Arkansas Administrative Code › Agency 168 - Arkansas Economic Development Commission › Rule 168.00.17-003 - Arkansas Weatherization Assistance Program State Plan, July 1, 2017 - June 30, 2018

Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 6, June, 2024
Mission Statement
The mission of the Arkansas Energy Office (AEO), is to promote
			 energy efficiency, clean technology, and sustainable strategies that encourage
			 economic development, energy security and the environmental well-being for all
			 citizens of Arkansas.
The State Goals
The policies contained in this plan will enable Arkansas and its
			 subgrantee network to weatherize homes of low-income Arkansans effectively
			 based on:
* Following priorities from the Department of Energy to serve
			 elderly and disabled persons, households with children, and households
			 experiencing a high energy bill burden as well as households using a high
			 amount of energy;
* Ensuring that only the most cost effective measures installed
			 on houses;
* Including client education about energy conservation;
			 and
* Addressing health and safety issues affected by work on the
			 house.
Executive Summary
The Arkansas Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) State Plan
			 for Program Year (PY) 2017 (July 1, 2017 - June 30, 2018) derives from the
			 state's application to the U.S. Department of Energy (U.S. DOE) for
			 Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) funding. These funds will provide
			 assistance to approximately 245 households across the State. (NOTE: the
			 estimate of 245 households is based on DOE funding only.)
The purpose of WAP is to install energy conservation measures in
			 the homes of income-eligible persons (up to 200% of poverty level), with
			 priority given to homes occupied by the elderly, persons with disabilities,
			 households with children, households with a high energy bill burden and
			 households with high energy usage. Funds are directed toward the most
			 cost-effective energy efficiency measures, as determined by an on-site, highly
			 technical energy audit of the eligible building. The program helps to:
* reduce energy consumption in Arkansas,
* reduce the cost of energy for low-income families, and
* address health and safety issues in the home that are affected
			 by weatherization work.
Currently, subgrantees are Community Action Agencies and other
			 non-profit organizations. They provide energy efficiency weatherization
			 services by subcontracting work to qualified contractors or by using their own
			 trained weatherization crews. Energy efficiency measures funded through the
			 program include air sealing, insulation, and replacement of heating systems.
			 The program assists all types of housing: single family homes, a category which
			 includes duplexes, triplexes and quadplexes, manufactured housing (mobile
			 homes), and multi-family housing, consisting of small, garden-style apartments,
			 group homes and emergency shelters.
The state will spend DOE funds for PY 2017 in accordance with
			 this plan. Possible changes in funding levels are discussed in the budget
			 section.
Significant Changes from PY
			 2016
1) Additional
		  subgrantees will be procured by AEO issuing a Request for Proposals to provide
		  weatherization services in the following counties:
East Central Arkansas: Lee, Monroe, Phillips, and
			 Prairie counties
These four (4) counties were served temporarily for one (1) year
			 in PY 2016 by Better Community Development, Inc.
Central Arkansas: Lonoke and Pulaski
			 counties
West Central Arkansas: Conway, Perry, Pope, and Yell
			 counties
These six (6) counties have been served by Elevate, Inc. through
			 January 31, 2017 when Elevate ceased operations.
2) The Weatherization Training Center (WTC),
		  located at Pulaski Technical College in North Little Rock, closed its doors
		  rather unexpectedly on June 30, 2016. Although exploratory discussions have
		  occurred about relocating and reopening the WTC, there are no definite plans in
		  place at this time.
Training and Technical Assistance (T&TA) funds are being
			 partly retained by AEO to provide in-state training required by DOE and
			 applicable to all weatherization staff and partly allocated to the subgrantees
			 to fund training plans which address the specific needs of staff employed in
			 the Weatherization Program at these agencies.
3) Monitoring: the following requirements
		  from DOE are incorporated into this plan:
* Increasing monitoring and oversight when significant
			 deficiencies are found.
* Disqualifying contractors from future work after repeatedly
			 failing to perform adequately.
