Alaska Dispatch

An Anchorage lawmaker says he'll file a bill offering middle class homeowners -- strapped for cash and still reeling from high energy costs -- a back door into energy efficiency upgrades.

We reported recently on the lack of follow through by thousands of Alaskans who started a home energy efficiency rebate program, funded by the Legislature and managed by Alaska Housing Finance Corp. Those who start with a baseline efficiency audit have 18 months to fund repairs, schedule an audit of efficiency gains, and apply for up to $10,000 in state reimbursements. That window is running out for many folks.

Rep. Chris Tuck, an Anchorage Democrat, talked with people in his district and discovered some who have been hit pretty hard by the 2009 economic collapse. The families make too much too qualify for a low-income state weatherization program, but are dealing with high credit card debt, receding retirement accounts and investments, and, at times, negative equity in their homes.

Those circumstances can make it pretty tough to pay several thousand dollars up front for efficiency upgrades, even with a state reimbursement likely down the road, Tuck acknowledged.

"People in my district are going into high credit card debt and trying to keep afloat until they get reimbursed," he said. "It puts people in a dangerous situation. The people who need it the most are ones already pinching dimes."

His bill would create a voucher system through which AHFC could assure contractors that reimbursements are on the way.

One potential catch? The amount the state will reimburse homeowners depends on how much the upgrades improve efficiency -- and that's not known until a post-upgrade audit.

Tuck said he's working with AHFC on the bill.

Contact Rena Delbridge at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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