Partnership With Cape Light Compact Pays Off for Clients
“We try to figure out how we can help solve people’s problems,” said Meredith B. Miller, Senior Analyst with Cape Light Compact, focusing on the Income-Eligible Program.
A longtime Housing Assistance partner, Cape Light Compact was formed in 1997 to advance the interests of regional electricity consumers. The Compact member Towns wanted to ensure that energy efficiency funds collected from Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard customers were reinvested in our communities. In addition to purchasing power on behalf of customers and advocating on behalf of consumers on energy-related issues, the Compact implements energy efficiency programs on Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard.
Cape Light Compact is the regional electric sponsor of Mass Save®, a statewide energy efficiency and decarbonization program. “Our goal this year in the Income Eligible Program is to serve more than 500 customers in single family homes,” said Miller. For those who meet income-eligibility requirements (earning no more than 60 percent of state or area median income), weatherization improvements, such as insulation and air sealing upgrades, are 100% covered by the Compact.
The Compact enrolls clients and refers those who are income-eligible to Housing Assistance. Housing Assistance auditors conduct home energy assessments and if there are recommendations for energy efficient measures, the job is assigned to licensed contractors to complete the weatherization improvements. Depending on the results of the energy assessment, some clients may be eligible for additional upgrades, including heating system and appliance replacements, if the current systems are found to be inefficient. These are also 100% covered by Cape Light Compact.
“Housing Assistance is a valuable partner in implementing the income-eligible energy-efficiency programs, in part because these are the clients they know and serve throughout their programs,” said Miller. “HAC’s energy auditors are not only experienced with the requisite building science training for their jobs, but they are also very good with customers.”
The Cape’s housing supply differs from the rest of the state, she said, because many older residences were originally built for seasonal use and weren’t properly weatherized. And the climate on the Cape and Vineyard can be hard on buildings and require additional maintenance.
The CLC/Housing Assistance partnership gives lower-income homeowners access to the same kind of energy-efficiency measures as others who have more means, according to Miller. “It really makes a difference for people. I got a note just the other day from an elderly couple who’ve been living in Provincetown for a very long time. We were able to convert their heat to heat pumps and make some other efficiency improvements for them. They said the energy-cost reduction will allow them to stay in their home.”
For customers who are above the 60% income-eligible requirements to be served through Housing Assistance, the Compact has similar offerings with incentives of up to 100% available.
Cape Light Compact can be reached at 800-797-6699. For more information, visit capelightcompact.org.
