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| APPRISE Projects: |
| Low-Income Bill Payment Assistance Program Research and Evaluation |
Colorado Low-Income Energy Assistance Delivery Study APPRISE conducted research to assist the Colorado’s Governor’s Commission on Low-Income Energy Assistance to develop recommendations to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the state’s low-income energy assistance services. The research included analysis of American Community Survey data, the Colorado LIHEAP database, and the Energy Outreach Colorado database; review and assessment of current LIHEAP procedures and implementation; surveys with participating and non-participating low-income households; and interviews with program managers at the state and agency level. |
| Illinois Percent of Income Payment Plan Evaluation The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) has designed the Percent of Income Payment Plan (PIPP) pilot to help low-income households maintain energy service throughout the year and reduce the health and safety risks associated with energy service disruption. The PIPP program will offer LIHEAP recipients arrearage forgiveness and a fixed payment plan in the place of a one-time LIHEAP grant. It will also test the effectiveness of offering of weatherization and energy conservation, as well as counseling and education services to program participants. Since this program will serve as a model for a statewide program, it is important for HFS to have information on the appropriateness of the program development, the effectiveness of the program implementation, and the program impact on participating clients and the participating utility. APPRISE is conducting a process and impact evaluation of this program that will assess whether the program was implemented effectively and whether the program achieved its intended effect on clients. |
New Jersey Universal Service Fund Data Tracking System Evaluation The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) created the Universal Service Fund (USF) to help low- and fixed-income residents pay for electric and natural gas service. The BPU staff is responsible for developing policies and procedures for implementation of the USF program. As part of those responsibilities, the staff is developing a Data Tracking System that can furnish the information that the BPU needs to manage and evaluate the effectiveness of the USF program. APPRISE developed a draft set of specifications and an implementation plan for the USF Data Tracking System. The specifications identify the information needed for three purposes: operations, regulatory oversight, and evaluation. The implementation plan identifies the process by which detailed specifications will be developed and the schedule for implementing different components of the Data Tracking System. |
New Jersey Universal Service Fund Process and Impact Evaluation The New Jersey Universal Service Fund (USF) program provides fixed credits to eligible low-income families to limit electric and gas bills to six percent of household income. APPRISE conducted a process and impact evaluation of this program. This evaluation provided information on the benefits and costs of the USF program and alternatives for program design and operations. Program evaluation research consisted of administrative interviews, client surveys, program and utility data analysis, and financial data analysis. |
| New Jersey SHARES Evaluation (2006, 2007, 2008) The New Jersey Statewide Heating Assistance and Referral for Energy Services (NJ SHARES) is an nonprofit corporation organized to provide assistance to individuals and families living in New Jersey who are in need of temporary help paying their energy bills. APPRISE conducts an annual impact evaluation of the New Jersey SHARES program. The evaluation includes analysis of administrative and utility data to assess the program's impact on maintenance of electric and gas service and energy bill payment. APPRISE also serves as an advisor to the NJ SHARES Board of Directors and has provided evaluation services for the organization for the past several years. Previous evaluations have included interviews with grant recipients and provider agencies. |
PECO Universal Services Program Evaluation PECO Energy has implemented a set of Universal Services Programs to meet requirements set by Pennsylvania’s electric and gas restructuring legislation and various Public Utility Commission orders and agreements. The Universal Services Programs include a CAP payment assistance program, a LIURP usage reduction program, a CARES assistance program, and a hardship fund. APPRISE conducted the 2006 evaluation of PECO’s Universal Services Programs. The scope of work included preparation of the Universal Services Programs evaluation, technical assistance on issues with respect to indigent residential customers, financial analysis of the impact of the Universal Services Programs on PECO Energy, and support to ensure that the Universal Services Programs process is in compliance with PUC regulations. |
PG Energy Universal Services and Energy Conservation Programs Evaluation
PG Energy implemented their Customer Assistance Program (CAP), called the PG Energy Partners Program (PGEPP), to assist eligible low-income residential customers to pay their gas bills and reduce arrearages. Participating households pay a monthly bill that equals a percentage of their income, and receive monthly arrearage forgiveness when bills are paid on time and in full. APPRISE evaluated this program to determine how to increase efficiency of administration and to measure the impacts of the program on affordability, bill payment, collections activity, and gas usage.
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| PGW Customer Responsibility Program Evaluation Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW) Customer Responsibility Program (CRP) assists eligible low-income residential customers to pay their gas bills. The customer receives a monthly payment that relates to a percentage of annual income, as well as arrearage forgiveness when bills are paid on time and in full. APPRISE conducted a Process and Impact evaluation of this program. Research included review of program documentation, interviews with program managers and staff, observation of program enrollment, customer interviews, and analysis of the impact of the program on affordability, payments, bill coverage, collections activity, terminations, and gas usage.
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| PPL Electric Utilities 2008 Universal Services Program Evaluation PPL Electric Utilities (PPL) implemented Universal Service Programs to help low-income customers maintain electric service and protect customers’ health and safety. The programs include the OnTrack program which provides reduced payments and arrearage forgiveness, WRAP which provides energy efficiency and energy education services, CARES which provides outreach and referral services, and Operation Help which provides emergency assistance. APPRISE conducted an evaluation of the performance and impact of these programs.
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T.W. Phillips Energy Help Fund Evaluation T.W. Phillips established a customer assistance program called the Energy Help Fund (EHF) as part of its Universal Services Programs. The EHF provides low-income customers with rate discounts and arrearage forgiveness. APPRISE conducted a Process and Impact Evaluation of the program. The evaluation included administrative interviews, customer surveys, and analysis of payment and program data. |
Verizon Communications Lifeline Program Evaluation Verizon's Communications Lifeline Program provides discounted telephone service to low-income customers in New Jersey. NJ SHARES has been retained by Verizon to conduct outreach for the program by providing information about the program at workshops around the state. NJ SHARES is also assisting Verizon customers with near matches of Verizon account information data and eligible program participation data to enroll in the program. NJ SHARES is attempting to enroll these customers by sending out letters, fielding response phone calls, and calling customers who do not respond to the letters. APPRISE conducted an evaluation to assess the efforts that NJ SHARES has made toward increasing enrollment in this program. The evaluation included background research, database analysis, call center observations, customer interviews, successful enrollment analysis, program penetration research, and a detailed procedures review. |