Creating the Moment: Expanding Low-Income Energy Resources

1. Creating the Moment:Expanding Low-Income Energy Resources Roger Colton Fisher, Sheehan & Colton Public Finance and General Economics Belmont, MA 02478 June 2002

2. National Fuel Funds Network:Energy Safety Net Tool Kit Series • Launched in December 2001 • A series of papers exploring new programs and new partnerships to increase energy assistance in the US. • Stress approaches that community-based organizations, utilities and government can undertake together, without new regulation or legislation.

3. Tool Kit #1:In Harm’s Way: The Issue • Portable space heaters not major cause of home heating fires. • Portable space heaters: • Highest death toll • Highest injury rate • Highest property damage per household

4. Tool Kit #1:In Harm’s Way: The Issue • Substantial minority (25%) of customers losing heating use portable heaters (electric/propane). • Low-income risk factors: • No smoke detectors • No child care • No telephone • Less fire resistant housing

5. Tool Kit #1:In Harm’s Way: The Partnership • National Fire Protection Association (National Fire Prevention Week) • Property and casualty insurance companies • Weatherization providers (smoke detectors) • Local utilities (fire prevention and shutoffs) • State/local public health agencies (CDC: unintentional injuries)

6. Tool Kit #2:Credit where Credit is Due: The Issue • 4.3 million low-income households at risk of shutoff at end of 2000/2001 heating season. • Proportionately, 2x as many low-income customers in arrears. • Low-income arrears twice as high as non-low-income.

7. Tool Kit #2:Credit where Credit is Due: The Issue • EITC/Child tax credit available to working poor. • Average benefit $1,800+ • One-quarter of recipients use to pay past-due utility bills. • 90% use to pay household living expenses.

8. Tool Kit #2:Credit where Credit is Due: The Partnership • Mass utility outreach campaigns (NJ) • “Gap filler” outreach campaign • Part-time workers • Women-workers • Hispanic workers • VITA campaign (Illinois--Ameritech) • Targeted outreach (Cleco)

9. Tool Kit #5:When Weather Kills:The Issue • From 1989 - 1998, heat-related deaths outpaced deaths attributable to every other weather category, including cold weather. • Low-income at particular risk: • Summer bills unaffordable • Particular dangers of urban heat (heat island) • Particular dangers of urban heat (housing type) • Households most at risk: • Persons aged 60 and over: 68% of heat deaths • 70% of heat deaths in homes w/o air conditioning.

10. Tool Kit #5:When Weather Kills:The Issue • Air conditioning is #1 protection against heat-related illness and death. • Electric fans may provide comfort, but do not provide health protection. • For example, 21% of all deaths in NYC during 1964 - 1988 could have been avoided by air conditioning.

11. Tool Kit #5:When Weather Kills:The Partnership • Community “Heat Response Plan” • Identification of high risk persons • Extreme Weather Registry • Outreach and education • Access to cooling • Home cooling, congregate cooling sites, extended hour cooling sites. • Heat-related assistance (hot line)

12. Tool Kit #5:When Weather Kills:The Partnership • Local governments • Aging/disabled advocates • Facility managers (private/public) • Insurance companies

13. NFFN’s Energy Safety Net Tool Kit http://www.nationalfuelfunds.org/toolkits.html

14. For More Information: coling@nationalfuelfunds.org or roger@fsconline.com