16.25(6)(6) Annually, on or before December 31, the department shall submit a report to the chief clerk of each house of the legislature under s. 13.172 (2) describing the activities of the department under this section. 16.25 Cross-referenceCross-reference: See also ch. Adm 95, Wis. adm. code. 16.2616.26 Weatherization assistance. Notwithstanding s. 16.54 (2) (a), the department shall administer federal funds available to this state under the weatherization assistance for low-income persons program, as amended, 42 USC 6861 to 6873. The department shall administer the funds in accordance with 42 USC 6861 to 6873 and regulations adopted under 42 USC 6861 or 6873. 16.26 HistoryHistory: 1991 a. 39; 1995 a. 27, 289, 432; 2003 a. 33 s. 163; Stats. 2003 s. 16.26. 16.2716.27 Low-income energy assistance. 16.27(1)(1) Definitions. In this section: 16.27(1)(am)(am) “Crisis assistance” means a benefit that is given to a household experiencing or at risk of experiencing a heating-related emergency. 16.27(1)(b)(b) “Dwelling” means the residence of a low-income warm room program volunteer. 16.27(1)(bm)(bm) “Heating assistance” means a benefit, other than crisis assistance, that is given to a household to assist in meeting the cost of home heating. 16.27(1)(c)(c) “Household” means any individual or group of individuals who are living together as one economic unit for whom residential energy is customarily purchased in common or who make undesignated payments for energy in the form of rent. 16.27(1)(d)(d) “Low-income warm room program materials” include a removable, insulated radiator blanket, a portable remote control thermostat and other cost-efficient materials or repairs necessary to achieve maximum heating efficiency in a dwelling. 16.27(1)(e)(e) “Low-income warm room program volunteer” means a person who is eligible for assistance under 42 USC 8621 to 8629, whose dwelling, in comparison to the dwellings of other persons eligible for assistance under 42 USC 8621 to 8629, has a high ratio of space to occupant, and who volunteers to take the training under sub. (2) (b) and to cooperate with the department in the installation and operation of low-income warm room program materials in his or her dwelling. 16.27(1)(em)(em) “Utility allowance” means the amount of utility costs paid by those individuals in subsidized housing who pay their own utility bills, as averaged from total utility costs for the housing unit by the housing authority. 16.27(2)(a)(a) The department shall administer low-income energy assistance as provided in this section to assist an eligible household to meet the costs of home energy with low-income home energy assistance benefits authorized under 42 USC 8621 to 8629. 16.27(2)(b)(b) The department shall administer a low-income warm room program to install low-income warm room program materials in the dwellings of low-income warm room program volunteers and to train the low-income warm room program volunteers and the members of each low-income warm room program volunteer’s household in the operation of the low-income warm room program materials to achieve maximum health and heating efficiency. 16.27(3)(b)(b) By October 1 of every year from the appropriation under s. 20.505 (1) (mb), determine the total amount available for payment of heating assistance under sub. (6) and determine the benefit schedule. 16.27(3)(c)(c) From the appropriation under s. 20.505 (1) (mb), allocate $1,100,000 in each federal fiscal year for the department’s expenses in administering the funds to provide low-income energy assistance. 16.27(3)(d)(d) From the appropriation under s. 20.505 (1) (n), allocate $2,900,000 in each federal fiscal year for the expenses of a county department, another local governmental agency or a private nonprofit organization in administering under sub. (4) the funds to provide low-income energy assistance. 16.27(3)(e)1.1. Allocate and transfer to the appropriation under s. 20.505 (1) (n), 15 percent of the moneys received under 42 USC 8621 to 8629 in each federal fiscal year under the priority of maintaining funding for the geographical areas on July 20, 1985, and, if funding is reduced, prorating contracted levels of payment, for the weatherization assistance program administered by the department under s. 16.26. 16.27(3)(e)3.3. Except as provided under subd. 6., allocate the balance of funds received under 42 USC 8621 to 8629 in a federal fiscal year, after making the allocations under pars. (c) and (d) and subd. 1., for the payment of heating assistance or for the payment of crisis assistance under sub. (6). 16.27(3)(e)6.6. If federal funds received under 42 USC 8621 to 8629 in a federal fiscal year total less than 90 percent of the amount received in the previous federal fiscal year, submit a plan of expenditure under s. 16.54 (2) (b). 16.27(3)(e)7.7. By October 1 of each year, allocate funds budgeted but not spent and any funds remaining from previous fiscal years to heating assistance under sub. (6) or to the weatherization assistance program under s. 16.26. 16.27(4)(a)(a) A household may apply after September 30 and before May 16 of any year for heating assistance from the county department under s. 46.215 (1) (n) or 46.22 (1) (b) 4m. a. to e. or from another local governmental agency or a private nonprofit organization with which the department contracts to administer the heating assistance program, and shall have the opportunity to do so on a form prescribed by the department for that purpose.