Program areas at Energy Share of Montana
Energy Share of Montana's primary focus is emergency bill assistance: helping Monanans who face no-heat situations in their homes and have no resources to pay the bills themselves. Applications are reviewed on an individual basis, and applicants are asked to explain their circumstances leading to their need for assistance. In most cases households are helped not more than once every five years or up to $1,400 in assistance. Energy Share of Montana uses private donations and universal systems benefits (USB) funds to fund emergency bill assistance.
The weatherization program uses donations from individuals and donated UBS funds from Energy West and Montana-Dakota Utilities to maximize energy savings by performing cost-effective weatherization measures such as work on walls, outside air infiltration, windows, attics, crawl spaces, doors, and heating system repairs to make furnaces more efficient or altogether safe. Energy audits are conducted to determine what measures are needed the most. Measures that maximize energy savings are installed, and in no case will measures be installed that have a savings to investment ration (SIR) of less than 1.0.
Other program services include the refigerator replacement program, fuel fund program, and other related expenses.
The furnace safety program uses donated USB funds from Energy West and Montana-Dakota Utilities for their customers who have unsafe furnaces or water heaters. The objective is to help people who can't afford to pay for needed work on furnances or water heaters. The appliances are examined, if possible they are repaired; otherwise they are replaced with a more energy-efficient model.