Low-Income Delivery Gap

Vermont allocated low-income funding — but can't convert it to completed projects

Efficiency Vermont met its low-income spending thresholds. But when traced to actual project completions, the pipeline narrows dramatically: 61 of 170 waitlisted fuel switch customers completed projects, 262 of 458 appliance vouchers were redeemed, and the ESA pilot spent only 50% of its budget. The money is there. The delivery infrastructure isn't.

Low-income program conversion rates, 2024
LI Fuel SwitchNo-cost heat pump installation for weatherized LI homes
61 of 170 waitlisted
36%
ESA PilotLarge customer self-directed efficiency
$1.45M of $2.88M budget
50%
LI Appliance VouchersVouchers for efficient appliances to LI households
262 of 458 issued
57%
EEMA (EV programs)Electric vehicle market development
$1.13M of $2.0M budget
57%
LI Spending ThresholdMinimum LI share of electric budget
$5.93M of $13.02M target (3-yr)
46%*
*46% of three-year target after one year (33% expected) — on pace. Spending thresholds are met even when project completion rates are low.
61
Completed LI fuel switch projects in 2024 — out of 170 waitlisted customers who had already been weatherized and were ready for heat pump installation. Equipment delays and contractor challenges pushed out completions.
257
Total LI households that received no-cost heat pump electrification through the fuel switch program from 2022 to 2023 combined. The pipeline is delivering dozens of homes per year, not hundreds.
$15M
State funds reverted at Agency of Administration request during 2024. This reduces available program capacity but is disclosed in a single bullet point in the annual report.
The bottleneck pattern
The pattern repeats across programs: funding is allocated, eligibility criteria are met, customers are identified and waitlisted — but projects don't complete. Equipment delays, contractor shortages, and regulatory process friction create a bottleneck between program design and program delivery. Vermont can fund LI electrification. It cannot yet deliver LI electrification at scale.
The Low-Income Fuel Switch program contacted 170 waitlisted customers in 2024. Of those, 61 completed projects, one completed a project from the prior year, and two have not completed any projects. Equipment delays and contractor challenges pushed out project timelines.
Efficiency Vermont 2024 Annual Report, Low-Income Fuel Switch section. Program launched 2022 in partnership with distribution utilities, weatherization agencies, and other stakeholders.
Sources: LI Fuel Switch (61 of 170, 257 cumulative 2022-23) — EVT 2024 Annual Report, LI Fuel Switch section. LI Appliance Vouchers (262 of 458) — EVT Annual Report, appliance voucher section. ESA Pilot ($1.45M of $2.88M) — EVT Annual Report, Section 4.8. EEMA ($1.13M of $2.0M) — EVT Annual Report, Section 4.9. LI spending threshold ($5.93M of $13.02M 3-yr) — EVT Annual Report, Section 6.13. $15M reversion — EVT Annual Report, Section 5.5.2.