01-15-10 BPU RPT 08 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

W A T E R I E N E R G Y I l I E E RIVERSIDE PUBLIC UTILITIES Board Memorandum P U B L I C U T T I I T T F $ BOARD OF PUBLIC UTILITIES DATE: January 15, 2010 ITEM NO: 8 SUBJECT: APPROVAL OF THE WHOLE HOUSE REHABILITATION PROGRAM — SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION ISSUE: Approval is requested for the creation of the Whole House Rehabilitation Program to incentivize property owners to take a whole house approach to retrofitting property with energy and water efficient measures. RECOMMENDATIONS: That the Board of Public Utilities recommend that the City Council: 1. Approve the Whole House Rehabilitation Program; 2. Approve the expenditure from the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant funds in the amount of$964,350 for the Whole House Rehabilitation Program; 3. Authorize an increase in FY 2009-10 revenues in the amount of $964,350 and increase expenditures in the same amount to an account as assigned by the Finance Division for the Whole House Rehabilitation pilot program; and 4. Approve funding from the Water Reclamation Surcharge unprogrammed funds in the amount of $50,000 to fund, on a proportional basis, all measures within the Whole House Rehabilitation Program that are related to water conservation. BACKGROUND: On June 16, 2009, the City Council authorized the submission of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant, which included funding for a "Green Home Rehab Program". Over the last few months, Riverside Public Utilities (RPU) has more clearly defined the program as the Whole House Rehabilitation Program (Program). Program Description: One of the most cost effective ways to implement energy and water efficiency measures is to take a whole- building approach.This method requires evaluation and replacement of multiple measures from refrigerators to sprinkler nozzles, which would typically require multiple rebate forms. The Whole House Rehabilitation Program's ("Program") purpose is two fold: 1) incentivize customers to implement multiple measures by offering elevated rebates based on a point system; and 2) streamline multiple rebate applications. This Program consolidates all the residential rebates that RPU offers in order to give a "one stop shop" to homeowners. To incentivize customers to implement multiple measures, RPU has assigned a point value to a variety of measures (see attached) that are designed to save water, energy and money. Customers who install a minimum of two(2)of the listed measures will receive points based on the energy and water savings of those measures. The sum of those points will qualify the customer for an additional rebate based on the four (4) tiers outlined below. The more points accumulated the higher possible rebate incentive. The incentive is in addition to the regular amount that normally would be rebated.