Organizing for Energy Advocacy November 8, 2005 Tampa, Florida Presented By: Kip Bowmar Kentucky Association for Community Action 101 Burch Court Frankfort, KY (502) Fax: (502)

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