The Energy Department’s inspector general has said it identified significant internal control deficiencies in the management of a Recovery Act Weatherization Assistance Program designed to improve the energy efficiency of homes owned or occupied by low-income persons, reduce their total residential expenditures, and improve their health and safety.
In a "management alert," the IG said the control deficiencies require immediate attention. The weatherization program received $5 billion and Energy has awarded weatherization grants to every state, the District of Columbia and five territories.
Through the program Illinois has received $242 million – similar audits are being conducted in North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Virginia — to weatherize 26,933 homes.
Illinois awarded funds to 35 local agencies responsible for determining recipients’ eligibility, contracting for the installation of the weatherization work, and conducting final inspections.
The IG said it found significant problems with on-site monitoring and inspection of the Illinois home weatherization assistance program, noting that the department had not fulfilled its requirement to perform monitoring visits at the state level.
In addition, Illinois officials had not complied with the department’s requirements for inspecting weatherization work conducted by local agencies, said the IG.
