Government Energy Policy, Business and Technology

Weatherization program that helps struggling Ohioans may face new funding challenge

Midwest Energy News: While Ohio’s energy efficiency standards for utilities remain frozen by the legislature, a federally funded program continues to help homeowners in the state cut their energy costs.

The Home Weatherization Assistance Program (HWAP) has weatherized 370,399 homes since its inception in 1977, according to figures from Ohio Development Services Agency (ODSA), the energy-saving venture’s state-funded administrator, and continues to renovate hundreds of homes in the state each year.

Ohio has a variety of programs designed to aid low-income citizenry in managing their power costs, with the Home Energy Assistance Program and the Percentage of Income Payment Plan comprising two of these efforts. HWAP’s role is to improve the energy efficiency and safety of a home, in some cases cutting bills by as much as 30 percent.

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