Improved Oversight and Enforcement Would Help the Department of Energy Implement the Weatherization Assistance Program Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
October 29, 2024
minute read time
October 24, 2024
Improved Oversight and Enforcement Would Help the Department of Energy Implement the Weatherization Assistance Program Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
The Office of Inspector General has issued numerous audit reports identifying risk areas within the Department of Energy’s Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) such as senior leader fraud at the subgrantees, controls over acceptance of work, compliance with terms and conditions, grantee-level oversight issues, and administrative remedies. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act appropriated $3.5 billion to WAP, a significant increase to the enduring program’s funding.
We conducted this audit to determine the status of Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act WAP funding, challenges impacting WAP, and actions the Department has taken to address those challenges.
We noted early program concerns that require immediate management attention. Specifically, for 11 states we found that the “expenditure limit per unit” was exceeded by more than 50 percent; 21 states and territories did not submit quarterly reports to the Department on time, as required by the grants; and, for 16 states and territories that have approved plans and funding, there has been no reported performance of completed units.
The attached report contains three recommendations and outlines the Office of Inspector General’s oversight plans for this important program going forward. Management concurred with the recommendations and provided corrective actions that are responsive to our recommendations; therefore, a management decision is not required.