RESOURCE LIBRARY
APPRISE Projects
Low-Income Usage Reduction Program Research & Evaluation
Many low-income usage reduction programs are facing increasing challenges serving customers due to the prevalence of health and safety problems that prevent major measures from being installed. As a result of serious issues in the home, customers must be deferred or are treated with only minor services, and high-usage customers with good potential for savings do not participate or only achieve low energy savings. This research assessed the circumstances under which additional cost-effective health and safety spending can be invested to achieve greater savings for low-income customers and the program as a whole.
Duquesne Light has a Low-Income Usage Reduction Program (LIURP) that provides energy efficiency services to higher-usage low-income customers. APPRISE has provided weather-normalization of Duquesne Light’s LIURP program for the 2013 through 2016 program years for their submission to the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission. The evaluations found lower savings in 2016 than in previous years for both Electric Baseload and Electric Heating jobs. Duquesne Light asked APPRISE to provide an analysis of their LIURP data to provide more information on potential causes for the lower 2016 savings and to make recommendations for increasing energy savings. Recommendations included serving higher users, allowing a higher average job cost with measure selection based on pre-treatment usage, and additional blower door testing.
Duquesne Light has a Low-Income Usage Reduction Program (LIURP) to help low-income customers reduce their energy usage and increase their energy affordability. APPRISE conducted annual impact evaluations of this program for the 2014-2021 program years. The work included estimation of the weather-normalized electric savings for customers who heat with electricity and for customers who heat with other fuels.
Energy Outreach Colorado (EOC) administers and implements Low-Income Energy Efficiency Programs for the utilities in Colorado. Their Nonprofit Energy Efficiency Program (NEEP) provides whole building custom energy efficiency upgrades for nonprofit organizations serving low-income communities. APPRISE conducted an evaluation of this program to estimate the impacts of energy efficiency on energy usage and to assess the non-energy impacts of the program.
FirstEnergy has a Low-Income Usage Reduction Program (LIURP) to help low-income customers reduce their energy usage and increase their energy affordability. APPRISE is conducting the annual impact evaluations of this program. The research includes estimation of the weather-normalized electric savings and reporting on program outcomes.
First State CAA implemented a heating replacement and energy conservation program for the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services from 2015 to 2020. The Repair Replace Heaters and Conserving Energy (RRHACE) program was designed to assess the needs of low-income households and to deliver a customized set of services, including heating equipment assessment and services, Healthy Homes assessment and services, and energy education. Beginning in 2016, APPRISE completed multiple Process Evaluations to assess program procedures and identify challenges and opportunities as the program developed. APPRISE also conducted an impact evaluation to assess how client energy usage changed after participating in the program. In addition to evaluation activities, APPRISE created a Data Tracking System to allow First State staff to document program activities for performance measurement.
The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development’s (DHCD) EmPOWER Limited-Income Programs install energy efficiency measures and perform related repairs to help participants reduce energy usage and improve their health and safety. APPRISE is providing consulting services on the Single-Family Low-Income Energy Efficiency Program (LIEEP) and the Multi-Family Energy Efficiency and Housing Affordability Program (MEEHA). The work scope includes advising DHCD on the design and delivery of these programs, reviewing DHCD’s proposed plans, reviewing cost-effectiveness inputs and assumptions, and assessing performance metrics.
The 2021 Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) Working Group was created by the Department of Commerce in Minnesota to make legislative recommendations to increase the number of low-income Minnesota households served by WAP and explore ways to leverage existing funding and identify new funding sources for weatherization. The WAP Working Group contracted with the University of Minnesota to conduct a research study to inform their recommendations. APPRISE contributed to this research by providing a report that characterizes WAP funding and programs, identifies other low- and moderate-income energy efficiency programs in Minnesota and around the country, and makes recommendations for expansion of Minnesota’s WAP.
National Fuel Gas’ (NFG) LIURP provides no-cost energy efficiency services to low-income customers to reduce energy usage, provide health and safety improvements, and increase the affordability of natural gas bills. APPRISE is conducting a process evaluation of this program to help NFG expand the delivery and reach of its LIURP services. The study includes in-depth interviews with NFG managers and staff, in-depth interviews with service providers, a needs assessment, surveys with LIURP participants and nonparticipants, and recommendations to reach NFG’s participation and budget goals.
