Elder Independent Living:Elder Independent Living:Threats from High Energy Threats from High Energy
Prices and Prices and Weak Consumer ProtectionsWeak Consumer Protections
National Community Action National Community Action Foundation Energy Programs Foundation Energy Programs
Leveraging ConferenceLeveraging ConferenceOctober, 2006October, 2006
John Howat – National Consumer Law CenterJohn Howat – National Consumer Law Center
[email protected]@nclc.org
Prospective Living Prospective Living ArrangementsArrangements
Own home or apartmentOwn home or apartment Private residence shared with family Private residence shared with family
or unrelated personsor unrelated persons Retirement community offering Retirement community offering
limited services such as limited services such as housecleaning or group mealshousecleaning or group meals
Retirement community offering many Retirement community offering many services, including bathing, dressing, services, including bathing, dressing, assisted mobilityassisted mobility
Source: AARP/Harris Interactive Survey, September 2002
2004 Home Care 2004 Home Care StatisticsStatistics
20,000 Home Health Care 20,000 Home Health Care ProviderProvider
7.6 million recipients7.6 million recipients
$38.3 Billion Home health $38.3 Billion Home health Care ExpendituresCare Expenditures
Projected Population of the U.S.: 65 Years of Age or Older(in thousands)
35,061
40,243
54,632
71,453
80,049
86,705
0
10,000
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
70,000
80,000
90,000
100,000
2000 2010 2020 2030 2040 2050
Projected Percentage Population Change in the U.S.: 2000 - 2050
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
2000-2010 2010-2020 2020-2030 2030-2040 2040-2050
..TOTAL ..65-84 ..85+
Percentage U.S. Population Change by Age Category: 2000 - 2050
4632 26
49
114
389
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
0-4 5-19 20-44 45-64 65-84 85+
Age Category
Perc
ent
Elderly and Non-Elderly Poverty: US Households in 2001
0.0%
5.0%
10.0%
15.0%
20.0%
25.0%
30.0%
35.0%
Non Elderly Elderly
Non Elderly 12.8% 17.3% 22.0%
Elderly 17.6% 23.3% 32.7%
Poverty Rate 100% Poverty Rate 125% Poverty Rate 150%
LIHEAP-Eligible ConsumersAvg. Total Annual Expenditure for All fuels
Primary Heat Fuel is:
Actual 2001 Actual 2004 Actual 2005 Actual 2006
Projected 2007
(Normal Weather)
v. 2006 v. 2001 % of houses
Natural Gas $1,360 $1,538 $1,616 $1,875 $1,832 98% 135% 52.90%
Propane $1,634 $1,924 $1,996 $2,281 $2,311 101% 141% 5.30%
Heating Oil $1,626 $1,981 $2,188 $2,561 $2,714 106% 167% 6.70%
Electricity $1,013 $1,120 $1,147 $1,296 $1,344 104% 133% 30.30%
All $1,270 $1,444 $1,513 $1,744 $1,751 100% 138% 100.00%
Source: Joel Eisenberg, ORNL October 2006
Electricity Intensity - Elder and Non-Elder Households:KWH per Square Foot of Living Space, U.S. 2001
4.20
4.40
4.60
4.80
5.00
5.20
5.40
Elder Households Non-elder Households
KW
H/S
q. F
t.
Elderly and Non-elderly Refrigerator Ownership Ratesby Age of Refrigerator
0.0%
5.0%
10.0%
15.0%
20.0%
25.0%
30.0%
35.0%
40.0%
45.0%
10 - 19 Yr. Old Refrigerator Ownership Rate 20+ Year Old Refrigerator Ownership Rate
Non-elderly Elderly
Home Energy Consumption per Sq. Ft.(BTU)
14.5
15
15.5
16
16.5
17
17.5
18
18.5
Nonelderly Elderly
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, June 11, 1999 / 48(22); p. 469-472.
Elder Energy Security: Elder Energy Security: Programmatic Programmatic RequirementsRequirements
Payment assistance that lowers home Payment assistance that lowers home energy payments to an affordable levelenergy payments to an affordable level Fixed bills to accommodate fixed incomesFixed bills to accommodate fixed incomes Arrearage management that does not Arrearage management that does not
compromise affordability of current billscompromise affordability of current bills Priority energy efficiency servicesPriority energy efficiency services
Focus on comfort measuresFocus on comfort measures Appliance replacementAppliance replacement
Medicaid Funding of Home Energy Medicaid Funding of Home Energy Bills?Bills?
Elder Energy Security:Elder Energy Security:Regulatory Consumer Regulatory Consumer
ProtectionsProtections Age-based shutoff protectionsAge-based shutoff protections
65+, financial hardship certification65+, financial hardship certification Serious illness shutoff protectionsSerious illness shutoff protections
Reasonable recertification proceduresReasonable recertification procedures Harsh weather shutoff protectionsHarsh weather shutoff protections
Seasonal, temperature-basedSeasonal, temperature-based Deferred Payment AgreementsDeferred Payment Agreements Personal notification of service Personal notification of service
disconnectiondisconnection