Did you know? The average energy burden for low-income households is 8.6%, three times higher than the average energy burden of 3% for non-low-income households. Depending on climate and income levels, the energy burden can even be as high as 30%. (Low-Income Community Energy Solutions | Department of Energy)

The Bonneville Power Administration’s (BPA) Low-Income Energy Efficiency (LIEE) program directly benefits qualifying low-income residents by funding the installation of energy-efficiency measures in their homes at no cost. Residents benefit from lower utility bills, healthier indoor air, and a more comfortable environment. Measures include insulation, air sealing, and efficient HVAC systems, water heating, and some appliances. Utilities, states, and tribal staff work with community action agencies and directly with installers to income-qualify residents and complete the work. This Program supplements the Department of Energy's Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP).

BPA’s LIEE program provides funding through two pathways. One path is through grants established directly with state and tribal governments for residents in BPA's customer utility territory. The other is through BPA customer utility LIEE Energy Efficiency Incentives (EEI) programs.

The Low-Income New Opportunities Guide (available in Spanish) is a resource designed to help explain BPA’s LIEE programs, how the different funding sources work, and how to build new connections within the Low-Income network. A one-sheet summary of the Guide (available in Spanish) is also available for anyone who would like a more general overview of the LIEE program.

BPA offers LIEE grants directly established with tribal governments. Applications for requesting grant funding are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year as funding is available. See below for how to apply.
Tribal LIEE grants fund the same energy-efficiency technologies as the state grant program, but funds are allocated directly to the tribe in a government-to-government partnership. This allows the tribe to manage the staffing, community outreach and scale of the program to best meet the needs of the tribe. Approximately 8 to12 grants are distributed on an annual basis with tribal governments across BPA's service territory.
The budget is established annually during the BPA's IPR (Integrated Program Review) process and is 10% of the overall LIEE grant budget. Grant budgets and performance periods can vary depending on the needs of the tribe and can be used for a variety of program options. Grant budgets can range from $5,000 to $100,000 depending on the tribe’s need and available budget.

Qualified households must fulfill the following requirements:

•  Must have electric heat as their primary heat source for most measures, though it does not have to be working. If installing efficient appliances, the primary heat source can be any fuel type.
• Must be occupied by a member of a federally recognized tribe.
• Must be located in a public utility service territory served by BPA. (See: Tribal customer service areas map | BPA regional service areas map)
• Must qualify as low income. Tribes can follow federal income qualification guidelines, establish their own qualification standards, or follow any state income qualification guidelines.

​Mission

The Northwest Public Power Regional Low-Income Energy-Efficiency Workgroup aims to share information and develop best practices to improve access for low income resident to and uptake of energy-efficiency services across the Northwest. All BPA-served public utilities in the region, low-income advocacy groups, community action partnerships, or CAPs, Tribal governments, state energy offices and other interested parties are invited. Please contact Amy Burke, Low-Income Energy Efficiency Program Manager, at aaburke@bpa.gov to be added to the workgroup mailing list.

Objectives
Identify barriers and solutions to increasing low-income access to energy-efficiency programs.

• Increase knowledge of CAP and utility business activities.Increase knowledge of CAP and utility business activities.
• Create and find simple solutions to streamline reporting between organizations such as CAPs and utilities.
• Provide a venue for utilities, advocates and other organizations to come together and share ideas and successes for providing energy-efficiency opportunities to low-income residents.

All meetings are public and we welcome anyone interested in supporting the workgroup in finding solutions for offering low-income residents the opportunity to engage in energy-efficiency programs. The meetings will be posted to BPA’s Presentation & Webinars events page.

Structure and Principles for the Low Income Energy Efficiency Workgroup (Amended, January 2017).

​These resources can help you locate and learn about low income energy efficiency, weatherization and other programs in your area that are available to low-income households.

• Community action agency locator for Oregon
• Community action agency locator for Washington
• Weatherization: Insulation and Air Sealing fact sheet
• Energy Efficiency Implementation Manual
• Free contractor trainings from the Comfort Ready Home Program

• There is an opening for a non-utility position on the BPA Low-Income Steering Committee.
• Temporary COVID allowances issued by U.S. Department of Energy allow grantees to cover housing for homeowners during the duration of the Low-Income Energy Efficiency project.

Meeting Notes 

2016: ReHome Oregon presentation, ReHome one pager; Healthy Homes presentation, Low-Income Measures presentation; Multifamily requirements, DHP costs, US Department of Energy for Multifamily DHP, Multiple Unit DHP case study, Multifamily duct sealing case study.