The Comfort Partners Program is a statewide collaborative utility residential low-income program, providing joint delivery of services through electric and gas utilities. Participating customers receive direct installation of energy efficiency measures, energy education, and payment plans aimed to reduce arrearages. APPRISE conducted a comprehensive evaluation of this program, including a Process Evaluation and analysis of the program’s data tracking system, the comprehensiveness of service delivery, and the impacts on energy usage and bill payment.
The NJ Comfort Partners Program provides no-cost energy efficiency services to low-income utility customers throughout the state. APPRISE conducted a comprehensive evaluation of this program. The Data Tracking Research assessed the comprehensiveness, sufficiency, and accuracy of the program database. The Process Evaluation included review and assessment of materials and procedures; interviews with utility managers; interviews and on-site observations at service delivery contractors; on-site observation of audits, installations, and third party inspections; and post-completion inspections of program installations. The Affordability Evaluation included a telephone survey with program participants and analysis of the program’s impact on affordability of energy bills and participation in the NJ Universal Service Fund program. The Impact Evaluation included analysis of program data, engineering impact analysis, usage impact analysis, and savings realization analysis. The Energy Savings Protocols Research included review and assessment of protocols currently in use to estimate program savings.
The NJ Comfort Partners Program provides no-cost energy efficiency services to low-income utility customers throughout the state. The 2017 evaluation reviewed program changes that were made since the 2013 evaluation, estimated energy savings with a billing analysis, reviewed and made recommendations for changes to the Energy Saving Protocols, and conducted targeted participant telephone interviews and on-site inspections of completed jobs. The evaluation found improved energy savings and recommended additional program refinements to further increase savings achieved through the program.
The NJ Comfort Partners Program provides no-cost energy efficiency services to low-income utility customers throughout the state. The 2020 evaluation reviewed program changes that were made since the 2017 evaluation, estimated energy savings with a billing analysis, reviewed and recommended changes to the Energy Saving Protocols, and conducted a cost-effectiveness analysis.
The New Jersey Comfort Partners Seniors Pilot extends Comfort Partners weatherization services to seniors in Monroe Township, New Jersey, with incomes above the guidelines for the Comfort Partners Program. APPRISE conducted an Impact Evaluation of this program. The evaluation measured the electric usage reduction that resulted from the program.
The purpose of this research was to furnish the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) and the New Jersey Clean Energy Council with detailed documentation of the existing weatherization programs in New Jersey and estimates of the usage reduction impacts of the NJ WAP. The analysis addressed the differences and similarities between the program models and the rationale for each program’s design. The evaluation also provided impact results for two agencies that provide WAP services in New Jersey. This information was designed to help the BPU and the Clean Energy Council assess which model might be most appropriate for a ratepayer-funded low-income usage reduction program.
PECO’s Low-Income Usage Reduction Program (LIURP) provides energy efficiency services and energy education to PECO’s low-income customers to reduce their energy usage and increase the affordability of their energy bills. The LIURP evaluations estimate the impact of LIURP on participants’ energy usage, energy bills, and payment compliance; and survey customers to analyze the impact of energy education and program satisfaction. Evaluations also include observations of audits on a sample of jobs. This research provides information on potential changes to program services and implementation that may lead to increased program savings.
PGW’s Home Comfort Program provides no-cost comprehensive weatherization treatments to selected high-usage PGW customers. APPRISE’s annual evaluations estimate energy savings, assess savings achieved by individual contractors and energy efficiency measures, and analyze bill savings. Evaluations have included analysis of client targeting; interviews with program managers and implementation contractors; and review of inspection reports to identify how PGW can improve the program’s efficiency and effectiveness.
PSE&G implemented a low-income multi-family smart thermostat pilot program in their New Jersey service territory in 2018. The program installed Nest, Honeywell, and Ecobee thermostats in 943 units within 16 projects, half of which also received a network solution for connectivity. APPRISE conducted a comprehensive evaluation of this pilot program. This research included market characterization to assess the potential for expanded implementation; interviews with property managers, implementation staff, and building managers; a quantitative survey with program participants; and a usage impact analysis to estimate the impact of the program on electric and gas usage.