In order to make administrative improvements in the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program components provided for in subdivisions (c), (d), and (e) of Section 16367.5, the Department of Economic Opportunity shall contract, during the 1986 program year, with nonprofit organizations to implement pilot programs and demonstration projects including, but not limited to, all of the following:
(a) Decentralization of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program providing benefits to eligible individuals.
(b) A trust account system for the payment of utility companies by contractors on behalf of eligible individuals.
(c) An electronic transfer payment system between the Department of Economic Opportunity, commercial banks, local administering agencies, and participating energy suppliers.
(d) Analyze the Department of Economic Opportunity operated weatherization programs provided for under subdivision (c) of Section 16367.5, using utility-funded programs as models, and recommend techniques to increase efficiency and provide maximum energy savings for dollars spent.
(Amended by Stats. 1986, Ch. 125, Sec. 3.)