Specifications
- Product Name: Shared Clean Energy Facility Program
- Version: 2.0 Rev. 12/31/2023
- Developed by: Eversource Energy and The United Illuminating Company
Product Usage Instructions
SCEF Program Allocation Requirements
Participation in the SCEF program is limited to certain eligible customer types, such as those who do not control the property’s roof or those unable to install on-site solar.
Subscriber Categories and Allocation
The SCEF Program Manual specifies the allocation of energy output amongst different customer types as follows:
Projects Procured in Years 1-4:
- Low-Income Customers: 20% allocation, Opt-Out subscription model
- Small Business Customers: 20% allocation, Opt-Out subscription model
- Low-and Moderate-Income Customers, Low-Income Service Organizations, Affordable Housing Landlords, Entities and Facilities (LMI Category): 40% allocation, Opt-Out subscription model
- Any Eligible Customer: 20% allocation, Voluntary Enrollment (Opt-In) subscription model
Projects Procured beginning in Year 5 and subsequent procurements:
- Low-Income Customers: 50% allocation, Opt-Out subscription model
- Small Business Customers: 20% allocation, Opt-Out subscription model
- Low-and Moderate-Income Customers, Low-Income Service Organizations, Affordable Housing Landlords, Entities and Facilities (LMI Category): 20% allocation, Opt-Out subscription model
- Any Eligible Customer: 10% allocation, Voluntary Enrollment (Opt-In) subscription model
FAQ
- What are the eligibility criteria for participating in the SCEF program?
- To participate in the SCEF program, customers must meet certain eligibility criteria, such as not controlling the property’s roof or being unable to install on-site solar.
- How is the energy output allocated among different customer types?
- The energy output is allocated based on subscriber categories and varying enrollment methods specified in the SCEF Program Manual.
“`
SCEF PROGRAM ALLOCATION REQUIREMENTS
Participation in the SCEF program is limited to certain eligible customer types. Eligible Customers include:
· Low- and Moderate-Income (“LMI”) Customers · Small Business Customers · Low-Income Service Organizations · Affordable housing landlords, entities, and facilities · State and Municipal Customers · Commercial Customers · Residential Customers, other than LMI Customers, who either: (1) reside in a rental or leased
property where the Customer does not control the property’s roof; or (2) reside in their own property but are unable to install on-site solar.1
The SCEF Program Manual also specifies that each SCEF’s energy output be allocated amongst certain customer types and via differing enrollment methods. SCEF subscriptions for Projects procured in Years 1-4 of the SCEF Program are allocated to the different subscriber categories in accordance with the following table:
Subscriber Category
SCEF Output Allocation Percentage
Subscription Model
Low-Income Customers
20%
Opt-Out
Small Business Customers
20%
Opt-Out
Low-and Moderate-Income
Customers, Low-Income Service
Organizations, Affordable
40%
Housing Landlords, Entities and
Facilities (“LMI Category”)
Opt-Out
Any Eligible Customer
20%
Voluntary Enrollment (“Opt-In”)
SCEF subscriptions for Projects procured beginning in Year 5 and all subsequent procurements of the SCEF Program are allocated to the different subscriber categories in accordance with the following table:
1 SCEF Program Manual
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Subscriber Category
Low-Income Customers
Small Business Customers
Low-and Moderate-Income Customers, Low-Income Service Organizations, Affordable Housing Landlords, Entities and Facilities (“LMI Category”)
Any Eligible Customer
SCEF Output Allocation Percentage
50% 20%
20%
10%
Subscription Model
Opt-Out Opt-Out
Opt-Out
Voluntary Enrollment (“Opt-In”)
Customers eligible for an opt-out subscription are pre-identified by the EDCs but may also apply to the program for consideration for an opt-in subscription. Customers that are only eligible for an opt-in subscription must apply to the program to be considered for a SCEF subscription.2
Appendices C-E to the SCEF Program Manual detail how the EDCs identify SCEF eligible customers, verify customer eligibility and enroll customers in the SCEF program. Appendix F outlines the EDCs customer engagement activities for the program.
2 Customers that are only eligible for an opt-in subscription include State and Municipal customers, Commercial customers and non-LMI Residential customers that cannot install on-site solar.
CUSTOMER IDENTIFICATION
APPENDIX C: CUSTOMER IDENTIFICATION
2.1 IDENTIFICATION OF LOW-INCOME CUSTOMERS
Low-Income Customers are defined in the SCEF Program Manual and Section 16-244z(a)(1)(C) of the Connecticut General Statutes, modified by Public Act 22-14 (P.A. 22-14), as:
“Low-income customer” means an in-state retail end user of an electric distribution company (i) whose income does not exceed sixty per cent of the state median income, adjusted for family size, or (ii) that is an affordable housing facility.3 For the purposes of the SCEF program, an income-eligible low-income customer refers to customers that meet the definition of a low-income customer by having an income that does not exceed sixty per cent of state median income. Income-eligible low-income Customers can participate in the SCEF Program in the Low-Income opt-out category, the LMI opt-out category and the voluntary enrollment category, if they complete a Subscriber Enrollment Form. Income-eligible low-income customers shall be identified as eligible for an `opt-out’ SCEF subscription through any of the following mechanisms: 1. Participation in an income-eligible utility program 2. Income-verification performed by the customer’s EDC IDENTIFICATION OF INCOME-ELIGIBLE LOW-INCOME CUSTOMERS MEETING HARDSHIP AND UTILITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM CRITERIA Customers that participate in the EDCs income-eligible utility assistance programs are automatically eligible for low-income customer SCEF subscriptions.4 A quarterly list of low-income customers is developed based on customer participation in one of the below income-eligible utility assistance programs.
3 Public Act 22-14 4 The EDCs use an income threshold of 60% of State Median Income for their income-eligible utility assistance programs.
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Table 2-1. EDC INCOME-BASED PROGRAMS AND ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Program Hardship Status
Electric Discount Rate
Hardship and Discount Rate
Customers include
Customers participating in Income-Eligible Payment Plans
Eversource Matching Payment Plan (“ES MPP”)/UI Matching Payment Program5,6
Eversource New Start/UI Bill Forgiveness Plan (“BFP”)7,8
Home Energy Solutions- Income Eligible (“HESIE”)9
Program Description A Financial hardship status prevents shut off for non payment and Late Payment Charges during the winter moratorium (November 1 to May 1) Electric bill discount of 10% or 50% granted to income-qualifying Customers
Provides Matching Payments to Customers receiving Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (“CEAP”) benefits Provides a payment match (UI) or arrearage forgiveness (Eversource) to electric customers with a past due balance Energize Connecticut low-income weatherization program
Eligibility Criteria Customers at or below 60% SMI
Customers at or below 60% of SMI. Higher discount provided to customers at or below 160% of federal poverty guidelines Customers at or below 60% SMI
Customers at or below 60% SMI
Customers at or below 60% SMI
5 Eversource Matching Payment Program 6 UI Matching Payment Program 7 Eversource New Start 8 UI Bill Forgiveness Program 9 HES participation includes both customers that have received HES-IE benefits, as well as those that attempted to
access the HES-IE program but were unable to due to either weatherization health and safety barriers or lack of consent to complete weatherization work from the customer’s landlord.
