2021 Utility Allowance Schedules

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T A. As required by the Federal program regiulatioins, OHCDi reviews and adjusts the utiility allowance schedule annually. The utility schedule was last updated January 1, 20:20 The OHiCD must revise it allowance for a utility category if there has been a c�hang,e of 10 percent or more i n the uti I ity rates or fuel costs si nce the last revision. The eistabl�ishmient of utility allowances has always been applied to HUD s Public Hous,ingi, Housing Choice Voucher, and HOME funded rental programs, and is often extended to other local, state and federal housing programs such as the Low-income Hiousing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program. C. The utility allowance is intended to enable participating families to pay t�ypical costs for utilities and services paid by energy -conserving households occupying units, of similar size and type in the same locality. Any additional utility costs incurred by the family are not the responsibility of the PHA. Payment of bills for tena�nt-paid utilities is the responsibility of the family, and any interruption or termination of utility services because of the family's failure to pay is considered a breach of the familiy's obligations, under the rental programs. D. i The OiHCD has reviewed current local utility expenses and finds slight rate changes for residential electricity and natural gas charges, however, neither met the threshold of 10i percent. There were significant increases in residential water and wastewater rates. The increases were offset by the slight decrease in the power charg., Testing of the rate changes in rental scenarios indicated that tenants would see an average decrease in the allowance of $35,00, thus negatively impacting: the tenant portion of the rent due tM the owner. Other changes that impacted the utility schedule include the Singlie,-Famlily Model Utility Types in the HUSM being separated into Single Family Homes and Single Family Attached (Duiplex, Triplex, Fouirplex, Townhomes), Separating the schedules would; decrease the utility allowance for these types of units by an average of $95.00. E. The OHCD initially proposed establishing tiered utility allowance schedules to be appli to a family"s rent and subsidy calculations at the first annual reexamination, new admission, and moves by a family that is effective after the utility allowance is adop Afteodoted. r further cnsiera in, the OHCD belied be ves that the tiered system woulan administrative burden and likely cause an increase in errors. I F. The OHC D has also proposed implementation of anew schedu lei for residential new construction projects that meet certain clean energy criteria, such as Energy Star, LEED, or Green Retrofit certifications (epa.gov)i G. Attached for consideration are the new proposed tiered utility allowance schedules effective February 1, 2021, for Hawai'i County Single Family House, Apartment Buildings and Energy Star New Larger Apartment Buildings, 6814sdlm For Aon—December 1, 2021