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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - January 18, 2006 E-13AGENDA ITEM E'0114) C1TY OF LODI Wj COUNCIL COMMUNICATION AGENDA TITLE: Adopt resolution amending the existing Lodi Energy EfficientHome Improvement Rebate Program; the amendmentwiII removewindows as an eligible rebateelement, and add wall insulation as an eligible rebateelement (EUD) MEETING DATE: January 18,2006 PREPARED BY Interim Electric Utility Director RECOMMENDED ACTION: That the City Council adopt a resolution amending the existing Lodi Energy Efficient Home Impmvement Rebate Program. The amendment will add wall insulation as an eligible rebate item, and remove windows an eligible rebate element. BACKGROUND INFORMATION: For several years, the City of Lodi has offered rebates for residential customers. The current Lodi Energy Efficient Home Impmvement Rebate Program provides incentives or rebates for those customers who purchase and install various energy conservation measures, including: attic insulation, windows, radiant barriers, atticfans/ventilators, ceiling fans, whole housefans, window tinting/shade screens, and/or replace -repair air ducts. Most of these energy efficiency improvements can reduce monthly energy consumption from 3 percentto 20 percent (depending upon which measures are installed, and how many of the measures are installed). By way cF this Council action, Electric Utility staff is recommending that a new energy efficiency measure be added to the list: wall insulation. Purchasing and installing wall insulation can reduce energy consumption, on average, by as much as four (4) percent annually. To receive a rebatefor wall insulation, customers must install a minimum R-13 level (energy efficiency value or rating for insulation), and the insulation must be installed in non -insulated walls between conditioned and unconditioned areas (no interiorwalls within the home are eligible for rebate). Customers must also consent to a potential pre- and post -inspection of their property. The rebate amount will be $0.15 per square foot of wall insulation installed, with a cap of $200 per customer service address. In addition, Electric Utility staff is recommending that windows be removed as a rebate itemfrom the current Lodi Energy Efficient Home Improvement Rebate Program. Following a recent measurement, verification and assessment study of energy efficiency measures, it was determined that windows do not produce energy savings are once thought. Recent studies indicate that by installing new, dual -paned windows only save approximately eight (8) kilowatt hours of electricity annually for every 100 square feet of newwindow installed. However, new, dual -paned windows are still an excellent retrofitfor a homeowner desirous of enhancing their property value, reducing external noise/sound, and improving the external appearance of the property. APPROVED: Blair King, City Manager Adopt resolution amending the O'de ng Lodf En*W effrci rirt Hone improvement Rebate Program; the amendment will remove windows as an eligible rebate skmert, and 20 wall insulation as an eligible rebate element(EUD) January 18,2006 Page 2 of 2 In summation, it was determined that wall insulation is a better energy efficiency improvementfor residential consumers, compared to dual -paned windows, thus the proposed amendments to this existing program. Electric Utility staff respectfully recommends approval of this amendment to the Lodi Energy Efficient Home Improvement Rebate Program. FISCAL IMPACT: The fiscal impactto the City of Lodi Electric Utility (from reduced energy consumption) resulting from customers installingwall insulationwill be better quantified in the ensuing year. FUNDING AVAILABLE: Funding is currently availablefor the wall insulation rebate element through the existing Lodi EnergyEfcient Home improvement Rebate Program, as approved by the Lodi City Council in July of 2005. Ruby Paf$e, Interim Finance Director David DoWham . Interim Electric Utility Director Prepared By: Rob Lechner, Manager, Customer Service and Programs DDIRLIIst c: City Attorney RESOLUTION NO. 2006-17 A RESOLUTION OF THE LODI CITY COUNCIL AMENDING THE EXISTING LODI ENERGY EFFICIENT HOME IMPROVEMENT REBATE PROGRAM WHEREAS, the state has mandated that beginning January 1, 1998, the City of Lodi is obligated to fund various programs through a Public Benefits Charge (PBC) based on an historical electric revenue requirement; and WHEREAS, the requirement amounts to approximately $1 million per year that must be dedicated to qualifying programs such as energy efficiency. A further stipulation is that these efforts must be done on the customer's side of the meter in order to qualify; and WHEREAS, the City of Lodi's Public Benefits Program is comprised of four segments or customer groups: commercial/industrial, residential, community/non-profit, and municipal; and WHEREAS, the Lodi Energy Efficient Home Improvement Rebate Program provides rebates to residential customers who install designated and approved energy conservation measures; and WHEREAS, the current list of eligible measures are: attic insulation, windows, radiant barriers, attic fans/ventilators, ceiling fans, whole house fans, window tinting/shade screens, and/or replace-repairair ducts; and WHEREAS, Electric Utility staff recommends that wall insulation be added to this program as a new energy efficiency measure, as purchasing and installing wall insulation can reduce energy consumption, on average, by as much as four (4) percent annually. To receive a rebate for wall insulation, customers must install a minimum R-13 level (energy efficiency value or rating for insulation), and the insulation must be installed in non -insulated walls between conditioned and unconditioned areas (no interior walls within the home are eligible for rebate). Customers must also consent to a potential pre- and post -inspection of their property. The rebate amount will be $0.15 per square foot of wall insulation installed, with a cap of $200 per customer service address; and WHEREAS, staff further recommends that windows be removed as a rebate item from the current Lodi Energy Efficient Home Improvement Rebate Program, as it was recently determined that windows do not produce energy savings as once thought. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Lodi City Council does hereby authorize amending the existing Lodi Energy Efficient Home Improvement Rebate Program, by adding wall insulation as an eligible rebate item and removing windows as an eligible rebate element. Dated: January 18,2006 hereby certify that Resolution No. 2006-17 was passed and adopted by the Lodi City Council in a regular meeting held January 18, 2006, by the following vote: AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS—Beckman, Hansen, Johnson, Mounce, and Mayor Hitchcock NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS — None ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS— None ABSTAIN: COUNCIL MEMBERS— None SUSAN J. BLAC TON City City Clerk 2006-17