Low Income Programs
We see evidence of high energy prices everywhere. At the gas pump, fuel for our vehicles is up and remains above $4.00 per gallon. Likewise, the cost of natural gas, the fuel the City of Tallahassee uses to generate most of its electricity, has risen. It is likely that these prices will not go down in the near future and could even continue to rise.
In response to the effect the price of natural gas is having on our customer's utility bills, the City Commission has authorized new programs, many based on income, expanded some programs to include renters and mobile homes, and expanded the range of income that qualifies for programs.
In addition to the programs described below, YOU also provides rebates for Energy Star Appliances A/C, and Heat Pumps, Loans for Energy Efficient Equipment, Natural Gas Appliance Rebates and Additional programs.
The chart below outlines which new and existing programs are available for low income, renters, owner occupied and mobile home-owner occupied customers as well as programs that are available to all customers. You can click on the name of the program in the left hand column to view additional information about that program. All programs administered by the City of Tallahassee start with an free Energy Audit. Even if you don't qualify for another program, an Energy Audit can outline the steps you can take to reduce energy use in your home. You can schedule an Free Energy Audit by calling Energy Services at 891-4YOU (4968) then pressing 42 or by making a request online.
| Energy Programs | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Programs - Low Income | Low Income Participation Only | Renters Eligible | Owner Occupied | Mobile Homes - Owner Occupied | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ceiling Insulation $500 Grants | X | X | X | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Energy Retrofit $500 Grants (HVAC service; water leaks) |
X | X | X | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In-School Conservation Campaign | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Existing Programs | Low Income Participation Only | Renters Eligible | Owner Occupied | Mobile Homes |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Home Energy Audits (all customers) |
X | X | X | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Low Interest Loan Program (all owner occupied) |
X | X | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Natural Gas Appliance Rebates (all customers) |
X | X | X | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Emergency Home Repair $10,000 Grants |
X | X | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Code Enforcement $2,500 Rehab Grants |
X | X | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Urban League Weatherization Grants (State Funded) | X | X | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Home Owner $40,000 Rehab zero-interest, forgivable loans |
X | X | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Low Income Ceiling Insulation Grants to $500
This expanded program is now available to qualifying utility customers in both
owner-occupied and rental housing. Grants to $500 are available for additions
of ceiling insulation where the existing level is deficient (less than R24
insulation level). The program is available to City utility customers whose
income level falls at 80% or less of Tallahassee's median income level. Customers
participating in other City-funded low income programs are eligible for ceiling
insulation grants, including participants in the TLC program (Tallahassee Lenders
Consortium first time home buyers education and down payment assistance program);
Urban League home renovations; Neighborhood and Community Services Emergency
Home Repair; and Tallahassee Housing Authority rental housing assistance. Outside
of these established assistance programs, other ceiling insulation program
applicants can be have eligibility determined at the time of an energy audit.
To request a free home energy audit call 891-4968 and follow prompts to Energy
Services or make a request online. The energy auditor
can discuss this and other programs for which you may qualify, as well as many
low cost and no cost ways to save energy in your home.
Low Income Energy-Energy Retrofit Grants to $500
This new program offers HVAC (Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning) repair grants to low income customers in owner-occupied homes, including mobile homes. Repair grants address critical, energy-saving concerns like:
- Evaporator coil cleaning -When your central cooling system operates, all the air in the house passes across the cold evaporator coils. Cleaning these coils can be a difficult job, but unless they are reasonably clean, the system runs at a lower efficiency and operating costs are higher.
- Refrigerant leak repair and charging - Unless found and repaired, a refrigerant leak will cause longer air conditioning run-times, higher operating costs and recurring future repair bills.
- Duct leak repair - Most duct systems leak. Some have major leakage that can double and triple air conditioning operating costs. Picture a fallen duct delivering heated or cooled air to a crawlspace under a house - it's a recipe for high bills.
As with ceiling insulation, the HVAC repair program begins with an energy audit. Call 891-4968 and route to Energy Services or make a request online.
Emergency Home Repair - $10,000 Grants
The Emergency Home Repair Program was designed and is funded by the State Housing Initiative Program (SHIP) to improve the living conditions of low-income homeowners by removing health and safety hazards and/or architectural barriers. By definition, this program is not designed to necessarily address energy-related retrofit, but there are some features of the program that can prove beneficial in reducing energy use. Change out of an inoperable heating system and/or an inoperable water heater to a high efficiency model can reduce energy costs as can the replacement of missing windows. In the event an energy audit is performed, energy conservation information will be provided to assist the homeowner in addressing low cost/no cost ways of reducing energy use. Primarily, however, this program covers emergency home repairs and accessibility improvements to homes, not necessarily energy conservation, but can be used to complement a menu of programs. Please note that the income-qualification requirements for this program are established by the State of Florida, and may differ from other programs. The current income-qualification requirements are set at 50% of the area median income, adjusted for family size, as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban development. For more information, please call the Department of Neighborhood and Community Services at
891-6500.
Code Enforcement Rehabilitation $2500 Grant Program
This program provides funding to assist income-eligible homeowners, who have received notice of code violations, to make the necessary repairs to bring the home into compliance with Amnesty requirements. Hereto, this program is not designed to specifically address energy conservation efforts, but energy conservation education and in some instances some energy conservation measures may be incorporated. In the event of an energy audit, energy conservation information will be provided to assist the homeowner in addressing low-cost/no-cost ways of reducing energy use. Primarily, however, this program covers the correction of code violations, not necessarily energy conservation, but here, too, there are some measures that can be taken in this program to complement other energy programs. Please note that the income-qualification requirements for this program are established by the State of Florida, and may differ from other programs. For more information, please call the Department of Economic and Community Developmentat 891-6500.
Urban League Weatherization Grants - This program is designed to make low-income families' homes energy efficient, particularly for the elderly and disabled by improving the energy efficiency of their homes and to insure their health and safety. The program is funded by the Department of Community Affairs and is a statewide program. The program is available to low-income families, who own or rent, living in the city limits or county. For more information on this grant, please call the Tallahassee Urban League at 222-6111.
Homeowner Rehabilitation-$40,000 zero-interest, forgivable loan
The Homeowner Rehabilitation Program was designed to enhance and strengthen neighborhoods through the substantial rehabilitation of owner-occupied housing. Assistance is provided in the form of a zero-interest, forgivable loan. Up to $40,000 may be spent, per unit, to bring the home into compliance with current building codes and ordinances. The Housing Division provides funding for this program to three local non-profit organizations that are responsible for qualifying homeowners, hiring contractors, and ensuring that repairs are made in compliance with building codes. By definition, this program is not designed to necessarily address energy-related retrofit, but there are some features of the program that can prove beneficial in reducing energy use. Change out of an inoperable heating system and/or an inoperable water heater to a high efficiency model can reduce energy costs, as can the replacement of damaged or inoperable windows. In the event an energy audit is performed, energy conservation information will be provided to assist the homeowner in addressing low cost/no cost ways of reducing energy use. The primary purpose of this program is to bring the home into compliance with current building codes, not necessarily energy conservation, but it can be used to complement a menu of programs. Please note that the income-qualification requirements for this program are established by the State and Federal governments, and may differ from other programs. For more information, please call the Department of Economic and Community Development at 891-6500.