Duke Energy Helping Home Fund Questions/Responses submitted as of December 1, 2014

Transcription

1 Duke Energy Helping Home Fund Questions/Responses submitted as of December 1, If we don t presently have the proper equipment or transportation will the grant allow for the purchase or lease of equipment and vehicles? No. 2. If the home isn t presently a Duke customer can they switch over to Duke and qualify for a grant? No. 3. Duke just purchased the city of New Bern s electric company, will New Bern residents qualify? Duke Energy Progress has not purchased the City of New Bern s electric company. Therefore, New Bern residents will continue to receive their electricity from the same organization they currently have service with. Duke Energy Progress did agree to purchase generating assets used by 32 cities, including New Bern, which was announced in July of New Bern residents that are not Duke Energy Progress customers will not qualify for the Helping Home Fund. 4. Will mobile homes qualify for a grant? Income qualified residents of Manufactured Housing are eligible for the Duke Energy Helping Home Fund. 5. Will homes previously weatherized to current state standards qualify for a heating system? If so how far back can a home have been weatherized and still qualify? Previously weatherized homes are eligible to receive additional services from the Helping Home Fund to the extent allowable by the program guidelines. At this time there is no date of previous weatherization services that would prohibit consideration. 1

2 6. Why will the burden be put on the agencies for marketing when Duke already has a list of possible clients? I suggest they notify their customers in their utility bills of the availability of the grant. Outreach is a normal component of program services by the agencies. NCCAA, in cooperation with Duke Energy, will work with service providers to provide collateral material and templates. It is not anticipated that extensive marketing will be required. 7. Is a Tier 1 home considered to have been weatherized and if so would the home qualify for a system replacement? I can see this Tier 1 homes will likely not qualify for a system replacement. Homes that have been previously weatherized under DOE s Weatherization Assistance Program are eligible for HVAC replacement services if their energy burden is equal to or greater than 7kwh per sq. ft. if electric, $.25 per sq. ft. for oil or LP gas and $.42 per sq. ft. for oil or LP gas with water heating (final costs per sq. ft. will be available in the program guidelines to be released in early January 2015). Beyond HVAC, additional weatherization services may be eligible under the Helping Home Fund based on current audit findings. 8. Will there be an advance? There is no provision for an advance. Invoices for reimbursement may be submitted and reimbursements are made every two weeks providing all documentation is complete. 9. Will there be a minimum required number of units per grant? There is no set production schedule, although there will be quarterly milestones established as guidance. 10. Will a NEAT audit and duct blaster be required on every home? On the coast NEAT audits typically eliminate some energy saving measures such as floor insulation, and limits the money for air sealing and duct sealing. Yes. 2

3 11. When will the final standards for client qualification along with required documentation be available? All program guidance will be available upon execution of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between NCCAA and the selected service providers. 12. When will the final installation standards be available? All program guidance will be available upon execution of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between NCCAA and the selected service providers; however, the intention is to follow current NC low-income weatherization program guidelines. 13. We attended the webinar about Duke Energy Helping Hands Home Fund. We do have a few questions regarding the program. First, can the HVAC and weatherization piece be separate? Second, can we, as a company, hire sub-contractors? Third, is there an end date to this program? Lastly, Can you please provide the PowerPoint presentation from the webinar? The intent of the Duke Energy Helping Home Program is to engage an entity that provides comprehensive weatherization services to low income households which includes: Weatherization, HVAC, Health and Safety, and Appliance Replacement services. Yes, providers of comprehensive weatherization services can subcontract components of the program such as HVAC. The program will end once funds are depleted, which is anticipated to be on or before December 31, The slide presentation from the November 18 and 21 webinars are posted on the NCCAA website at the following link: Fund.aspx 14. Will there be funds for tools and equipment, admin. cost, employees, travel? See the response to question 1 for tools and equipment. Also, 5% of program funds will be available for administrative costs for participating agencies. Program Operations costs (i.e., program specific employee and travel costs) are consistent with NC Weatherization Assistance Program for Low-Income Persons rules and regulations, except where specifically identified in Duke Energy Helping Home Fund program guidance and procedures, to be distributed after the award. 3

4 15. What are the estimated beginning and ending dates of this funding? January 12, 2015 through December 31, Please clarify what, if any, other routine program operation costs are allowable, e.g., personnel, tools, equipment, vehicles, shared costs for supplies, space, fleet, administrative, etc. Program Operations costs are consistent with NC Weatherization Assistance Program for Low-Income Persons rules and regulations except where specifically identified in Duke Energy Helping Home Fund program guidance and procedures to be distributed after the award. 17. What is the expected production schedule? There is no set production schedule, although there will be quarterly milestones established as guidance. 18. The presentation material defines the maximum amount we may spend as the total program dollars allowed per home NC WAP s definition of the maximum allowed is the average cost per home shall not exceed The NC WAP provision holds us to a maximum average cost per home weatherized, which in FY 14/15, is $5,978. Averaging costs over all units allows us to spend above or below the maximum average to help customers with more or less needs. Are Dukes representatives willing to consider a not to exceed average cost for all homes instead of a maximum limit in each home? Not at this time. We believe the maximum cost per home provides the ability to fully address issues related to each home, especially when leveraged with other program dollars and to fill service delivery gaps where identified. 19. Will we be allowed to install new, (where none exists) duct work if the home requires it to support a heating unit? Yes, provided all eligibility and program guideline criteria are followed related to HVAC replacement services. 4

5 20. Several counties in NC are currently underserved by existing WAP service providers who do not intend to apply for this funding. May other WAP providers apply to serve these areas? The Intent to Participate provides the opportunity to identify requested service areas. The intent of the Helping Home Fund is to provide program eligible Duke Energy Carolina and Duke Energy Progress customers access to services throughout their service territories. 21. How and when will participating agencies receive funds, i.e., advances, reimbursement or some combination? There is no provision for an advance. Invoices for reimbursement may be submitted and reimbursements are made every two weeks providing all documentation is complete. 22. What are the financial reporting expectations? Financial and Technical data will be tracked and reported via the program database (LM Captures). Specific program guidance regarding the reimbursement requirements will be available upon execution of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between NCCAA and the selected service providers. 23. Who will monitor the program activities and how will corrective action be implemented? Lockheed Martin staff will conduct field monitoring and QA/QC activities on behalf of the Helping Home Fund. The corrective action process will be provided in the QA/QC plan. 5