Title
RUC Recommendation to Allocate Funds to the Community Weatherization Coalition (CWC) (NB)
Explanation
The CWC is a volunteer group of Gainesville citizens that coordinate and perform energy and water surveys on residential properties. GRU was involved in the creation of this group and continues to support their efforts through program guidance, training support, and referrals.
At the January 8, 2015 RUC meeting, staff made a presentation on the status of the Low-income Energy Efficiency Program (LEEP). In the ensuing discussion, the RUC unanimously approved recommending to the City Commission to 1) allocate $3,000 from LEEP's budget to go to CWC for this current fiscal year, 2) request GRU to include a $25,000 budget increment for CWC for the next fiscal year (2016), and
3) request staff to coordinate with CWC on possible grant funding opportunities through American Public Power Association's (APPA) Demonstration of Energy & Efficiency Developments (DEED) program. If approved by the City Commission and prior to distribution of funds, staff would develop appropriate monitoring criteria for the use of these funds.
Fiscal Note
The $3,000.00 in item one is available in the LEEP budget for this fiscal year. The impact of reducing the budget may reduce the goal of improving 124 homes to 123 homes. Funds for the second recommendation will be requested in the 2016 budget.
Recommendation:
The City Commission 1) approve RUC's recommendation to reduce the current fiscal year's (2015) Low-income Energy Efficiency Program (LEEP) budget by $3,000 to make a contribution to the Community Weatherization Coalition (CWC) and 2) authorize the Interim General Manager, or designee, to establish a budget, not to exceed $25,000 for fiscal year 2016, to pay for CWC's services to GRU electric residential customers.