IDENTIFICATION OF INCOME-ELIGIBLE LOW-INCOME CUSTOMERS THROUGH SUBSCRIBER ENROLLMENT FORM
Customers may apply to the SCEF program directly with their utility company using a Subscriber Enrollment Form.10 Customers that are identified as low-income customers through a Subscriber Enrollment Form will be considered for a SCEF subscription in both the opt-out and opt-in selection categories.
The following table provides an overview of the process steps for identifying opt-out eligible low-income customers.
Table 2-2. Process Steps for Identifying Opt-Out Income-Qualified Low-Income Customers
Step No. 1
2 3 4 5
Process Step Develop query to identify known low-income financial hardship and electric discount rate customers in EDC customer database Run query on EDC low-income hardship and electric discount customers
Run query on EDC HES-IE customers
Combine EDC Hardship, electric discount rate and HES-IE datasets Append to dataset low-income customers that self-identified via the Subscriber Enrollment Form (“SEF”)11 and were deemed eligible for a low-income SCEF subscription.
Frequency One-time
Quarterly Quarterly Quarterly Quarterly
2.2 IDENTIFICATION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING LANDLORDS, ENTITIES AND FACILITIES
Affordable housing landlords, entities and facilities shall be identified as eligible for an `opt-out’ SCEF subscription through one of the following mechanisms:
Tier I: Multifamily properties that are on a list of properties identified by the Agencies12 as either participating in the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program (“LIHTC”) or that contain a majority of households earning 80% or less of AMI as set by HUD13
Tier II: Multifamily properties with 5 or more units that are identified by the EDCs as properties where more than 66% of the residents have a household income at or below 60% of SMI14
10 The Subscriber Enrollment Form (“SEF”) is further described in Appendix F 11 The Subscriber Enrollment Form (“SEF”) is further described in Appendix F 12 The “Agencies” consist of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), the Connecticut Green Bank (CGB), the Department of Housing (DOH) and the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA) 13 I.d. 14 I.d. These properties will be identified through the EnergizeCT Multifamily Initiative
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Tier III: Multifamily properties that apply for review by the Agencies,15 are determined to meet the eligibility requirements of an affordable multifamily dwelling by the Agencies, and are approved as an affordable housing facility by PURA 16 Properties identified as eligible for Tier I will be published quarterly in the appropriate annual review docket for the Residential Renewable Energy Solutions Program and on the EDCs websites.17 Properties identified as eligible for Tier II will be published annually in the appropriate annual review docket for the Residential Renewable Energy Solutions Program and on the EDCs websites.
2.3 IDENTIFICATION OF MODERATE-INCOME CUSTOMERS
Moderate-income customers are defined in Section 16-244z(a)(1)(C), modified by P.A. 22-14 of the Connecticut General Statutes as:
`”Moderate-income customer” means an in-state retail end user of an electric distribution company whose income is between sixty per cent and one hundred per cent of the state median income as defined by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, adjusted for family size.’18 Moderate-income customers can participate in the SCEF Program as either opt-out customers or in the voluntary enrollment category. Moderate-income customers shall be identified as eligible for an `opt-out’ SCEF subscription through the following channels: 1. Income-verification performed by Operation Fuel 2. Income-verification performed by the customer’s EDC IDENTIFICATION MODERATE-INCOME CUSTOMERS THROUGH OPERATION FUEL Moderate-Income customers are identified by Operation Fuel. Operation Fuel evaluates customers that seek Operation Fuel assistance against the SCEF moderate-income threshold of 100% of SMI. When Operation Fuel provides assistance to or engages with a customer whose household income is between 60-100% of SMI they provide the customer’s information to the appropriate EDC so that the customer is considered for a SCEF subscription in the moderate-income opt-out customer category. IDENTIFICATION MODERATE-INCOME CUSTOMERS THROUGH SUBSCRIBER ENROLLMENT FORM
15 I.d. 16 I.d. 17 I.e., 22-08-02 and subsequent annual proceedings. 18 Public Act 22-14
Customers may apply to the SCEF program directly with their utility company using the Subscriber Enrollment Form. Customers that are identified as moderate-income customers through a Subscriber Enrollment Form will be considered for a SCEF subscription in the opt-out and opt-in selection categories.
In addition, Moderate-income customers may be identified in the process of applying for other utility assistance programs through the EDCs. Customers who apply to those programs but did not meet the income qualification thresholds will be directed to the Subscriber Enrollment Form to apply to the SCEF program.
Moderate-Income Customers are identified through the following process steps:
Table 2-3. PROCESS FOR IDENTIFYING MODERATE-INCOME CUSTOMERS
Step No.
Process Step
Operation Fuel identifies customers as moderate Income when verified
1 against SCEF program thresholds and share lists of identified customers with the EDCs on a quarterly basis
Frequency Quarterly
Append to dataset moderate-income customers that self-identified via 3 the Subscriber Enrollment Form (“SEF”) and were deemed income-
eligible for a moderate-income SCEF subscription.
Quarterly
2.4 IDENTIFICATION OF LOW-INCOME SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS
Low-Income Service Organizations (“LISOs”) are defined in the SCEF Program Manual as “a for-profit or nonprofit organization that provides service or assistance to low-income individuals.”19
Low-Income Service Organizations (“LISOs”) are eligible to participate in the SCEF Program in both the LMI opt-out category and the voluntary enrollment category. Low-Income Service Organizations shall be identified as eligible for an opt-out SCEF subscription through any of the following methods:
1. Organizations that were identified as LISOs through the EDC-led SCEF stakeholder process and filed with the Authority in Docket 19-07-01RE01 as Order 1 Compliance on December 1, 2021.
2. Organizations that have been verified as LISOs and provided to the EDCs by the United Way 3. Organizations that apply to the SCEF program using the Subscriber Enrollment Form and meet the
eligibility requirements of a LISO The following table provides the process steps required to identify LISOs:
19 SCEF Program Manual
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Step No. 1 2
3
4
5
Table 2-4. PROCESS FOR IDENTIFYING LOW-INCOME SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS
Process Step Compile list of LISOs on EDC SCEF distribution list Execute data sharing agreement with United Way Make request to United Way for list of additional LISOs not on EDC distribution list Combine EDC dataset with United Way LISO list Append to dataset LISOs that self-identified via the Subscriber Enrollment Form.
Frequency One-time process One-time process
Annually
Annually
Quarterly
2.5 IDENTIFICATION OF SMALL BUSINESS CUSTOMERS
Small business customers are defined in the SCEF Program Manual as
“a commercial or industrial electric customer with less than a 200 kW peak load.”20
Small business customers shall be identified as eligible for an opt-out SCEF subscription through one of the following methods:
1. For Eversource, all customers on Rates 30 and 3521 2. For UI, customers on Rates GS, GST and LPT that have a peak demand below 200kW qualify as
Small Business Customers22
The following table provides the process steps for identifying Small Business Customers.
Table 2-5. PROCESS FOR IDENTIFYING SMALL BUSINESS CUSTOMERS
Step No.
