In the Spotlight: HEIP Brings Benefits of Energy Efficiency to Customers
By Albert Rodriguez
Did you know LADWP has its own “hype” team? While they may not be pumping up fans at sports events or musical gatherings, LADWP’s Home Energy Improvement Program (HEIP) team certainly gets customers excited about water conservation, energy efficiency and potential savings in their future bills. They do so through nearly 2,400 annual inspections, assessments and installations of measures to improve water and energy performance in eligible customers’ homes, at no cost to the customer. Energy and water efficiency are an integral part of LADWP’s strategy as a cost-effective way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, support system reliability and provide for a more sustainable water future. It has never been more important than the present, and HEIP is at the forefront of that effort, one customer and one home at a time.
“HEIP and other programs like it are strategically important to LADWP because they free up resources and demonstrate the collaboration needed between utilities and customers to achieve our renewable and sustainability goals. The benefits of these programs provide significant water, energy and economic benefits for the Department and our customers. Among them are reduced demand, lower bills, better planning, grid reliability and also job growth in the building trades.”
Leslie McKay-Martin
Utility Services Manager
HEIP is comprised of Utility Services Specialists who help administer the program by processing incoming applications and forwarding them to Power Construction & Maintenance (PCM). They also coordinate and make referrals to other LADWP energy efficiency programs. Field crews coordinate directly with customers to assess their home and provide upgrades or retrofitting with installations of the designated energy and water saving measures. HEIP is also a pathway to permanent LADWP employment for Utility Pre-Craft Trainee (UPCT) participants. Currently, there are a total of 20 UPCTs working in HEIP.
HEIP Program by the Numbers (March 2013 – February 2023)
Homes and apartments served:
Total energy savings:
MkWh per year
Total water savings:
hundred cubic feet (HCF)
annual savings
Average HCF savings per customer:
hundred cubic feet (HCF)
gallons per year
annual savings
Measures installed by HEIP crews may include weather stripping, insulation, replacement of incandescent lamps, and/or installation of low-flow toilets and faucet aerators. One of the key efforts is to try and seal the home’s “envelope” to ensure effective climate control. With a tightly sealed home, a customer will have the best foundation to make decisions on purchasing the appropriate capacity level for their next HVAC, heat pump or other energy efficient product.
HEIP teams also refer homes for participation in other programs, such as the Refrigerator Exchange Program, Consumer Rebate Program or the Efficient Product Marketplace for even more savings and efficiency. Saving money for customers is one of the great outcomes of HEIP, but other benefits have no price. Participation in the program is allowed once per service address and currently, there is three-month delay due to the program’s popularity.
“HEIP is really making a difference in the comfort, safety and health of many of the customers we serve, especially the elderly and those in disadvantaged communities. In one instance, we detected a small carbon monoxide leak that had been causing a customer to suffer from long-term migraines. There are other examples of elderly customers thanking us because they are now able to get through the hot summers thanks to the replacement of window A/C units and shower heads. It’s stories like these that drive and motivate our staff.”
Ronald Mowrer
Utility Services Manager
Meet the HEIP Team
USS Staff
Sr. Utility Services Specialist: Ronald Mowrer
Utility Services Specialists: Lavella Boyd
Lisa Moore
Alice Tong
Jeffrey Davenport
Melissa Holmes
Jewels Murphey
Leilani Lemle-Macia
PC&M Scheduling
Sr. Administrative Clerks: Susana Ochoa
Nora Andrade
Sabrina Pacheco
Demitre Simpson
PC&M Crews
Construction and Maintenance Superintendent: Gabriel Garibay
Construction and Maintenance Supervisor: Anthony Villegas
Building Repair Supervisors Jose Garcia Jr
Jose Gonzalez
Delfos Famisan
Carpenter Supervisor: Lance Nelson
Carpenters: Joseph Campos Jr
Macedonio Moreno
Jose Gallardo
Steve Figueroa
Donato Mariano
Carpenter and Repairers: Thomas Harvey
Hector Osoria
Guillermo Perez
Jose Reyes
Christian Sung
Alicia Dickerson
Aeli Cisneros-Dezhunisean
Jessie Acosta
Jimmy Valencia
Jose Tovar
Robert Sparks
Antonio Gaitan
Antonio Oushana
Field Personnel: Michael Basil
Plumbers: Steve Karsten
Sergio Ibarra
Alonso Perez
Adam Roderick
Oscar Gonzalez
Storekeeper: Carol Scott
Careers
If you or someone you know is interested in being part of HEIP, you can take several paths, including Utility Services Specialist, Building Repairer or UPCT. You can learn more and check for current, upcoming and all job opportunities at www.JoinLADWP.com.
Photos by Chris Corsmeier
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This publication is written and published by the Communications and Corporate Strategy Division. For 2022-2023 issues, click the three horizontal lines icon next to the Contact logo at the top left of the document. Then click the “Editions” tab. For issues from 2000-2021, see Intranet page MyDWP/.
