Organizing for Energy Advocacy

November 8, 2005

Tampa, Florida

Presented By: Kip Bowmar

Kentucky Association for Community Action

101 Burch Court

Frankfort, KY 40601

(502) 875-5863 Fax: (502) 875-5865

Roles of Utilities

• Strengthening Existing Relationships with Utilities

Low-Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP)

Weatherization

Fuel Fund

Relationships with Key Contacts

Volunteers

Possibly Serve on Board

• Strengthening Existing Relationships with Utilities Continued

Have them go to Congress for additional LIHEAP Funds

Help them understand increase in cut-offs has negative effects on their bottom line and perceptions

Have them go to the Governor

Have regular meetings with utilities on key issues

• Market Your Outcomes and Accountability

Monitoring Reports

Audits

ROMA

Outside independent program evaluations

DOE studies on effectiveness

• Publicizing Your Success

Community Action Month

Weatherization Day

Idea: Generate 1 press release per month

Idea: Create Weatherization Awards

• Funding for energy advocacy work

Administrative dollars in LIHEAP budget (state plan)

LIHEAP leveraging report

Weatherization leveraging dollars

Approaching fuel funds and other partners

Foundations

• Staffing

Either a full-time staff member or

A significant percentage of time of other staff member

Entry level salary ($30k - $35k will vary by area)

Need to keep continuity because it takes a while to learn the ropes of this field

• Building Partnerships within Community Action Agencies and other non-profits

Recognize that conflict happens

The association can serve as a common meeting point for CAA’s

Help local CAA’s recognize that they can all benefit from a program in one area (expansion)

• Using data as a focal point

Provide data about percentage of unmet need for media and congressional delegation

Provide data that shows the energy burden, particularly this winter

Sources for data: state energy office, PUC-PSC, Energy Information Authority, NCAF, state association, or informal survey of customers

• Intervening at Your State Utility Regulatory Body (PSC, PUC)

Get Schedule of Proceedings at PSC

Learn the Players at PSC in Regulatory Process

Help regulators understand that an increase in bad debt increases cost to all rate payers

• Pool Your Resources

Work with Your State Community Action Association

Work with Other Community Based Organizations and Other Community Action Agencies

• Offer to do Pilot Programs

• Make it Easy for the Utility

• Be Prepared to Fight

Going to Court if Necessary

• Go to the Legislature

Keep Existing

Programs• Utility Relationship Management

• Know the Players

• Evaluations

Make sure that a good evaluator is selected on the front end

Respond to Findings or Problems Immediately

• Create Professional Outcome Reports

Distribute to the Utility

Distribute to the Media

Distribute to Other Stakeholders

Distribute to Congressional Delegation

Expanding to New Programs• Take existing Models to Other Utilities

• Keep Stating the Case for Unmet Needs to Existing Utilities in Effort to Secure Additional Dollars

• Look to Non-Traditional Partners

Foundations

Other Community Groups

Other Local Businesses

• Market Your Success

• Use Board Members and Others to Serve as Ambassadors for Your Program in Your Community at Large