Process Step
Develop query to identify customers on Rate 30 or
1 Rate 35 for Eversource, or Rate GS, GST and LPT for UI in EDC Customer Information System
Frequency One-time
2 Run query as needed 2a UI to conduct additional segmenting by billed demand
Quarterly Quarterly
20 SCEF Program Manual 21 Rates 30 and 35 have 200 kW demand limits. Non-business customers on these rates will not qualify under the Small Business Category but will be considered under other categories for which they may be eligible. 22 Customers on Rate GS have a maximum billed demand of 100 kW, customers on rates GST and LPT have a billed demand over 100 kW but would need to be segmented to identify and verify customers with billed demand up to 200kW. Non-business customers on these rates will not qualify under the Small Business Category but will be considered under other categories for which they may be eligible.
2.6 IDENTIFICATION OF VOLUNTARY ENROLLMENT (“OPT-IN”) CUSTOMERS
Voluntary enrollment customers must complete a Subscriber Enrollment Form to be considered for a SCEF subscription. Customers that are deemed eligible for the SCEF program through a Subscriber Enrollment Form will be added to the pool of opt-out customers considered for a SCEF subscription during enrollment events. Any customer eligible for an opt-in subscription that applies to the program using the SEF will be considered in the Opt-Out and Opt-In enrollment processes.
ELIGIBILITY VERIFICATION
3 APPENDIX D: ELIGIBILITY VERIFICATION
3.1 LOW-INCOME CUSTOMERS ELIGIBILITY VERIFICATION
INCOME-ELIGIBLE LOW-INCOME CUSTOMER VERIFICATION THROUGH PROGRAM PARTICIPATION AND PARTNER AGENCIES Income-eligible low-income customers are eligible for the SCEF Program if they meet any of the following criteria:
1. The customer is currently enrolled in the respective EDC’s financial hardship or electric discount rate program, including customers that: · Currently receive Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (“CEAP”) benefits, · Are currently enrolled in Eversource’s Matching Payment Plan or New Start, or UI’s Matching Payment Program or Bill Forgiveness Program
2. The customer has participated in or has been income-verified by the HES-IE program in the past three years
INCOME-ELIGIBLE LOW-INCOME CUSTOMER VERIFICATION BY EDC SCREENING PROCESS Customers may apply to their EDC to be verified as an income-eligible low-income customer using a Subscriber Enrollment Form. Customers must provide documentation to demonstrate their household income with their Subscriber Enrollment Form. Acceptable proof of income documentation includes the following:
Table 3-1. PROOF OF INCOME DOCUMENTATION FOR LOW-INCOME CUSTOMERS
Qualification
Documentation
CHIP; HUSKY B
Medicare Savings Programs (MSP)
Energy Assistance Supplemental Security Income (SSI)/Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) Temporary Assistance to Need Families (TANF)
Letter proving qualifying benefit Letter proving qualifying benefit Energy Award Letter Letter proving qualifying benefit Letter proving qualifying benefit
State Administered General Assistance (SAGA) Letter proving qualifying benefit
DSS State Cash Assistance
Letter proving qualifying benefit
Women Infants and Children (WIC) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Medicaid or Access Health; HUSKY A, C, D
State Husky B
Letter proving qualifying benefit Letter proving qualifying benefit Letter proving qualifying benefit Letter proving qualifying benefit
State HUSKY A
Letter proving qualifying benefit
Medicare Savings Programs (MSP)
Refugee Cash Assistance and Refugee Medical Assistance
Connecticut Free or Reduced Lunch Program
Letter proving qualifying benefit Letter proving qualifying benefit Letter proving qualifying benefit
Head Start Section 8 Housing; Rental Assistance Program (RAP) Unemployment
Job
Letter proving qualifying benefit
Voucher
Unemployment Benefit Letter Most recent bank statement showing direct deposit of unemployment Paid Weekly – Last 4 consecutive pay stubs Paid Bi-Weekly – Last 2 consecutive pay stubs
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Self-Employment Child Support, Pension, Other
Most recent 1099 Tax Form
Benefit Letter Most recent bank statement showing direct deposit of unemployment Documentation the recipient’s sole source of income is Social Security, such as a Social Security budget sheet
Table 3-2 shows the process steps for verifying income-qualified low-income customers through an EDC income verification process.
Table 3-2. EDC INCOME VERIFICATION PROCESS FOR LOW INCOME CUSTOMERS APPLYING TO SCEF PROGRAM
Step No.
Process Step
Customer completes a Subscriber Enrollment Form (“SEF”), including
1
supporting documentation
EDC staff evaluates customer’s income against SCEF Program income 2 thresholds
If customer’s income is 60% SMI EDC places customer on SCEF low-
3
income eligible customer list
Frequency Per Customer
Per Customer
3.2 AFFORDABLE HOUSING LANDLORD, ENTITIES AND FACILITIES ELIGIBILITY VERIFICATION PROCESS
Affordable housing landlords, facilities and entities will be verified as eligible for the SCEF program if they are on the list of Tier I, Tier II or Tier III affordable housing facilities filed in the annual review docket for the Residential Renewable Energy Solutions program and as posted on the EDCs’ websites.23
3.3 MODERATE-INCOME CUSTOMERS ELIGIBILITY VERIFICATION
MODERATE-INCOME CUSTOMER VERIFICATION THROUGH PARTNER AGENCY Moderate-Income Customers are eligible for the SCEF Program if they have been income-verified by Operation Fuel as meeting the SCEF moderate-income criteria of 60%-100% of SMI.
23 The Annual Review Docket for the Residential Renewable Energy Solutions Program is XX-08-02, with “XX” corresponding to the program year (e.g., “23” for Program Year 2023)
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MODERATE-INCOME CUSTOMER VERIFICATION BY EDC SCREENING PROCESS Customers may apply to their EDC to be verified as a moderate-income customer using a Subscriber Enrollment Form. Customers seeking qualification for the SCEF program as a moderate-income customer must provide proof of income for all forms of income received by the household with their Subscriber Enrollment Form. Acceptable proof of income includes the following types of documentation:
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Table 3-3. PROOF OF INCOME DOCUMENTATION FOR MODERATE-INCOME CUSTOMERS
Income Documentation (provide proof of all applicable income sources): Alimony/Spousal Support Child Support Employment 2 Consecutive pay stubs if paid bi-weekly, 4 Consecutive pay stubs if paid weekly Employment Disability Family and Friends Support (applicants must complete a Financial Support from Family and Friends form)24 Long term disability No income (applicant must complete a Self-Declaration Zero income form)24 Odd Jobs Pension Rental Income Retirement Annuity Self-Employment (applicant must complete a Self-Employment worksheet)24 Short Term Disability Social Security Retirement Tax Form Prior Year 1040 or 1099 Tribal Stipend Unemployment Veteran Compensation Benefits
24 Available at: https://operationfuel.org/fbforms/
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Workers Compensation
Table 3-4. EDC MODERATE-INCOME VERIFICATION PROCESS FOR CUSTOMERS APPLYING TO SCEF PROGRAM
Step No.
