In typical years, Arizona receives a little over $2 million in federal funding for weatherization from the Department of Energy, said Kathy Blodgett, a programs administrator with the Arizona Department of Housing. As part of a mandate from the Arizona Corporation Commission, some annual funding also comes from Southwest Gas and Arizona Public Service.
"We're just pleased as punch that we were awarded first and able to roll it out immediately," she said."It helps low-income households not have to decide between paying their utility bill and going to buy their medicine because they don't have the funds to do both," Blodgett said."It also reduces energy consumption and what they pull off the grid, which saves the whole nation.
“This weatherization funding boost from federal programs, it's huge for our state," Potter said."I would say this funding is long overdue. It's incredibly important to help customers deal with the summers that are only getting hotter in Arizona and utility bills that are only getting more and more out of control."