Groups Urge Adequate Staffing to Avoid Costly Program Delays
WASHINGTON – The National Consumer Law Center, on behalf of its low-income clients (NCLC), joined by ACEEE, the National Energy Assistance Directors Association (NEADA) and the National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates (NASUCA) urged U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Chris Wright to ensure that the vital and long-standing Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) is adequately staffed to ensure there is no risk to timely program delivery.
Over the years, a modest team of 32 staff has ensured that vital weatherization services reached millions of households, while growing a skilled workforce in our communities. The program strengthens local economies by supporting small contractor businesses and the building materials industries and merchants.
“The Weatherization program is vitally important to local economies. A network of local contractors are tasked with doing hands-on work and building materials are purchased from local merchants,” said Olivia Wein, senior attorney at the National Consumer Law Center. “Without adequate staffing, the program cannot operate without delays and cannot ensure timely payments to the network of contractors who rely on them.”
Established in 1976, WAP helps make homes more resilient and safe during extreme weather by providing cost-saving weatherization and energy efficiency services to eligible households. This essential program provides services in over 32,000 homes each year and creates thousands of good-paying jobs around the country for home contractors and auditors, supporting over 8,500 jobs per year.
WAP helps keep energy bills affordable, helping American families save an average of 20 percent annually on their energy bills, and reducing home energy burdens for 7.2 million eligible low-income households. Each weatherization dollar produces $4.50 in energy savings and health and safety benefits. By reducing energy bills for families around the country, WAP reduces delinquencies and nonpayment which helps to lower utility costs for all ratepayers.
“DOE’s technical assistance role plays a key role in developing models and strategies to increase the energy efficiency and affordability of low-income housing,” said Mark Wolfe, executive director of NEADA. “We urge DOE to replace the technical assistance staff at DOE to maintain the high level of technical proficiency that has long been a hallmark of the Weatherization Assistance Program.”
Related Resources
- Press release: HHS Staff Cuts Imperil Energy Assistance Program for Older Adults and Vulnerable Families, April 22, 2025
- Report: Protecting Access to Essential Utility Service During Extreme Heat and Climate Change, July 16, 2024
- Issue Brief: Air-Source Heat Pumps: Protecting the Financial-Wellbeing of Low-Income Families, July 1, 2021
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