by Don Keelan

Since reading the August 22, 2023, VTDigger headline “Efficiency Vermont announces $36 million to help homeowners, renters, and businesses recover from floods,” I have been intrigued. This grant must be one of the largest awarded by a State agency to a nonprofit entity. 

For the record, the grant’s official identification is Agreement # 02240-FY24-Act 185 -EVT-001, which is between the State of Vermont, Department of Public Service, and Vermont Energy Investment Corporation, the nonprofit parent company of EVT. The grant’s title is “COVID State Fiscal Recovery Fund—Efficiency Vermont Flood Recovery and Electrical Upgrades Initiatives.” 

According to DPS, “The grant was established per the appropriation in Act 185, an act relating to making appropriations for the support of Government. The Department was instructed, per Act 185, to grant Efficiency Vermont (VEIC) “weatherization incentives to Vermonters.” There does not appear to have been any other Vermont organizations considered to apply for these funds.  

In response to the July 2023 flood waters that devastated much of central Vermont, the grant was repurposed as follows:

            Flood Relief Services                                                 $10 million

            Home Electrical System Upgrades                            $19 million

            “Switch and Save”-Heat Pump Water Installations     $5 million

            Total:                                                                          $34 million

That was 19 months ago. So, where are we today regarding how the funds from the grant have been applied?  According to DPS, $7,552,233 has been billed to date by EVT, allocated as follows:

           Flood Relief                                                               $2,898,851

           Electric Upgrades                                                         $673,187

           “Switch and Save”                                                 $3,988,195

 Specifically, 526 appliances were installed through December 31, 2024, the last reporting period filed by EVT with the DPS. In addition, 136 heat pump water heaters were installed. The report notes by county how many installations were made and how many households were served. The reporting follows the guidelines for what households can be recipients of appliances and hook-ups. 

For example, the data breakout covers household incomes that are 80% of the Average Median Income (AMI), and a second report covers those served with incomes between 80 and 120% of AMI. Bennington County had nine households served, receiving 13 appliances. Conversely, Washington County, where much of the flooding took place, had 129 households served, receiving 236 appliances and installations since August 2023.

It should be noted that not all the billing to the DPS is for the cost of appliances and installation. According to the grant, EVT can bill up to $1,700,000 for its services. DPS has not disclosed how much has been billed.

Some might say that what has been accomplished to date is remarkable. I do not. Providing 526 appliances to flood victims in 16 months is paltry at best. This equates to approximately 33 appliances per month. Working with Burlington Electric and Green Mountain Power, is this the best EVT can accomplish?

Only 22% of the grant expended through 12/31/24 can be attributed to what EVT has reported to the State: the program needs more marketing and, more to the point, the application process is too burdensome for the applicant. No kidding; it’s a State program. The Fourth Quarter report filed on Jan. 15, 2025 (the report is mistakenly dated Jan.15, 2024), noted the following on page 9: 

“Goal: Throughout the period that the program is offered, GMP (Green Mountain Power) will work cooperatively with Efficiency Vermont and other HESU (Home Electrical Service Upgrade) Program subgrantees to provide a consistent offer to minimize customer confusion and minimize barriers to program access.”  

One cannot help but wonder if the Legislature, when it passed Act 185, had any intention of following up on the progress/success of one of the largest grants recently given to a Vermont nonprofit. Had they done so, they would see that since 2022, only 22% of the funds have been spent. More disturbing, only 28% of the $10 million for those impacted by the floods has been disbursed. 

In correspondence this columnist received from EVT and DPU, it was made clear that no State funds were used. The $34 million was from the Federal Government. 

The State of Vermont receives billions of dollars annually from Washington. Much of the funds are then disbursed to nonprofits to carry out their intended use. What is missing is how much follow-up the Legislature and Administration are doing to see how the funds are being applied. So little is publicized.     

The author is a U.S. Marine (retired), CPA, and columnist living in Arlington, VT.