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? Minnesota uses LIHEAP funds to provide services that encourage and enable households to reduce their home energy needs and thereby need for energy assistance. Commerce refers to supported activities as "Assurance 16 (A16)." A16 allowable activities include: Budget counseling Energy conservation education Facilitation of household negotiations for budget payments Advocacy with fuel suppliers on behalf of households Household energy assessments Referrals Case management 13.2 How do you ensure that you don't use more than 5% of your LIHEAP funds for these activities? Commerce assigns a dedicated project code in the State Accounting System and a dedicated line item on the contract with local administering agencies and allocate a specific amount for A16 activities to each service provider, the total of which does not exceed 5%. Service Providers record A16 activities in LIHEAP software, and EAP Program Performance Auditors monitor the use of Assurance 16 funds. 13.3 Describe the impact of such activities on the number of households served in the previous federal Fiscal Year. Energy Self-Sufficiency includes activities that help reduce household energy need and enable energy security by affecting one or more of the following areas: Enabling and encouraging a household's optimal, or most desirable, energy usage (e.g., more efficient, reduced usage) • Increasing the affordability of energy. • Enabling household access to services and opportunities that increase or improve income and/or assets • Encouraging increased household housing/energy provider options. Seek to help households substantially improve their energy security in the long-term • 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? Unduplicated count is not available 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.