Hartford Business Journal

www.HartfordBusiness.com June 20, 2016 • Hartford Business Journal 3 Wrice's two decades narrowed CT's energy-affordability gap By Keith Griffin kgriffin@hartfordbusiness.com W hen Patricia Wrice started as execu- tive director of Operation Fuel back in 1997, things were much different. While she was full time, the organization — which provides energy-assistance to low- income residents — was largely part time and housed in a Bloomfield church basement where no more than two employees could be on the Internet at any one time. Now Operation Fuel sits ensconced in spacious offices in the Connecticut Nonprofit Center at 75 Charter Oak Ave., in Hartford. It has 11 employees, a year-round mission and multi-million-dollar budget. One thing that hasn't changed, said Wrice, who retires from her role June 30 after more than 19 years at the nonprofit, is the demand for energy assistance. As she puts it, Operation Fuel is just scratching the surface with the hun- dreds of thousands of Connecticut households that can't afford their energy bills. In her first year, the organization raised $500,000 and served 2,000 people. In fiscal year 2015 it had about $4 million that helped 8,500 families statewide. While it's a big number, Wrice said it's not enough. The energy-affordability gap in Connecticut was $471 million at the end of 2015; on average, 313,000 households in the state owe about $1,506 more in annual energy bills than they can afford to pay, according to Operation Fuel. That gap and high-energy prices will ensure the organization never goes out of business, she said. "[I] can't even say we're a Band-aid … but we're proud of what we do," Wrice said. Expanded reach As Operation Fuel's Executive Director, Wrice said she has worked on diversifying the nonprofit and growing its reach. There are now 100 sites throughout Connecticut where people can apply for program assistance that serves all 169 towns and cities. It started with just 55 fuel banks. Her board chair Nancy Bulkeley, senior community affairs representative for Dominion Nuclear Connecticut, said Wrice has been the core of the organization. Her strong suit has been her passion and advocacy. The latter helped Operation Fuel amidst the recent round of nonprofit cuts in the state budget. The bulk of its funding comes from money raised through the systems benefit charge [SBC] on customer utility bills, which generated $57.13 million in 2015. Of that amount, Operation Fuel received $2.1 million. Wrice said she was concerned SBC fund- ing could be a target for funding swipes, because the state administers the payments. The money, however, was spared. "I had to watch that [money] closely," Wrice said, adding there is no lockbox for the SBC funds, which could be raided by lawmak- ers. "You would have to be an ostrich to ignore the threats to funding. Without that money we could not serve over 2,000 families." Operation Fuel, which posted $3.7 million in revenue and a loss of $1.2 million in fiscal 2015, also receives grants and donations from individuals, foundations and businesses, among other funding sources. Big decisions Wrice said her most significant decision as executive director was to operate the organization throughout the year beyond its traditional winter roots. The winter program still drives the most need, but the need for funding assistance in summer is nearing an equal demand level, she said. Bulkeley said Wrice's development of a strategic plan should help the nonprofit be stable for years to come. The plan was drafted in 2013 and antici- pated Wrice's retirement with a focus on a smooth executive transition. Operation Fuel announced earlier this month that Karen Adamson, who was most recently vice presi- dent of community engagement and perfor- mance for the Access Community Action Agency in Willimantic, will take over as its new executive director. Among other goals, Wrice's plan Continued Operation Fuel By the Numbers (FY 2015) Revenue: $3.7M Expenses: $4.9M Margin: ($1.2M) Assets: $2.7M Employees: 11 To better serve our readers... We're evolving... with a REDESIGN THIS FALL! PLEASE VOTE! We appreciate your feedback! www.HartfordBusiness.com/redesign SEE THE NEW HBJ Logos & Cover Mockups! WHAT BRANDING VERSION WILL PREVAIL? VOTE today at: www.HartfordBusiness.com/redesign Hartford Business Journal HartfordBusiness HBJ HARTFORD BUSINESS JOURNAL HBJ HARTFORD BUSINESS JOURNAL Hartford Business Journal Hartford Business Journal Fill out the survey and you may enter into our drawing for a $100 Restaurant Gi Card to Blue Plate Kitchen in West Hartford! Survey Ends July 8th, 2016. HARTFORD BUSINESS JOURNAL HBJ HB Hartford Business Pat Wrice spent 19 years building Bloomfield's Operation Fuel from a part-time, $500,000 nonprofit, to a year-round, multi-million-dollar organization helping 8,500 Connecticut families pay their electric bills. H B J P H O T O | K E I T H G R I F F I N

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