Energy efficiency program has problems

A federal audit of a Delaware energy program for low income residents has found pervasive oversight issues.

A federal review of Delaware’s energy efficiency program for low income residences has found problems in every project examined. Contractors and agencies involved in the program are in training today to shape up their practices.

Delaware’s weatherization program improves energy use in low income homes. Last year’s federal stimulus package ramped up the $400,000 program to a $4 million annual program. As part of a site visit, the federal Department of Energy looked at more than 30 homes — all of which had problems with project oversight and administration.

Landgraf: And that’s when it became highlighted to us that we need to look across the program go out and do training with our contractors, with those two local agencies so everybody follows the same standardized format.

Delaware Health and Human Services Secretary Rita Landgraf is in charge of the program. She says quality doesn’t seem to be a problem – but some homes were never completed. Her staff will audit all 1100 homes that have been weatherized in the past year.