Utility Allowance: Board of Commissioners Letter Approved

Public Housing

APPROVED: May 13, 2025

Marin County Housing Authority

Board of Commissioners

May 13, 2025

Board of Commissioners

Housing Authority of the County of Marin

3501 Civic Center Drive

San Rafael, CA 94903

SUBJECT: Request to adopt Resolution 2025-5-2 approving the Schedule of Allowances for Tenant Purchased Utilities for Public Housing Participants, effective July 1, 2025.

RECOMMENDATION: Adopt Resolution 2025-5-2 to approve and authorize the use of the attached schedule of Allowances for Tenant Purchased Utilities, for Public Housing participants, effective July 1, 2025.

SUMMARY: Pursuant to CFR 24, Part 965, all Public Housing Authorities are required to establish resident utility allowances (A) and annually review and adjust these allowances to reflect significant utility rate changes. These established utility allowances require deductions from the Gross Rents the tenants pay. HUD requires that changes to the Utility Allowances be approved by the Board of Commissioners.

In 2012, Marin Housing Authority ("MHA") contracted with Johnson Controls International (JCI) to study Energy Upgrades to MHA's public Housing Units and JCl installed several Energy Improvements designed to reduce resident and MHA paid utilities. These EPC related physical improvements resulted in substantial reduction in utility consumption making an adjustment to the existing Utility allowances mandatory in 2013. Based on the post-EPCphysical conditions in our units and local utility rates, JCI prepares a detailed engineering study to calculate the allowances every year. JCl has proposed and MHA staff have reviewed the attached UA allowances to be effective from July 2025. The recommended allowances are based on standard residential rates, not California Alternative Rates for Energy (CARE).

Residents that take the initiative to enroll in CARE Program enjoy the benefits that the program was intended to provide.

This new proposed Utility Schedule would be used for all tenant-paid utilities for participants of the Public Housing program at their annual recertification Housing Authority of process beginning July 1, 2025. The tenant paid utilities include Electricity The County of Marin and Gas and do not include water. 

FISCAL IMPACT: None for the housing authority. Our program participants will benefit by having an adjustment to their rents due to the off-set of the given allowance.

Sincerely, 

Kimberly Carroll

Executive Director 

Attachments:

Utility Allowance Schedule, Resolution 2025-5-2