February, 2020
POLICY UPDATES
The Trump Administration’s FY 2021 Budget – An Insult to the Poor

The Trump Administration clearly has it in for poor people. New work requirements in food stamps and Medicaid. A HUD secretary more interested in decorating his office than housing families in need. And now the new budget.

Senate Starts an Energy Policy Debate

Senator Steve Wilson, the Chair of the Energy and Public Utilities Committee, thinks Ohio’s energy policy needs updating. The last one was prepared in 1986, when coal accounted for 80% of electricity generation and nuclear supplying the other 20%. Natural gas was four times the current price. And solar was only powering calculators and road signs. Things have changed.

Dominion Merchant Function Update

A settlement was filed in the Dominion ‘Exit the Merchant Function’ case on Friday, February 7th. OPAE joined the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio Staff, the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel, and a handful of energy marketers, in the settlement, which makes significant changes in default service in Dominion’s service territory

PROGRAM UPDATES
First Energy

  • OPAE signed a new contract through 2024 for $6M a yr. for a total of $24M.
  • New items added to the price list - hot water tanks can be replaced for efficiency 10yrs. or older; Dehumidifiers; Heat Pump; Water Heaters.
  • At the end of January, the program should be at 66.6%. The program is a little behind schedule at 57% spent.

Housewarming

  • 5 yr. contract for $6.5M per year good through 2024. Began July of 2019.
  • Admin Fees/Inspector Fees and Pricelist were all increased.
  • Added to the price list - expansion tanks/dedicated circuits for furnaces/furnace motors; control boards; about 12 more additional items.

DP&L

  • Keeping all lighting measures the same as in past years.
  • LEEN Validations System will not allow you to invoice measures until errors are corrected.
  • Home ownership verification needs to be uploaded into LEEN when required.
  • Water Heater, Heat Pump and Central AC replacement only for homeowners or landlords who are eligible for the program.
  • Permission required for HWT, Heat Pump & AC replacements and At Cost Measures.

AEP
  • Home ownership verification needs to be uploaded into LEEN when required. 
  • Keeping all lighting measures the same as in past years.
  • LEEN Validations went live on 1-16-2020; System will not allow you to invoice measures until errors are corrected.
  • Water Heater, Heat Pump and Central AC replacement only for homeowners or landlords who are eligible for the program.
  • Permission required for HWT, Heat Pump & AC replacements and At Cost Measures.
  • Look for opportunities to install heat pump hot water heaters. AEP believes the energy savings make heat pumps the better choice where appropriate.
Did your agency or partners lose someone special in 2019?

The NCAF honors the Community Action colleagues we've lost since its last conference. To ensure all are remembered, please send names of individuals we've lost since last March, along with their picture, lifespan and agency to Frances Yator by Friday, March 6th . Thank you for your help.
RESOURCES
MEMBERS IN THE NEWS

A Profile of Ms. Nina Nixon – IMPACT Community Action

My father was originally from South Carolina. His family migrated to the State of Ohio. During the mid-50’s my parents became one of the first African American families to purchase a home in the Linden community. My father worked at and retired from the Timken Roller Bearing Company, a local factory located in the Milo–Grogan area. From 3 until I was 18 years old, Linden was my home.

  • OPAE Member Lancaster-Fairfield Community Action Agency was awarded $600,000 grant for homeless youth and pregnant homeless youth READ MORE >>>

  • Congratulations Ashtabula County Community Action Agency, Ironton-Lawrence County Community Action Organization and West Ohio CAP on receiving Exemplary Program Awards for your outstanding and innovative programs!

  • Corporation for Ohio Appalachian Development was awarded grant money to help provide quality child care to community members: $6.2 million in grants awarded to expand access to quality child care. READ MORE >>>

  • OPAE Member Washington Morgan Community Action is doing a lot of work to identify and provide aid to the homeless in their community. READ MORE >>>

  • Congrats to OPAE Member Lancaster-Fairfield Community Action Agency Executive Director Kellie Ailes for her retirement after 42 years of service. READ MORE >>>

  • Something as simple as access to transportation can be life-changing! Look at the impact OPAE Member Community Action Wayne/Medina by just making transportation more accessible. READ MORE >>>

  • Congratulations to Kno-Ho-Co Ashland Community Action Commission: "$4 million renovation completed at Heritage Apartments". READ MORE >>>
The Corporation for Ohio Appalachian Development (COAD)
has the following full-time Athens position available:

TRAINING SPECIALIST