Process Step
Frequency
Customer completes a Subscriber Enrollment Form (“SEF”), including
1
supporting documentation
Per Customer
EDC staff evaluates customer’s income against SCEF Program income
2
thresholds
If customer’s income is between 60-100% of SMI EDC places customer Per Customer
3
on SCEF moderate-income eligible customer list
3.4 LOW-INCOME SERVICE ORGANIZATION ELIGIBILITY VERIFICATION
Low-Income Service Organizations that participate in the United Way’s Connecticut 2-1-1 service provider database are automatically eligible for the SCEF program and do not need to apply to the program to be considered for a SCEF subscription.25
Low-Income Service Organizations that do not participate in the 2-1-1 service provider database can apply to the SCEF program through a Subscriber Enrollment Form. These applicants must demonstrate that they meet the eligibility requirements of a LISO by providing services at no cost, or low cost primarily to low-income clients or clients in environmental justice communities.26
Low-Income Service Organizations applying to the SCEF program must complete a self-declaration form27 and submit it with their Subscriber Enrollment Form. Once the organization submits their Subscriber Enrollment Form and accompanying documentation, the EDCs will review the information provided with the customer’s application to determine whether it meets the criteria for a LISO.
Table 3-5. EDC VERIFICATION PROCESS FOR CUSTOMERS ON UNITED WAY 211 LISO LIST
25 Note, not all organizations in the United Way’s Connecticut 2-1-1 service database are eligible for the SCEF program. Only organizations that have been determined to be a LISO by the United Way are eligible. Organizations in the 2-1-1 database may inquire with their EDC to find out of if they are listed as a LISO in the United Way database. 26 “Environmental Justice Community” means (A) a United States census block group, as determined in accordance with the most recent United States census, for which thirty (30) per cent or more of the population consists of lowincome persons who are not institutionalized and have an income below two hundred (200) per cent of the federal poverty level, or (B) a distressed municipality, as defined in subsection (b) of section 32-9p of the General Statutes 27 Available on the EDCs websites
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Step Process Step
No. 1 EDCs formalize data sharing agreement with United Way 211 2 Request List from United Way 211 3 EDCs receive list from United Way
Frequency One-time process
Annually
Table 3-6. EDC VERIFICATION PROCESS FOR LISO CUSTOMERS THAT COMPLETE A SUBSCRIBER ENROLLMENT FORM
Step No.
Process Step
1 LISO completes SEF and attaches Self-Declaration Form
2 EDCs evaluate LISO SEF and verify eligibility
If LISO is deemed eligible for the SCEF program, LISO is placed on list 3 of eligible subscribers for enrollment
Frequency Per LISO
3.5 SMALL BUSINESS CUSTOMER ELIGIBILITY VERIFICATION
Small Business customers in Eversource’s service territory are eligible for the SCEF program if they are on Rate 30 or 35.28 Small Business customers in United Illuminating’s service territory are eligible for the SCEF program if they are on Rate GS, GST or LPT and their peak demand is below 200kW.29
3.6 STATE AND MUNICIPAL CUSTOMERS ELIGIBILITY VERIFICATION
State and Municipal Customers are eligible to participate in the SCEF Program as part of the voluntary enrollment category. State and Municipal Customers are defined as:30
“Municipal Customer” means a retail end user of electric service located in the service territory of the EDC that is a Municipality. and,
“State Customer” means a retail end user of electric service located in the service territory of the EDC that belongs to any office, department, board, council, commission, institution, constituent unit of the state system of higher education,
28 Non-business customers on these rates will not qualify under the Small Business Category but will be considered under other categories for which they may be eligible. 29 Non-business customers on these rates will not qualify under the Small Business Category but will be considered under other categories for which they may be eligible. 30 The SCEF Statute does not define State or Municipal Customers. As a result, the EDCs established these definitions.
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technical high school or other agency in the executive, legislative or judicial branches of state government of Connecticut.31 State and Municipal customers in Eversource’s service territory are eligible for the SCEF program if the Legal Classification Code on their electric account identifies them as a State or Municipal customer. State and Municipal customers in UI’s service territory will be verified as eligible for the SCEF program through the Company’s Energy Efficiency Tracking system. This list will be appended with State and Municipal accounts managed by UI Account Managers. State and Municipal Customers can only participate in the SCEF Program on an opt-in basis and must submit a Subscriber Enrollment Form to be considered for a SCEF subscription. Once their Subscriber Enrollment Form is received, Eversource will determine whether the customer is coded with a state and municipal code in the Eversource’s billing system or has provided the requisite documentation for UI.
3.7 COMMERCIAL CUSTOMER ELIGIBILITY VERIFICATION
Commercial Customers other than Small Business Customers are eligible to participate in the SCEF Program in the voluntary enrollment category. Commercial Customers are defined as:32
“Commercial Customer” means a retail end user of electric service located in the service territory of the EDC that has commercial usage.33 Commercial Customers in Eversource’s service territory are eligible for the SCEF Program if they are on Rate 55, 56, 57, or 58 and have a North American Industry Classification System (“NAICS”) code that identifies them as a commercial customer. Commercial customers in UI’s service territory are eligible for the SCEF Program if they are on Rates GST or LPT. As an opt-in only eligible customer class, Commercial Customers must submit a Subscriber Enrollment Form. Once their Subscriber Enrollment Form is received, the EDCs will determine whether they are on a commercial electric rate code, and whether they are coded as a commercial customer in the EDCs databases.
31 Docket No. 19-07-01 Compliance Order No. 1 filed April 24, 2020, Attachment 6A, Draft Shared Clean Energy Facility Rider Attachment 1: Subscriber Terms and Conditions 32 The SCEF Program Manual and SCEF Statute do not define Commercial Customers. As a result, the EDCs established these definitions. 33 Docket No. 19-07-01 Compliance Order No. 1 filed April 24, 2020, Attachment 6A, Draft Shared Clean Energy Facility Rider Attachment 1: Subscriber Terms and Conditions
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3.8 NON-LMI RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS RENTERS OR CUSTOMERS WITHOUT ROOF CONTROL ELIGIBILITY VERIFICATION
Non-LMI residential customers that are either renters or do not have control of their roof are eligible to participate in the voluntary enrollment SCEF Program category. The definition of eligibility for this customer class is:
A residential electric Customer who is not low or moderate income and resides in a rental or leased property, or a property where the customer does not control the property’s roof, such as a multi-unit condominium34 Non-LMI customers who do not have control of their roof must submit a Subscriber Enrollment Form for the SCEF Program with supporting documentation indicating they do not have roof control. Acceptable documentation to submit includes:
· For renters: a copy of their most recent lease agreement, or rent bill/statement with monetary figures redacted; or,
· For Property Owners without Roof Control: A signed letter from a condominium association or other entity limiting roof control attesting to the applicant’s lack of control of their residence’s roof.
Once the EDC receives the customer’s Subscriber Enrollment the EDC will review the customer’s supporting documentation to verify that they are a renter or property owner without roof control, and that the customer is on a residential electric rate.
3.9 NON-LMI RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS UNABLE TO INSTALL ON-SITE SOLAR ELIGIBILITY VERIFICATION
Non-LMI customers that are unable to install on-site solar are eligible to participate in the SCEF Program as part of the voluntary enrollment category. The eligibility definition for this customer class is:
Solar Non-Feasible Customer: A residential electric Customer who is not low or moderate income, and whose property has been evaluated by a licensed residential solar contractor and is deemed unable to install on-site solar.35 Non-LMI customers who cannot install on-site solar must submit a Subscriber Enrollment Form for the SCEF Program accompanied by a Non-Feasible Solar Self-Attestation Form36. The EDCs will review the submitted
34 See Decision, December 18, 2019, Exhibit B – Modified Program Requirements, Section 6 page 13. 35 EDC definition of eligibility based on December 18, 2019, Exhibit B – Modified Program Requirements, Section 6 page 13. 36 EDC Form available at: www.eversource.com/scef and www.uinet.com/sharedcleanenergycredit
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documentation to verify that they cannot install solar on their property and that the customer is on a residential electric rate.
