Lake Havasu City resident Nancy Azevedos received free home weatherization assistance from UniSource that lowered her energy bills by $60 a month – and she had a trip to the tax assessor’s office last year to thank for it.
The city’s staff encouraged the Azevedos to apply. “We hadn’t heard about the program,” said Azevedos. “With my part-time hours and my husband’s disability, we applied and were approved.”
Our company provides funding to the Western Arizona Council of Governments (WACOG), the Northern Arizona Council of Governments (NACOG) and the Southeastern Arizona Community Action Program (SEACAP) to provide weatherization assistance to limited-income residential electric and gas customers
These improvements, which can significantly reduce monthly energy bills, include adding insulation, weather-stripping and caulking, duct sealing and air conditioning replacement.
Crews first visited the couple’s home, which was built in 1980, to conduct an energy assessment and pressure test for ductwork leaks. They recommended additional insulation to the attic, the replacement of the home’s air conditioning system and duct-sealing in attic, all of which were completed free of charge.
After the completed services, the Azevedos saw an immediate reduction in their monthly energy bills.
“We are on the Budget Billing program because we don’t like surprises and want to know what we need to pay each month,” Azevedos said. “Weatherization has made a big difference in our energy bill. We were paying about $149, and it went down to $89 a month.”
She encourages others who might qualify for weatherization assistance to apply.
“I would highly recommend the program to others,” she said. “This wonderful and worthwhile program was such a huge gift and blessing to our family. It was such a positive experience.”
An average of 100 gas and electric customers receive free weatherization assistance each year from UniSource. For eligibility requirements, customers are encouraged to visit uesaz.com/weatherization-assistance for more information.
