Ahead of Heating Utility Rate Hikes, Residents Encouraged to Seek Weatherization Programs

(KNSI) — With most major utilities asking for a rate increase starting next year, weatherization and learning where your house is leaking precious heat can be a major benefit to your pocketbook.

Federal money coming from the infrastructure bill to Minnesota allows more community action agencies to help pay for home weatherization in some cases. Laura Milbrandt of Prairie Five Community Action Council in western Minnesota says this could free up other money to help households address other glaring needs. “Sometimes we get into the house and there are things we can’t address, so we have to defer households. Some health and safety items, like major plumbing and major electrical that we just – it’s beyond the scope of what weatherization can fix.”

And she says they can reach more people who aren’t deemed a priority for traditional weatherization needs, like insulation and furnace repairs.

In northern Minnesota, Scott Zahorik of the Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency says there’s a waiting list for weatherization. Should the extra funding come through, they can help many others reduce their energy-cost burden. “There’s a lot of single parents out there trying to raise their families. We’ve got a lot of senior citizens on fixed incomes. And we can really make a life-changing difference in their home.”

Local agencies are guided by Minnesota Community Action Partnership, where Advocacy Director Annie Shapiro says the funding boost would provide opportunities for growth and program innovation.

The state says the program has reduced energy costs by an average of 15-percent in more than 49-thousand Minnesota homes since 2005.

The Weatherization Assistance Program provides free home energy upgrades to income-eligible homeowners and renters to help save energy and make sure your home is a healthy and safe place to live.

Weatherization works closely with its companion program, the Energy Assistance Program, to help permanently reduce the energy bills for low-income Minnesotans.

If your household qualifies, an energy auditor may evaluate your home to determine if weatherization is needed. The auditor will look for opportunities to make your home more energy-efficient by sealing air leaks, adding insulation, and checking if the furnace is working properly.

See if you are eligible by clicking here.

Xcel Energy, CenterPoint Energy, and Minnesota Power are all asking the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission to approve rate increases for customers.

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MNC Reporter Mike Moen contributed to this report.

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