3.10 GENERAL ELIGIBILITY RULES THAT APPLY TO ALL SUBSCRIBERS
In addition to the eligibility verification process described in Sections 3.1 through 3.9 of this Appendix all subscribers are subject to the following restrictions as described in the SCEF Program Manual:
A Subscriber may not receive, or seek to receive, any Connecticut ratepayer-funded incentives or subsidies, including, but not limited to, net metering, virtual net metering, LREC/ZREC contracts, or PA 18-50 tariffs other than those in this Program, associated with the electric load for which there is a Subscription under this Program.37 Existing participants in any of Connecticut’s ratepayer-funded incentive of subsidy programs, including but not limited to, net metering, virtual net metering, LREC/ZREC contracts or PA 18-50 tariffs will not be considered for opt-out subscriptions. Customers that participated in one of these programs but who are generally eligible for the SCEF program must have load that is not associated with a ratepayer-funded incentive or subsidy program to qualify for a SCEF subscription. These customers must apply to the SCEF program using the Subscriber Enrollment Form to receive a SCEF subscription for any excess load not covered by the existing generation system. Excess load will be verified based on the customer’s billing data and this data will be used as the basis for calculating the customer’s SCEF subscription.
37 Decision, December 18, 2019 Exhibit B – Modified Program Requirements, Section 6 page 13.
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CUSTOMER ENROLLMENT
4 APPENDIX E: CUSTOMER ENROLLMENT
4.1 ENROLLMENT PROCESS: OPT-OUT CUSTOMER CATEGORIES
The SCEF Program Manual dictates the percentage of SCEF subscriptions must be enrolled through an EDC-administered identification and enrollment process. According to the Program Manual, for SCEFs procured in Program Years 1-4 80% of each SCEF’s capacity must be subscribed using the structure in Table 4-1 below.
Table 4-1. ELIGIBLE OPT-OUT CUSTOMER CATEGORIES AND SCEF PERCENTAGE ALLOCATIONS
Subscriber Category
SCEF Output Allocation Percentage
Low-Income Customers
20%
Small Business Customers
20%
Low-and Moderate-Income Customers, Low-Income
Service Organizations, Affordable Housing Landlords,
40%
Entities and Facilities
For SCEFs procured in Program Year 5 or later, 90% of each SCEF’s capacity must be subscribed using the structure in Table 4-2 below.
Table 4-2. ELIGIBLE OPT-OUT CUSTOMER CATEGORIES AND SCEF PERCENTAGE ALLOCATIONS
Subscriber Category
SCEF Output Allocation Percentage
Low-Income Customers
50%
Small Business Customers
20%
Low-and Moderate-Income Customers, Low-Income
Service Organizations, Affordable Housing Landlords,
20%
Entities and Facilities
The method of opt-out customer enrollment in each SCEF depends on whether the SCEF is sited on a landfill or brownfield, or in a Distressed Municipality.38
38 https://portal.ct.gov/DECD/Content/About_DECD/Research-andPublications/02_Review_Publications/Distressed-Municipalities
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OPT-OUT CUSTOMER ENROLLMENT FOR SCEFS NOT SITED ON A LANDFILL OR BROWNFIELD OR IN A DISTRESSED MUNICIPALITY
If the SCEF is not sited on a landfill or brownfield, or located in a Distressed Municipality the EDCs will segment all eligible customers regardless of their location into cohorts based on indicators of economic vulnerability. 39 Customers in these cohorts will be prioritized for a SCEF subscription during the enrollment process.
The EDCs will enroll customers in these cohorts until all SCEF capacity is allocated. If additional capacity is available after all cohort customers were enrolled, the EDCs will enroll eligible customers outside of the cohort.
The cohorts are based on indicators of economic vulnerability and are defined for each customer class in Table 4-3.
Table 4-3. PRIORITIZATION COHORTS BASED ON INDICATORS OF ECONOMIC VULNERABILITY FOR PROJECTS NOT ON LANDFILLS OR BROWNFIELDS, OR IN A DISTRESSED
MUNICIPALITY
Customer Category
Opt-Out Prioritization Cohort
Reason for Prioritization
Income-Qualified Low-Income Customers
· New Start/ Bill Forgiveness Program participants40
· Customers located in Environmental Justice Communities41
Moderate-Income · Customer is in an
Customers
Environmental Justice
Community
· Customers in New Start/ Bill Forgiveness Program may not receive CEAP benefits and therefore receive lower total benefits than Low-Income Customers in other arrearage assistance programs
· Customers in EJCs may experience geographic hardship
· Customers in EJCs may experience geographic hardship
Low-Income Service Organizations
· Customer is in an Environmental Justice Community
· Arrearage indicates customer has trouble paying bill · Customers in EJCs may experience geographic
hardship
39 These indicators may differ based on available customer data, customer type and program eligibility. 40 Programs provide Matching Payment or Arrearage Forgiveness to Customers with incomes below 60% of SMI who have a past due balances greater than $100 that is more than 60 days past due, and who are not receiving CEAP benefits. Eversource New Start, UI Bill Forgiveness Program
41 Environmental Justice Community means (A) a United States census block group, as determined in accordance with the most recent United States census, for which thirty per cent or more of the population consists of lowincome persons who are not institutionalized and have an income below two hundred per cent of the federal poverty level, or (B) a distressed municipality, as defined in subsection (b) of section 32-9p.
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· Customer has an arrearage balance
Affordable Housing Facility Landlords, Entities and Facilities
· Facility meets criteria for a Tier I or Tier II affordable housing facility, and
· The facility is located in an environmental justice community42 (“EJC”), or
· The facility is mastermetered
In addition to these prioritizations, affordable housing facilities that meet the following criteria will be eligible to receive a weighting in the selection process:43
· The landlord or entity responsible for the affordable housing facility has completed an energy efficiency project or applied to participate in the Multifamily Energy Efficiency Initiative within the preceding 12 months.
· Tier I and Tier II properties that are on lists publicly available through the RRES program can be preidentified by the EDCs for Opt-Out enrollment
· Affordable housing facilities in EJCs may experience geographic hardship
· Providing a weighting for properties that undergo energy efficiency improvements may result in secondary benefits for tenants
· Prioritizing housing facilities that cannot install onsite solar through the RRES Program meets the SCEF program objective of increasing access to solar for under-served populations
42 Environmental Justice Community means (A) a United States census block group, as determined in accordance with the most recent United States census, for which thirty per cent or more of the population consists of lowincome persons who are not institutionalized and have an income below two hundred per cent of the federal poverty level, or (B) a distressed municipality, as defined in subsection (b) of section 32-9p.
43 The exact weighting applied to each qualifying customer may vary depending on how many customers overall are in the prioritized cohort, and how many affordable housing facilities qualify for the weighting. The weighting will seek to increase the odds of qualifying facilities receiving a SCEF subscription to 10%.
