Nevada State-funded Program Evaluation Released

Nevada's state-funded energy assistance and weatherization program, one of the nation's newest programs that use public benefits funds (also known as universal service funds or systems benefits funds) to help address low-income energy needs, has been evaluated.

Titled State Fiscal Year 2003 Evaluation of the NRS 702 Energy Assistance Program & Weatherization Assistance Program, it is the first of mandatory annual evaluations.

The program coordinates funds from a universal energy charge (UEC) that is assessed on most gas and electric utility customers with federal and other funds to create a statewide affordability and energy efficiency program. The UEC generates about $10 million annually with about 75 percent distributed to the Nevada State Welfare Division, the state LIHEAP grantee, and the remainder to the state weatherization grantee, the Nevada Housing Division.

Completed in November by H. Gil Peach & Associates LLC., the evaluation describes the objectives of each program, analyzes the effectiveness and efficiency of each in meeting its objectives, reports on the distribution of funds and on the coordination between the two state agencies that receive them, and makes recommendations for changes.

Despite startup problems with computers and outreach, resulting in first year funds being under spent, the evaluation says the program is well designed and one of the best in the country. "As with other programs of this scale, it will likely take three to five years for the programs to reach full implementation and smooth running operation," the evaluation says.

Among the program's strengths cited in the evaluation are that it covers both electricity and gas costs, it uses the Nevada median household energy burden, which is calibrated yearly in determining benefits, and it is year-round, taking into account cooling as well as heating bills.

More information about the program can be found in the 2005 program plan.

Page Last Updated: March 27, 2008