Committee advances funding concept for Residential Energy Preparation Services Program amid cost-scrutiny

Hartford — The Energy and Technology Committee voted to raise for public hearing a concept to provide funding for the Residential Energy Preparation Services Program, the panel said after members debated the program’s past temporary funding and potential future costs.

Committee members described the program as a complement to home-energy audits that addresses broader habitability issues in aging housing stock, including mold and rodent remediation that affect quality of life. Representative Jonathan Steinberg, cochair, framed the idea as part of an effort to protect public health while addressing energy needs.

Representative Buckbe (audio and transcript lists similar names during the meeting) questioned continuing or expanding funding without an audit of the program’s results and current spending. “My concern falls in the same rain again when it talks about, additional funding ... I think we need to analyze these a little bit more and we need to audit these to see if that's, if there's a need to continue the amount of funding there is,” Buckbe said, and indicated a no vote at this stage while leaving open future support after further review.

Committee leadership replied that raising the concept for a hearing would permit review of past expenditures and program outcomes and would also allow the committee to consider funding sources other than direct ratepayer charges.

Ending: The committee advanced the funding concept to hearing to allow fiscal review and stakeholder testimony; staff were asked to provide program audit information and funding options for the hearing record.