· The affordable housing facility is unable to install on-site solar44
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Small Businesses
· Customer is in an Environmental Justice Community
· Customers in EJCs may experience geographic hardship
OPT-OUT CUSTOMER ENROLLMENT FOR SCEFS SITED ON A LANDFILL OR BROWNFIELD OR IN A DISTRESSED MUNICIPALITY
If a SCEF is sited on a landfill or brownfield, or in a Distressed Municipality the EDCs will provide a geographic preference during enrollment. As a result of the geographic preference, the EDCs will enroll all eligible customers within the municipality where the SCEF is sited (“SCEF Host Municipality”) before customers outside of the SCEF Host Municipality. If there are more eligible customers in the SCEF Host Municipality than the SCEF can serve, the EDCs will segment eligible customers into the cohorts listed in Table 4-3. The EDCs will enroll customers that meet the cohort criteria and reside in the SCEF Host Municipality before enrolling customers outside of the cohort but within the SCEF Host Municipality. If additional SCEF capacity exists after all eligible customers in a SCEF Host Municipality are enrolled, the EDCs will expand the selection process to eligible cohort customers outside of the SCEF Host Municipality.
4.1.1.1 CUSTOMER ENROLLMENT PROCESS STEPS Below are the process steps for enrolling customers in the Opt-Out SCEF Enrollment Categories. Each of these processes is initiated 30 days before a new SCEF project enters service. Table 4-4 provides the process steps for the Low-Income Opt-out category. Table 4-5 provides the process steps for the LowModerate Income Opt-Out category while Table 4-6 provides the process for the Small Business category.
Table 4-4. PROCESS STEPS FOR OPT-OUT LOW-INCOME CUSTOMER CATEGORY
Step No.
PROCESS STEP
1
Generate quarterly list of eligible Low-Income Customers
2
Create cohorts of customers based on indicators of economic vulnerability
PROCESS STEPS FOR SCEFS SITED ON A LANDFILL OR BROWNFIELD OR IN A DISTRESSED MUNICIPALITY
44 To qualify for a weighting as a property that cannot install on-site solar the landlord or entity responsible for the affordable housing facility will need to complete a Subscriber Enrollment Form and provide a Non-Feasible Solar Self-Attestation Form attesting to the fact that the property is not capable of hosting on-site solar.
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A
Allocate subscriptions to all eligible Low-Income Customers in SCEF Host Municipality
If there are more eligible customers in the SCEF Host Municipality than available SCEF
A.1
subscriptions, allocate low-income SCEF subscriptions amongst cohort until the desired percentage of the SCEF estimated annual output is subscribed. If there are more eligible
customers in a cohort than available SCEF subscriptions, use a lottery to select customers.
If capacity remains after all customers in cohort are selected, allocate subscriptions to
eligible customers outside of cohort but inside SCEF Host Municipality until the desired
A.2 percentage of the SCEF estimated annual output is subscribed. If there are more eligible
customers in the Host Municipality than remaining SCEF subscriptions, use a lottery to
select customers.
If capacity remains after all eligible customers in SCEF Host Municipality are selected,
allocate subscriptions to eligible customers in the cohort anywhere in EDC territory until
A.3 the desired percentage of the SCEF estimated annual output is subscribed. If there are
more eligible customers than available SCEF subscriptions, use a lottery to select
customers
PROCESS STEPS FOR SCEFS NOT SITED ON A LANDFILL OR BROWNFIELD OR IN A DISTRESSED
MUNICIPALITY
Allocate subscriptions to all eligible Low-Income Customers in cohort until the desired
B
percentage of the SCEF estimated annual output is subscribed.45 If there are more eligible
customers in a cohort than available SCEF subscriptions, use a lottery to select customers
If capacity remains after all eligible customers in cohort are selected, allocate
B.1
subscriptions to eligible customers outside of cohort until the desired percentage of the SCEF estimated annual output is subscribed. If there are more eligible customers than
available SCEF subscriptions, use a lottery to select customers
Table 4-5. PROCESS STEPS FOR LOW-TO-MODERATE INCOME OPT-OUT CUSTOMER CATEGORY
Step No.
PROCESS STEP
1 Remove Customers who were allocated a Subscription from the Low-Income Customer list
2
Append quarterly list of eligible Moderate-Income Customers, Low-Income Service Organizations (LISOs) and Affordable Housing Facilities
3
Create cohorts of customers based on selected indicators of economic vulnerability. Apply weighting to eligible Affordable Housing Facilities
PROCESS STEPS FOR SCEFS SITED ON A LANDFILL OR BROWNFIELD OR IN A DISTRESSED MUNICIPALITY
45 Note that, due the inability to exactly match customer load with SCEF project capacity thresholds, the EDCs will allocate slightly more customer load to each opt-out category in order to meet minimum program participation thresholds.
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A Allocate subscriptions to all eligible customers in SCEF Host Municipality
If there are more eligible customers in the SCEF Host Municipality than available SCEF
A.1
subscriptions allocate subscriptions amongst cohorts until the desired percentage of the SCEF estimated annual output is subscribed. If there are more eligible customers in the cohorts
than available SCEF subscriptions, use a lottery to select customers
If capacity remains after all customers in cohorts are selected, allocate subscriptions to
eligible customers outside of the cohorts but inside SCEF Host Municipality until the desired
A.2 percentage of the SCEF estimated annual output is subscribed. If there are more eligible
customers in the Host Municipality than remaining SCEF subscriptions, use a lottery to select
customers.
If capacity remains after all eligible customers in SCEF Host Municipality are selected, allocate
A.3
subscriptions to eligible customers in cohorts anywhere in EDC territory until the desired percentage of the SCEF estimated annual output is subscribed. If there are more eligible
customers than available SCEF subscriptions, use a lottery to select customers
PROCESS STEPS FOR SCEFS NOT SITED ON A LANDFILL OR BROWNFIELD OR IN A DISTRESSED
MUNICIPALITY
Allocate subscriptions to all eligible Customers in cohorts until the desired percentage of the
B SCEF estimated annual output is subscribed.46 If there are more eligible customers in the
cohorts than available SCEF subscriptions, use a lottery to select customers
If capacity remains after all eligible customers in the cohorts are selected, allocate
B.1
subscriptions to eligible customers outside of cohorts until the desired percentage of the SCEF estimated annual output is subscribed. If there are more eligible customers than available
SCEF subscriptions, use a lottery to select customers
Table 4-6. PROCESS STEPS FOR SMALL BUSINESS OPT-OUT CUSTOMER CATEGORY
Step PROCESS STEP
No. 1 Generate quarterly list of Small Business Customers 2 Create cohort of customers based on selected indicators of economic vulnerability
PROCESS STEPS FOR SCEFS SITED ON A LANDFILL OR BROWNFIELD
46 Note that, due the inability to exactly match customer load with SCEF project capacity thresholds, the EDCs will allocate slightly more customer load to each opt-out category in order to meet minimum program participation thresholds.
