs,2605(b)(16) - Assurance 16

13.1 Describe how you use LIHEAP funds to provide services that encourage and enable households to reduce their home energy needs and thereby the need for energy assistance? Local Service Providers address the energy needs of low-income households by conducting a thorough energy needs assessment of each client, providing budget counseling, energy conservation education, and coordination with utility companies. Whenever possible, weatherization services are also provided to offer a preventive, holistic and long-term solution to energy needs. Local Service Providers maintain a source document that substantiates that the client was provided these services. The document is kept on file by the contractor and is reviewed during routine program evaluation. 13.2 How do you ensure that you don't use more than 5% of your LIHEAP funds for these activities? Contracts with Local Service Providers establish a budgetary cap on Assurance 16 expenditures and require the submission of monthly expenditure activity reports to CSD. 13.3 Describe the impact of such activities on the number of households served in the previous federal Fiscal Year. The impacts of the budget and energy education are that clients are more aware of their energy and household costs, which may result in overall household savings. CSD is working on policy updates to better track the impact of Assurance 16 activities, actively workshopping the plan with the Energy Council and the LSP network. The new policy will be implemented beginning with Program Year 2027. 13.4 Describe the level of direct benefits provided to those households in the previous federal Fiscal Year. N/A 13.5 How many households received these services? 175,083 If any of the above questions require further explanation or clarification that could not be made in the fields provided, attach a document with said explanation here.