Krista Corner Havre Daily News kcorner@havredailynews.com
With predictions of energy prices shooting through the roof this winter, local and state public officials are stepping up to help Hi-Liners weatherize their homes to defray climbing costs. Local energy companies also do their part to control costs and help those who fall between the cracks. Soaring energy prices In a recent article by The Associated Press, Montana Public Service Commissioner Bob Raney, D-Livingston, said the Public Service Commission’s stance is that Montanans are approaching an energy crisis, as the cost of gas this winter will be significantly higher from last year across the nation. According to Claudia Rapkoch, NorthWestern Energy public relations officer costs are expected to rise about 30 percent this winter. "One of the reasons everyone sounds the alarm is because we haven't seen the cost from winter drop in the spring and summer," she said. "Natural gas costs stayed really high throughout spring and early summer." The state takes action The predicted increase in costs has spurred Gov. Brian Schweitzer to respond. Another article by The Associated Press said Schweitzer signed an executive order, declaring a state of energy emergency. In his executive order, found online, Schweitzer lists reasons for his declared state of emergency to include a depressed American dollar, predicted increases in costs for energy, peaking demands for energy consumption, rising gasoline and diesel costs and speculation in oil and gas markets. Schweitzer released $1 million in July in emergency funds to help low-income Montanans with weatherization costs. Weatherization is typically handled by the state's Low Income Energy Assistance Program. The state director of the energy program divides the funds and disperses allotments to energy programs across the state. Jim Nolan, Energy Program director for the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, said the funds released by the governor will be used to weatherize additional homes in Montana through two programs "full-blown weatherization" and what Nolan calls "weatherization light.” "What we've done is split (the money) into two pots," he said. "Half $500,000 will go to supplement our regular weatherization program, which is worth about $9.5 million (statewide)." The other $500,000 will be used for weatherization light. For the light program, Human Resources Development Council districts utilize Conservation Corps volunteers out of Missoula and other volunteers who help weatherize households at the bottom of the waiting list. "They do a bunch of physical work," Nolan said. "It's meant for homes that would never gravitate to the full-blown weatherization." Nolan said the state's waiting list for weatherization reaches around 15,000 homes every year, and the State can only give complete weatherization to about 2,000 homes each year. With the Conservation Corps helping the state, more homes receive some limited weatherization. "We'll send (volunteers) into their houses to do the down and dirty stuff caulking windows and covering them with plastic. They get the homes as weather tight as they can for very little money." Local impact Locally, District 4 HRDC, which administers the LIEAP and weatherization programs in Hill, Blaine and Liberty counties and on the Fort Belknap and Rocky Boy's Indian reservations, will receive a small piece of the pie for both programs. "District 4 is going to get about $15,000 for full-blown weatherization," Nolan said, adding that another $15,000 for District 4 is earmarked for the weatherization light program. With these funds, Nolan said HRDC should be able to complete an additional 140 homes in the three counties this year five full-blown and 135 light weatherizations. District 4 HRDC Energy Program Director Charles Swanson said if the Conservation Corps is unable to send volunteers into the district, he and others at HRDC will be working to find volunteers in the area to help with the bare bones weatherization program. Nolan said the state reserved another $15,000 in weatherization light funds for District 4 HRDC to weatherize an additional 135 homes with this program, bringing the grand total of allotted funds for the local district to $30,000. For the estimated 450 homes currently on the waiting list in the local district, $30,000 seems like very little. Because weatherization is so expensive, Nolan said money is divided among districts based on the district's needs based on the number of people on LIEAP. District 4 is one of the smaller districts in the state, he added. "It can cost $5,000 or more (to weatherize a home)," he said. "It is a great program, but it's very expensive, and they're (HRDC 4) at the bottom of the heap." LIEAP and weatherization Other help is available. Hi-Liners can begin applying for LIEAP, which helps pay heating bills, on Oct. 1. Once