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A Allocate subscriptions to all eligible Small Business Customers in SCEF Host Municipality
If there are more eligible customers in the SCEF Host Municipality than available SCEF
A.1
subscriptions allocate small business SCEF subscriptions amongst cohort until the desired percentage of the SCEF estimated annual output is subscribed. If there are more eligible
customers in the cohorts than available SCEF subscriptions, use a lottery to select customers
If capacity remains after all eligible customers in cohort are selected, allocate subscriptions to
eligible customers outside of cohort but inside SCEF Host Municipality until the desired
A.2 percentage of the SCEF estimated annual output is subscribed. If there are more eligible
customers in the Host Municipality than remaining SCEF subscriptions, use a lottery to select
customers
If capacity remains after all eligible customers in SCEF Host Municipality are selected, allocate
A.3
subscriptions to customers in cohort anywhere in EDC territory until the desired percentage of the SCEF estimated annual output is subscribed. If there are more eligible customers in the
cohorts than available SCEF subscriptions, use a lottery to select customers
PROCESS STEPS FOR SCEFS NOT SITED ON A LANDFILL OR BROWNFIELD OR IN A DISTRESSED
MUNICIPALITY
Allocate subscriptions to all eligible Small Business Customers in cohort until the desired
B percentage of the SCEF estimated annual output is subscribed.47 If there are more eligible
customers in the cohort than available SCEF subscriptions, use a lottery to select customers
If capacity remains after all eligible customers in cohort are selected, allocate subscriptions to
B.1
Small Business Customers outside of cohort until the desired percentage of the SCEF estimated annual output is subscribed. If there are more eligible customers than available
SCEF subscriptions, use a lottery to select customers
4.1 ENROLLMENT PROCESS: OPT-IN CUSTOMER CATEGORY (VOLUNTARY ENROLLMENT)
All opt-in SCEF subscriptions will be allocated via a random selection process. All customers that submit a Subscriber Enrollment Form and meet the qualifications of the SCEF program will be considered for a voluntary enrollment subscription.
Table 4-7. PROCESS STEPS FOR 20% VOLUNTARY ENROLLMENT CUSTOMER CATEGORY
Step PROCES STEP
No. 1 Customers complete a Subscriber Enrollment Form
47 Note that, due the inability to exactly match customer load with SCEF project capacity thresholds, the EDCs will allocate slightly more customer load to each opt-out category in order to meet minimum program participation thresholds.
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Generate quarterly list of customers who completed a Subscriber Enrollment Form and
2
whose eligibility was verified for voluntary enrollment48
Conduct a lottery to allocate any remaining SCEF capacity after the opt-out enrollment
3 process is fully subscribed
4.2 SUBSCRIBER COMMUNICATIONS
The EDCs will send the following communications to customers as part of the enrollment process.
SUBSCRIBER NOTIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT Once all customer selection processes are complete and a SCEF facility is fully subscribed, the EDC will notify enrolled subscribers that they have been selected to receive a subscription. Customers for whom the EDCs have an e-mail address and have not opted-out of electronic communications will receive an email notifying them they have been selected to receive a SCEF subscription. This e-mail will contain the SCEF subscriber’s Subscription Summary Contract. These customers will also receive a paper letter in the mail to their service address notifying them of their subscription. This letter will include a paper copy of the customer’s Subscription Summary Contract.
Customers for whom the EDCs do not have e-mail addresses or who have opted-out of electronic communications will receive a paper letter in the mail to their service address notifying them of their subscription. This letter will include a paper copy of the customer’s Subscription Summary Contract.
SUBSCRIBER OPT-OUT PROCESS Customers will have the option to opt-out of the Program by calling their EDC. The phone number for customers to opt-out of a subscription is included in both their e-mail and paper letter notification, as well as in their Subscription Summary Contract.
Customers have three days from receipt of the paper copy of their Subscription Summary Contract to optout of their subscription. If a customer does not opt-out of their SCEF subscription within 3 days, they are considered enrolled in the program. Once a customer is fully enrolled in the SCEF Program they have the option to terminate their subscription at any time, without penalty.
ONGOING COMMUNICATIONS One year from enrollment in their SCEF subscription and annually thereafter Subscribers will receive an email or letter, depending on their preferred communication method, reminding them of their SCEF subscription, benefit amount and how they can terminate their subscription if they so choose. This communication includes information about the project they are enrolled how to maintain their
48 Note customers that apply to the SCEF program through the subscriber enrollment form and are identified as eligible for an opt-out subscription will be considered for a SCEF subscription in both the opt-out and opt-in enrollment processes.
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4.3 REALLOCATION OF OPT-OUT SUBSCRIPTIONS AND SUBSCRIPTION TERMINATIONS
If a customer selected for a SCEF subscription chooses to opt-out of their subscription, or terminates their subscription at any time, their subscription will be re-allocated. For customers that opt-out of their subscription at the time of initial selection the EDCs will re-run the enrollment process for that specific customer category to identify a new subscriber. The new subscriber will be allocated a subscription for the entire 20-year term of the tariff. For customers that terminate their subscription at some point during their 20-year tariff the EDCs will rererun the enrollment process annually for that specific customer category to identify a new subscriber. The new subscriber will be allocated a subscription for the remaining term of the SCEF’s operating period.49
49 Subscription re-allocation ensures that 80% of each SCEF’s annual output is continuously subscribed as required in the Program Manual. However, as a result some Subscribers will receive a SCEF subscription term that is shorter than 20 years.
CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT
5 APPENDIX F: CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT
This appendix details the customer engagement activities the EDCs will conduct as part of the SCEF program.
5.1 PROGRAM MATERIALS
The following sections describe program materials available as part of the SCEF Program. These include the Subscriber Enrollment Form, program collateral, a Non-Feasible Solar Self-Attestation Form and website content.
SUBSCRIBER ENROLLMENT FORM (“SEF”) Customers who wish to apply to the SCEF program for an opt-in subscription must complete a Subscriber Enrollment Form (“SEF”). The SEF is available as a fillable printable PDF as well as an online application. Customers that complete an SEF may also be required to submit supporting documentation to verify their eligibility for the SCEF program.
Customers that choose to apply to the program using the printable PDF must mail their supporting documentation to the applicable EDC. Eversource customers that choose the online application are sent a link to securely upload the required documentation. UI customers that apply online must submit their documentation by mail, fax or will be provided a secure link via email.
Customers may access the Subscriber Enrollment Form on the following websites: www.eversource.com/SCEF and www.uinet.com/sharedcleanenergycredit
Paper copies of the SEF are also available at local Community Action Agencies.
ONE-PAGE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM COLLATERAL A one-page educational program document (“one-pager’) is available for customers and partner organizations to learn about and promote the SCEF Program. The one pager provides an overview of the SCEF program, the potential value of the bill credit for subscribers, the bill credit structure and eligibility requirements, information about how customers are notified if they are selected for a subscription and where customers can find additional information about the program. This document is available in both English and Spanish and may be translated into other languages in the future.
The EDCs will provide paper copies of the one-pager to Community Action Agencies and Operation Fuel. It is also provided in digital form to the entities and to solar developers. Customers can view a PDF of the one-pager online at the following websites: www.eversource.com/SCEF and www.uinet.com/sharedcleanenergycredit
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NON-FEASIBLE SOLAR SELF-ATTESTATION FORM A non-feasible solar form is available for customers that wish to qualify for a SCEF subscription as a customer who cannot install on-site solar. This form must be completed the Electric Account Holder and include the reason property is not suitable for solar.
