APPRISE - Energy Research



Resource Library Home

• Reports

◊ Usage Reduction

◊ Bill Payment Assistance

◊	Energy Surveys & Policy Analysis

◊ Residential Market

◊	Commercial & Industrial Market

Home Research Areas Research Activities Resource Library Clients Staff Job Opportunities

APPRISE Selected Reports:

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 Impact Report
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 offered LIHEAP recipients arrearage forgiveness and a fixed payment plan in the place of a one-time LIHEAP grant. APPRISE conducted an impact evaluation of this program that assessed whether the program was implemented effectively and whether the program achieved its intended effect on clients.

New Jersey USF Program: Data Tracking System Specifications Report
This report furnishes a draft set of specifications and an implementation plan for the Data Tracking System. The specifications identify the information needed for three purposes: operations, regulatory oversight, and evaluation. The specifications identify the questions or issues addressed in each area, the specific data needed, the potential sources of those data, and the proposed system for data access and reporting. 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 USF Program: Program Process and Impact Evaluation Report
This report provides the findings from APPRISE's process and impact evaluation of the New Jersey Universal Service (USF) Program. The New Jersey USF program provides fixed credits to eligible low-income families to limit electric and gas bills to six percent of household income. APPRISE's 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.

PECO CAP Evaluation Report - Customers with Income Below 50% of the Federal Poverty Level (2006)
PECO Energy 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 Bureau of Consumer Services (BCS) of the Public Utility Commission (PUC) requires that PECO evaluate its Universal Service Programs, and developed standard evaluation questions to guide Universal Services Programs evaluations. APPRISE developed a report to answer the PUC questions and analyze all of PECO’s Universal Services Programs. The PUC also directed PECO to separately address how their Customer Assistance Program (CAP) served customers with income below 50 percent of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). To better meet the needs of this population, PECO implemented three new electric CAP rates in February 2004. This report provides an analysis of the need for the new CAP rates, customer understanding of the CAP, customer perception of the impact of the CAP, and the actual impact of the CAP on bill affordability and customer bill payment.

PECO Energy Universal Services Program Evaluation Report (2006)
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.
This report presents the findings from the 2004-2006 evaluation of PECO's Universal Service Programs. This report examines the design and implementation of these programs, as well as the impact of these programs on affordability, customer payment behavior, utility collections costs, and energy usage.

PG Energy Universal Services and Energy Conservation Programs Evaluation Report (2005)
This report presents findings from the 2005 evaluation of the PG Energy Partners Program (PGEPP). PGEPP provides eligible low-income residential customers with a monthly bill equal to a percentage of income and monthly arrearage forgiveness when bills are paid on time. The report highlights key findings from an analysis of customer data relating to program retention, payments, arrearage forgiveness, write-offs, recertification, collections activities, and usage. It also presents information from a survey of current and past PGEPP participants and non-participants on topics including factors affecting enrollment decisions, the perceived value of program benefits, and customers’ general satisfaction.

PGW Customer Responsibility Program Evaluation Report (2006)
This report presents findings and recommendations from the process and impact evaluation of the Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW) Customer Responsibility Program (CRP). PGW’s CRP assists eligible low-income residential customers to pay their gas bills. Customers receive 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. This report summarizes the results from manager and staff interviews, district office observations, customer interviews, data analysis, and financial analysis. Concluding sections of the report provide payment program design options and recommendations for modifications to program administration and procedures.

PPL Electric Utilities Universal Service Programs Evaluation Report
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. This report presents the results from an evaluation of these programs.

T.W. Phillips Energy Help Fund Evaluation Report
This report presents the findings from the 2004 Evaluation of T.W. Phillips’ Energy Help Fund (EHF) Program. T.W. Phillips’ Energy Help Fund Program is a low-income assistance program designed to help eligible payment-troubled residential customers pay their gas bills. The evaluation included interviews with the program manager, administrator, and staff; interviews with customers who currently participate in the program, who dropped out of the program, and who have not participated in the program; and analysis of customer billing and payment, collections, and terminations data. The program review showed that the EHF is well run and provides extensive contact with program participants. Customers reported that the EHF had a large impact on their ability to pay their energy bills and meet their other needs. Data analysis showed that the EHF helped to increase customer payments and bill coverage rates, but that customers must remain on the program for a complete year to experience the full program benefits, including a reduction in arrearages and a reduction in the rate of service terminations.