qualified for LIEAP, Hi-Liners will be automatically added to the weatherization waiting list. LIEAP qualification runs through April 30, 2009, and Nolan said the program is invaluable when helping people stay warm. "LIEAP is our biggest tool to help low-income people get through the winter," he said. "Everybody who is eligible will get something. Everyone should apply." Nolan added that the amount granted to each household depends on the number of dollars versus the number of people applying. If a lot of people apply and fewer dollars come in, that would mean everyone would just get a little bit less, he said. Weatherization and LIEAP go handin- hand, according to Swanson. "In order to qualify for weatherization, they have to be a qualified LIEAP client," Swanson said. "You have to be a current LIEAP client in the year that you qualify." He also said clients must reapply for LIEAP every year and be qualified every year in order to move up the weatherization priority list. For instance, if a person qualifies for five years, he said, then does not qualify for the sixth year, but does the seventh year, that person must start over at the bottom of the waiting list. Swanson added that even if a client qualifies year after year, it may take many years to actually have weatherization performed. "Depending on their priority number, they might have to be on (LIEAP) for quite a few years," he said. "We have clients that have been on the program for five years or longer." When asked how many Hi-Liners are currently on the list, Swanson said, "Quite a few. I won't give an exact number, but we have quite a few." Swanson said the waiting list for LIEAP is not only based on a firstcome, first-serve basis. Nolan added that the willingness of a landlord to help weatherize a home was one example. "If a landlord says they're willing to help pay for weatherization, then the renter can move up the waiting list," Nolan said. Swanson added that many other factors determine priority in weatherization, as well. "There are a lot of different parameters to weatherization," Swanson said. "Once they're a LIEAP client, we get a priority list from the state as to who we contact for weatherization that year." Nolan said the state issues the weatherization list by using information on income and energy expense data input by local LIEAP staff. Those with the highest energy costs and the lowest incomes move to the top. "We regurgitate the numbers we get and say, 'Based on the numbers you gave us, (this person) is first and (this person) is number 100.'" Nolan added that an energy audit is performed once a person gets close to the top of the list. The audit generates a report that gives HRDC a savings investment formula they use to decide the most cost effective way to weatherize the home. "We have a pretty sophisticated formula," Nolan said, adding that HRDCs across the state send in an auditor who looks at where the energy leaks are at, and what would be most effective in preventing them. "Basically, for every dollar HRDC puts in to weatherizing, the weatherization staff have to demonstrate that it will save $1.80 (for the home)," Nolan said. On average, HRDC weatherizes 50 to 60 homes a year within District 4, Swanson added. "There is a limitation on what we can do," he said. "Our biggest concentration is on insulating and making (homes) weather tight." Weather tight means installing weather stripping and finding ways for homeowners to seal up cracks, though Swanson said that may not mean replacing windows. "Not always can we do windows, because they aren't cost-effective," he said. "They don't save (home owners) as much money as insulation." NWE steps up NorthWestern Energy has stepped up their efforts in the face of a possible energy crisis, as well, according to Rapkoch. "In terms of purchasing the energy itself, we are purchasing natural gas throughout the year," she said. "We purchase (during summer), when it costs less, and store it." Consumers can try to budget and control energy costs, Rapkoch said, by using tools available at www.northwesternenergy. com. "We have calculators on the Web site which enable customers to create 'what if scenarios' for their homes and let them determine how to cut energy costs," she said. In addition, NWE is currently reminding consumers to get weatherized now, before the cold weather hits. "Act now in preparation for the heating season," said Rapkoch. "Check out insulation, take a look at windows, and perhaps seal around windows and doors do some caulking. Do some home improvements basically. That is really where you get the biggest bang for your buck. Now is a good time to add additional insulation." Other programs are available from NWE for consumers who do not qualify for LIEAP, as well. (Find more energy saving and winter preparation tips in the Home and Garden guide in today’s Havre Daily News.)
