2005 Vermont Code - § 2502. — Home weatherization assistance program

§ 2502. Home weatherization assistance program

(a) The director of the state office of economic opportunity shall administer a home weatherization assistance program under such rules, regulations, funding and funding requirements as may be imposed by federal law.

(b) In addition, the director shall supplement, or supplant, any federal program with a state home weatherization assistance program providing:

(1) an enhanced weatherization assistance amount exceeding the federal per unit limit allowing amounts up to an average of $3,000.00 per unit pursuant to rules adopted by the director allocating additional per unit amounts on a cost-effective basis. In units where costs exceed the allowable average by more than 25 percent, prior approval of the director of the state economic opportunity office shall be required before work commences. This amount shall be adjusted annually by increasing the last year's amount by the lesser of:

(A) the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for the previous year; or

(B) three percent;

(2) amounts for low income customers utilizing any high operating cost fuel, to convert to another fuel source under rules adopted by the director based on the cost effectiveness of the converted facility over the life cycle of the equipment.

(c) The secretary of the agency of human services shall by rule establish rent stabilization agreements and provisions to recapture amounts expended for weatherization of a rental unit which exceed the amount of energy cost reductions projected to be obtained by eligible tenants of the unit. The time periods established for rent stabilization and recapture shall be set taking into account the size of benefits received by tenants and landlords as well as the effect on program participation. Funds recaptured under this section shall be deposited into the weatherization assistance trust fund established under section 2501 of this title.

(d) Amounts raised by the gross receipts tax on retail sales of fuel imposed by section 2503 of this title may be used for energy assistance to low income persons, provided that such transfer does not reduce the fiscal capacity of the state office of economic opportunity to meet the obligations of the weatherization program as set forth in this chapter.

(e) The emergency board may direct that a portion of the amounts raised by the gross receipts on retail sales of fuel imposed by section 2503 of this title be used for energy assistance to low income persons and deposited into the home heating fuel assistance trust fund, for the purpose of meeting the home heating fuel assistance needs of the program recipients under chapter 26 of this title, provided that the emergency board determines such transfer does not reduce the fiscal capacity of the state office of economic opportunity to meet the budgeted obligations of the weatherization program set forth in this chapter. (Added 1989, No. 272 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1991, No. 262 (Adj. Sess.), § 3; 2001, No. 63, § 129c, eff. June 16, 2001.)