1. Elder Independent Living: Threats from High Energy Prices and Weak Consumer Protections National Community Action Foundation Energy Programs Leveraging Conference October, 2006 John Howat – National Consumer Law Center jhowat@nclc.org

2. Prospective Living Arrangements Own home or apartment Own home or apartment Private residence shared with family or unrelated persons Private residence shared with family or unrelated persons Retirement community offering limited services such as housecleaning or group meals Retirement community offering limited services such as housecleaning or group meals Retirement community offering many services, including bathing, dressing, assisted mobility Retirement community offering many services, including bathing, dressing, assisted mobility

3. Source: AARP/Harris Interactive Survey, September 2002

4. 2004 Home Care Statistics 20,000 Home Health Care Provider 20,000 Home Health Care Provider 7.6 million recipients 7.6 million recipients $38.3 Billion Home health Care Expenditures $38.3 Billion Home health Care Expenditures

12. LIHEAP-Eligible Consumers Avg. Total Annual Expenditure for All fuels Primary Heat Fuel is: Actual 2001Actual 2004Actual 2005Actual 2006 Projected 2007 (Normal Weather) v. 2006v. 2001% of houses Natural Gas$1,360$1,538$1,616$1,875$1,83298%135%52.90% Propane $1,634$1,924$1,996$2,281$2,311101%141%5.30% Heating Oil$1,626$1,981$2,188$2,561$2,714106%167%6.70% Electricity$1,013$1,120$1,147$1,296$1,344104%133%30.30% All$1,270$1,444$1,513$1,744$1,751100%138%100.00% Source: Joel Eisenberg, ORNL October 2006

16. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, June 11, 1999 / 48(22); p. 469-472.

17. Elder Energy Security: Programmatic Requirements Payment assistance that lowers home energy payments to an affordable level Payment assistance that lowers home energy payments to an affordable level Fixed bills to accommodate fixed incomes Fixed bills to accommodate fixed incomes Arrearage management that does not compromise affordability of current bills Arrearage management that does not compromise affordability of current bills Priority energy efficiency services Priority energy efficiency services Focus on comfort measures Focus on comfort measures Appliance replacement Appliance replacement Medicaid Funding of Home Energy Bills? Medicaid Funding of Home Energy Bills?

18. Elder Energy Security: Regulatory Consumer Protections Age-based shutoff protections Age-based shutoff protections 65+, financial hardship certification 65+, financial hardship certification Serious illness shutoff protections Serious illness shutoff protections Reasonable recertification procedures Reasonable recertification procedures Harsh weather shutoff protections Harsh weather shutoff protections Seasonal, temperature-based Seasonal, temperature-based Deferred Payment Agreements Deferred Payment Agreements Personal notification of service disconnection Personal notification of service disconnection