* Collecting an annual summary of each subgrantee' s status in a
			 subgrantee monitoring analysis overview or risk assessment.
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Disclaimers
NOTE: In planning for Program Year 2017 (July 1, 2017 - June 30,
			 2018), DOE instructed Grantees to use the same funding allocations to the
			 states from the previous year.
Final allocations to grantees from DOE will include adjustments,
			 from these planning amounts, that will be made after FY 2018 appropriations are
			 enacted by Congress and signed into law. Therefore, this budget should be
			 viewed as preliminary with changes to be expected after federal appropriations
			 become known.
*
On June 27, 2017 the Arkansas Energy Office
			 received the final allocation for PY 2017 which included an increase of
			 $112,116. Therefore, the current budget includes this
			 increase.
In addition, allocations to subgrantees will also vary from
			 amounts shown in this plan when:
* Final training plans are approved by AEO and T&TA funds are
			 allocated according to the funding needs of the training plans.
* Administrative cost allocation plans are approved by AEO and
			 administration funds are allocated based on need.
**
The current budget also includes the final
			 allocation of administrative and Training and Technical Assistance (T&TA)
			 funds based on subgrantee plans approved by AEO.
The Department of Energy (DOE), after reviewing Arkansas'
			 application to approve PY 2017 funding, may require changes be made to the
			 information contained in this state plan.
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Policy Advisory Council
			 Members
As required by federal regulations, a Policy Advisory Council
			 (PAC) assists in the development and implementation of the WAP and advises the
			 state on a broad range of issues relating to WAP. The PAC is broadly
			 representative of organizations that provide services to low-income persons in
			 Arkansas.
Member Representing:
Aging/Adult Services - Gwen McLarty
At Large - Katie Niebaum
Electric Cooperatives - Brett Curry
Environmental and Occupational Health - Morris F. Cranmer
Executive Director - Community Action Agency - Tim
			 Wooldridge
Federal Housing - HUD - David Blick
Health Department - Quinyatta Mumford
Housing - USDA Rural Development - Cheryl Ivy
Local Government - Victor Turner
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program - Shirley Mason
Other - Roger Smith
Public Service Commission - Wally Nixon
Public Utility - CenterPoint Energy - Kirk Pierce
Public Utility - Entergy Arkansas - Denice Jeter
Weatherization Director - Community Action Agency - Beverly
			 Palmer
Ex Officio - Mitchell Simpson
V.1
Eligibility
AEO understands that every dwelling weatherized must meet both
			 the client eligibility and the building eligibility requirements.
Basis for household eligibility is WPN 17-3 (April 5, 2017)
			 containing current poverty income guidelines and definition of income. Arkansas
			 will use 200% of poverty levels and categorical eligibility as described in the
			 preceeding section. LIHEAP eligibility can also be used because the maximum
			 income allowable for LIHEAP utility assistance is 60% of Arkansas median income
			 which is less than 200% of poverty level.
V.1.1
Approach to Determining Client
		  Eligibility
Income Verification
As defined in 10CFR440.3, low-income means that:
1. income in relation to household size is at
		  or below 200 percent of the poverty level determined in accordance with
		  criteria established by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget,
		  and published in WPN 17-3, or
2.
		  the household contains a member who has received cash assistance payments at
		  any time during the preceding twelve months under Titles IV or XVI of the
		  Social Security Act, or applicable state or local law, or
3. the household is eligible for assistance
		  based on energy assistance payments that have been paid under the Low Income
		  Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 (LIHEAP).
AEO acknowledges that all subgrantees must have on file proof of
			 income eligibility for each client served and each client waiting for services
			 and must re-certify eligibility every twelve (12) months.
Qualified Aliens Receiving Weatherization
			 Benefits:
U.S. DOE directs grantees to guidance provided by Health and
			 Human Services (HHS) at
http://aspe.hhs.gov/hps/immigration/restrictions-sum.shtml.
Subgrantees must follow this guidance and verify qualified alien status of
			 Weatherization Program applicants. The verification documentation is required
			 as part of the Subgrantee Client Files.