Customers must provide this in addition to the SEF as proof that their property is not suitable for solar.
WELCOME PACKAGES Each customer enrolled in the SCEF program will receive a “Welcome Package” consisting of electronic and paper notifications informing them that have been selected for a SCEF subscription. These packages contain a letter welcoming the customer to the SCEF Program, the Subscriber’s Summary Contract and the Program Terms and Conditions, as well as direction for the customer to visit the respective EDC website for additional information including the Subscriber Rider.
CONTENT ON EDC WEBSITES Each EDC has a landing page within each of their respective websites that contains information about the SCEF Program. Information on the website is targeted for current and prospective SCEF subscribers and includes:
· General information about the SCEF Program, · The potential SCEF bill credit and benefit/value to customers, · How customers can qualify for a SCEF subscription and information on the customer enrollment
process, · Access to the online Subscriber Enrollment Form (online form and fillable PDF), · Subscriber Information (SCEF Rider and Subscriber Terms and Conditions) · Information for solar developers and partners (one-pager and the Non-Feasible Solar Self-
Attestation Customer Form)
CUSTOMER CARE/CALL CENTER TRAININGS The EDCs Customer Care/Call Center representatives are trained to provide basic information to customers about the SCEF Program, the SCEF bill credit and benefit to customers, how customers can be qualified and potentially enrolled in the program and how subscribers can terminate their subscription or transfer their subscription to a new service account in the event of a move. More complex SCEF questions will be directed to the SCEF program team.
5.2 SUBSCRIBER AWARENESS OUTREACH CAMPAIGNS
The following section summarizes the outreach campaigns the EDCs will implement to ensure the SCEF program is fully subscribed.
OPT-OUT SUBSCRIBER AWARENESS CAMPAIGN The EDCs will run basic awareness campaigns for eligible SCEF customers by including educational content about SCEF within materials and communications promoting other utility programs and services. Additionally, the campaigns will include information to mitigate potential consumer protection concerns
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related to an opt-out program structure. The campaigns may include information about SCEF in promotional emails, postcards and/or webinars50 sent to eligible customer classes to introduce the SCEF Program, its benefits and how a customer may be enrolled in the program. The EDCs will primarily leverage electronic communications to customers whenever feasible for these awareness campaigns to minimize administrative and marketing costs. The EDCs will periodically evaluate the effectiveness of these campaigns and will adjust tactics and mediums as necessary.
OPT-IN SUBSCRIBER AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS In addition to the subscriber awareness campaigns for the opt-out eligible customer categories, the EDCs will implement awareness campaigns for customers eligible for a voluntary enrollment SCEF subscription.
The EDCs will focus most of the initial outreach to opt-in subscribers in the three-month period before the first SCEF’s estimated in-service date. These campaigns will target customers that are identified in the EDCs databases as potential voluntary enrollment customers or solar developers. The EDCs will host at minimum two (2) informational webinars, one targeted at state, municipal and commercial customers and a second for solar developers. Each webinar will inform attendees on how they may complete a Subscriber Enrollment Form for a voluntary enrollment SCEF subscription.51
The goal of the initial campaigns will be to receive and verify a target number of opt-in SCEF applications.52 Eligible applicants will be put on a waitlist for enrollment. If the initial target number of applications is not achieved, the EDCs will conduct additional opt-in subscriber campaigns following the initial campaigns until the application goal is reached. Once the application goal is achieved, the EDCs will only conduct additional outreach if number of customers on the waitlist falls below a certain number of applicants or at the request of stakeholders.
5.3 ENGAGEMENT THROUGH PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS
COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY (“CAA”) ENGAGEMENT Community Action Agencies will be provided with copies of the SCEF one-pager and Subscriber Enrollment Form to provide to their clients. These materials may be used to educate customers about the SCEF Program and share information with customers on how they could be considered for program enrollment. Customers who are not eligible for energy assistance through the CAA would be directed to complete a SEF through Operation Fuel or their EDC to be income-verified and considered for a SCEF subscription. Depending on the willingness of the CAA and their capacity, some CAAs may also assist customers in completing the SEF.
50 Materials and tactics used for each campaign may be determined individually by each EDC. 51 Webinars will be posted online and be made available to customers on an ongoing basis. 52 The EDCs will initially target 500 Opt-In SCEF applicants, and only conduct additional outreach if the number of applicants on the waitlist falls below 200. This is an initial estimate of the number of opt-in subscriptions the EDCs will have available, the EDCs may revise this target based on the total available opt-in subscriptions for the SCEFs that enter service.
OPERATION FUEL ENGAGEMENT The EDCs contract with Operation Fuel to provide income verification services to identify moderate-income customers whose incomes are within the income limits of the SCEF program. Operation Fuel will income verify customers who have not qualified for utility program assistance but may be eligible for the SCEF Program as a Moderate-Income Customer. This engagement process is consistent with the proposed processes in Section 2.1.1 for Customer Identification in Appendix C and will allow the EDCs capture moderate-income customers for enrollment in the SCEF program.
CAA AND OPERATION FUEL TRAININGS The EDCs will provide the CAAs and Operation Fuel with resources and training on the SCEF program. The trainings with the CAAs are provided as part of the EDCs’ annual income-eligible energy program trainings which typically occur prior to the start of the winter moratorium. In addition, the SCEF Program managers for each EDC are available to answer any questions the CAAs have about the SCEF Program at any point, outside of regularly scheduled trainings.
The trainings between the EDCs, Operation Fuel and Operation Fuel’s fuel banks will occur bi-annually at minimum. Additional trainings will be provided if requested by fuel banks in Operation Fuel’s network.
Support resources for partner organizations include the educational one-page program collateral and income guidelines for organizations performing direct income verification for the SCEF Program outside of existing program thresholds. For organizations that intend to direct customers to their respective EDC for income verification, they are provided with information to share with clients on how to contact the EDC and complete the application process.
LOW-INCOME SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS The EDCs works with the United Way to identify lists of eligible LISOs. The EDCs may hold webinars to increase LISO awareness of the SCEF Program and will coordinate with the United Way and Connecticut Non-profit Alliance to promote these webinars. The EDCs also present information on the SCEF Program to the Low-Income Energy Advisory Board. Attendees at webinars are directed to the EDCs to confirm whether they are on a list of pre-identified, eligible, LISOs or whether they would need to complete a SEF to become added to the EDC’s qualified LISO lists.
SOLAR DEVELOPERS The EDCs hold training sessions with residential solar developers to educate them about the SCEF Program and opportunities for non-feasible solar customers. The EDCs have extensive lists of solar developers that are active in Connecticut through the Residential Renewable Energy Solutions program. These lists are used to inform developers about the SCEF Program and to recruit developers for online SCEF trainings. Trainings include information about the SCEF Program, how bill credits are calculated, and how solar developers can educate the customer on how to complete the SEF. The EDCs also provide solar developers with the educational one-page program collateral to share with non-feasible solar customers.
Documents / Resources
 |
EVERSOURCE Shared Clean Energy Facility Program [pdf] User Guide Shared Clean Energy Facility Program, Clean Energy Facility Program, Energy Facility Program, Facility Program, Program |