Utility Allowance: Board of Commissioners Letter Approved
Housing Choice Voucher / Landlords
APPROVED: April 14, 2026
Marin County Housing Authority
Board of Commissioners
April 14, 2026
Board of Commissioners
Housing Authority of the County of Marin
3501 Civic Center Drive
San Rafael, CA 94903
SUBJECT: Approval of the proposed Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Utility Allowance, effective July 1, 2026.
RECOMMENDATION: Adopt Resolution No. 2026-4-4, approving MHA’s revised Utility Allowance Schedule for the Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8).
SUMMARY: Each year, all housing authorities are required to set or re-set the ‘Utility Allowance Schedule’ that guides the amounts for utility allowances for units in the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) program. These Utility Allowances are the maximum amount of utility allowance that the housing authority will allow a program participant for a given unit.
HUD regulations state that Housing Agencies should review utility allowances at least annually and revise allowances established if there has been a 10% change in utility rates since the last study. The proposed Utility Allowance Schedule is based on an independent countywide survey of utilities conducted by the Nelrod Corporation.
This year the survey showed that the allowances for Pacific Gas & Electric’s electricity rates decreased by 7% and the climate credit changed from -$9.71 to -$3.69 causing a $6.02 increase (62%). Pacific Gas & Electric’s natural gas tier-1 rates increased 1%, tier-2 decreased 1% and the climate credit changed from -$7.12 to -$3.86 causing a $3.26 increase (46%). Of the 2 water providers’ total rates and charges, 1 increased more than 10%, and 1 increased less than 10%.
Since some of the utility providers’ rates have changed by more than 10%, the current utility allowance schedule will be adjusted.
The staff is recommending that the proposed Utility Allowance Schedule be adopted effective July 1, 2026. A copy of the proposed schedule is attached.
FISCAL IMPACT: The Housing Authority will have sufficient funding from HUD to support these utility allowances.
Sincerely,
Kimberly Carroll
Executive Director
Renee Giacomini Brewer
Acting Executive Director
Attachments: Utility allowances
Housing Authority of The County of Marin
415/491-2525
(FAX) 415/472-2186
(TDD) 1-800-735-2929
