A presentation by two energy counselors last fall ended with kudos from a single senior, constrained by her limited income. DuWayne Dunham, a senior energy counselor and department supervisor, and Michael Wallace, a newer addition to the team of energy counselors, talked with a group of mostly retirees about energy efficiency programs. Afterward, both heard first-hand how much the programs they were there to discuss can help customers on fixed incomes.
After the presentation requested by a local philanthropic group, attendee Margit Johnson spoke with the two counselors. She explained she’d worked as a teacher and a nurse and has always been an independent person. She then thanked the utility for helping her participate in a weatherization program available for limited-income customers in Clark County. She said that the help made her mobile home in an adult community more comfortable and helped to lower her electric bill to stay within her fixed finances.
Months before, coordinating with the county, the utility arranged for an evaluation, upgrade and repair to Johnson’s home. Mike Selig, county program manager for weatherization and safety, said contractor crews upgrade several doublewides each year. The cost runs from $7,000 to $8,000 each, which is why many customers eligible for the program wouldn’t normally be able to do the needed work.
In a mobile home’s crawlspace, the workers often find crossover connections disconnected, improperly connected or damaged. The crawlspace also hides potential health problems: “Open ducts can attract rodents and the blown-in insulation can enter the ductwork, flow into the home and affect the homeowner’s health,” he said.
Johnson had already completed some weatherization before participating in the program. She invested in energy-saving windows when she bought the home to help her live within her income. Now, facing expenses beyond what she could comfortably manage, she was eager to find help before winter.
The job at her home took a couple of days and was completed last January, according to her. When the contractors investigated her doublewide, they found the expected crossover ductwork problems and repaired them. To improve the thermal efficiency of the ducts, they sealed and insulated them. The crew reconnected the barrier insulation under the floor and added more to increase the R-value and improve its capacity to keep heat in. The contractors added insulation inside the walls for the same reason. They placed plastic in the crawl space as a moisture barrier. They adjusted the ventilation and fans in her home to improve its indoor air quality. Lastly, they swapped out the old thermostat for a programmable one so Johnson could adjust the heating and cooling needs to her lifestyle.
“Today, my home is tight as a drum,” she said. “The workers were neat and polite, kept my home clean and picked up any messes they made.”
The utility also helped Johnson even out her payments and check for any credits she might apply for. “My bill runs $55 a month,” she said. “And I’m still on the EqualPay plan and also getting some credits.” Knowing what her utility bill will be every month, she says, helps her manage her fixed income.
The results of the joint effort between the utility and the county affected Johnson so much she sent a letter of appreciation to Dunham.
“I love it when a customer plan comes together,” Dunham said about the note. “This job is rewarding every day, because even small changes can make a difference. But when there are significant programs a customer is eligible for, and we can really increase comfort at the same time as lowering a bill? That feels great.”
Energy Adviser is written by Clark Public Utilities. Send questions to ecod@clarkpud.com or to Energy Adviser, c/o Clark Public Utilities, P.O. Box 8900, Vancouver, WA 98668.
