Low Income Weatherization Program

UniSource Energy Services provides funding to the Western Arizona Council of Governments (WACOG), the Northern Arizona Council of Governments (NACOG), and to the Southeastern Arizona Community Action Program (SEACAP), for the purposes of providing energy affordability to UES's low-income residential electric and gas customers. Coconino County Community Services also receives support for gas appliance replacements and repair.

Through this weatherization program, energy efficiency measures and improvements are available to a broader base of low-income residential customers. The program complements the Federal Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), and Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) programs.

Program Objectives:

• Establish community partnerships through contractual agreements with Community Action Agencies and other local agencies in UES service territory.
• Facilitate and provide funding for repair, replacement, and/or tune-up of water heaters and electric heating and cooling equipment.
• Provide residential customers with limited incomes with an option to reduce their energy bills.
• Leverage other federal or state weatherization funding sources by providing community action agencies with more capabilities to deliver to greater levels of program participants.
• Provide energy education (i.e. knowledge of appliance usage, lifestyle effects on consumption, low cost/no cost efficiency practices, etc. all designed to reduce customer consumption and reduce energy cost).

Targeted Technologies:

• Repair, replacement and tune-up of heating/cooling equipment. *
• Repair and replacement of water heating equipment.
• General weatherization measures (i.e. caulking, weather-stripping, broken window replacement, switch/outlet gaskets, door sweep, etc.).
• Insulation
• Repairing ductwork and duct sealing
• Reducing air infiltration
• Minor structural/building envelope repairs

Program Management:

• UES funds projects up to $1,600 (electric) or $2,000 (gas) per household.
• UniSource Energy Services partners with Community Action and other agencies located within the UES service territories who are responsible for outreach, arranging of the installation/work, and submittal of invoices to UES.
• Eligibility for this program is limited to UES customers who meet income requirements based on the current year Federal Poverty Guidelines.

* It is anticipated that replacement or conversion will include the installation of the most energy efficient equipment available. In all cases the energy efficiency rating of equipment should be above the current federal minimum standards.