Heating and Ventilation
$1 billion energy efficiency programme for low-income Californians
Regional regulator, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), has approved $1 billion over the three years to tackle energy efficiency in low-income households.
California’s Low Income Energy Efficiency (LIEE) programme provides free energy efficient appliances and building improvements – or weatherisation – to the regions’ 5.4 million poorest households.
The state’s four main utilities, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, San Diego Gas & Electric Company, Southern California Edison Company and Southern California Gas Company, who administer the programme – will be required to identify the poorest neighbourhoods within their customers and look at their energy usage.
Energy audits of participating homes will provide suggested ‘whole house’ energy efficiency improvements.
The CPUC is urging utilities to take an integrated and holistic approach – avoiding ‘piecemeal’ strategies such as just giving out compact fluorescent light bulbs.
The regulator is also calling for all eligible households to be given the chance to participate in the programme by 2020.
For further information:
www.cpuc.ca.gov
docs.cpuc.ca.gov/PUBLISHED/AGENDA_DECISION/93393.htm