APPRISE Survey Research –
Low-Income Energy Efficiency Programs
Ameren Missouri introduced a Community Solar Program for Ameren Missouri electric customers. The program allows participants to subscribe to blocks of power up to one half of their average monthly usage. Customers who subscribe to Community Solar pay a higher price and an additional fee to cover the project’s construction cost. Ameren is interested in creating a new community solar program for low-income households. APPRISE conducted research for Ameren to understand low-income customer interest and demand for a low-income Community Solar program as well as Community Solar participant acceptance of an additional cost to support the program.
California’s large electric utilities conducted a study to understand residential customers’ electricity usage for essential needs, including electricity used to maintain basic health and safety. APPRISE designed and conducted in-depth interviews with low- to moderate-income households to learn how affordability challenges impact electricity usage and household wellbeing. Following those interviews, APPRISE conducted a telephone survey with over 1,000 households to quantify essential electricity needs and uses, including household medical needs and medical device usage.
APPRISE conducted an evaluation of California’s Single-Family Affordable Solar Homes and Multi-Family Affordable Solar Homes programs. The programs provide solar incentives to customers of three investor-owned utilities in California. The programs aim to stimulate the adoption of solar power in affordable housing, improve the quality of affordable housing, increase energy affordability for low-income households, and increase awareness and knowledge of the benefits of solar power among affordable housing occupants and developers. As a subcontractor in this research, APPRISE conducted interviews with the program administrators and conducted surveys with participating homeowners, participating building managers, and nonparticipating building managers.
Colorado’s Governor’s Office of Energy Management and Conservation implemented new energy efficiency initiatives in 2006 to improve the energy efficiency of low-income homes. The initiatives include a First Response Program to provide low-cost, cost-effective energy efficiency measures and education and an E$P Plus Initiative to provide heating system and other appliance replacement. APPRISE provided evaluation research on these new programs and additional research on Colorado’s ongoing E$P weatherization services.
The 2004 Colorado REACh grant developed a comprehensive cooling program to assist Colorado’s low-income households. Local agency partners implemented cooling program services, including equipment installation and client education, and the state LIHEAP office furnished community-wide education and notification services. APPRISE conducted a comprehensive Process and Impact Evaluation of this program.
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 New Hampshire REACh Furnace Cleaning Program aimed to decrease energy usage and reduce home energy insecurity for low-income households in northern New Hampshire by cleaning furnaces and identifying furnaces in need of repair and replacement. Extensive furnace repairs and furnace replacements were also provided in those homes where the need was identified. APPRISE’s evaluation included interviews with program managers, community agency staff, and furnace cleaners; and analysis of the impact of the program on energy usage, energy insecurity, and furnace safety and efficiency indicators.
The goal of the New Hampshire Weatherization Assistance Program Evaluation is to analyze the impact of weatherization activity on energy consumption and individual household energy security as well as the efficacy of the program management and delivery of services. In this project, we provided: an assessment of the implementation of the program; an analysis of the program tracking database; identification of program deficiencies and how they might affect results; a description of how evaluation results may be used for program design and management; development of recommendations; identification of missed opportunities to install measures and why they were missed; and an assessment of the impact of the program on participant energy burden and their perception of energy burden.
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.
This project is a partnership between the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and the New York State Department of Health (NYS DOH). The Pilot seeks to deliver residential healthy homes interventions to 500 households in targeted regions of New York State over a two-year period. The intervention is comprised of energy efficiency/weatherization measures, environmental trigger reduction measures, and home injury prevention measures. The intervention includes in-home visits from energy efficiency professionals and a Registered Nurse, and the assignment of a Community Health Worker to support each household. APPRISE is advising NYSERDA on the evaluation of this initiative and implementing pre/post participant and comparison group surveys to assess the impact of the program on occupant health, comfort, and safety.
Niagara Mohawk’s Low-Income Customer Assistance Program (LICAP) was designed to address the problems of low-income customers who are unable to pay their full energy bills. Payment-troubled customers may receive an affordable payment arrangement, energy use management education, and a variety of energy efficiency services including weatherization and energy efficient appliance replacement. APPRISE conducted Process and Impact Evaluations of this program.
NYSERDA’s EmPower Program provides cost-effective electric reduction measures to low-income households. These measures include lighting and refrigerator replacements, insulation, air sealing, heating system repair and replacement, and health and safety measures. The program provides in-home energy use education to customers to assist them with strategies for managing their energy costs. Participants are also invited to energy-use management and financial management workshops held in communities across the state. APPRISE conducted surveys with EmPower Program participants to assess pre- and post-program energy use and potential opportunities to refine the program. APPRISE conducted surveys with nonparticipants to assess barriers to program participation.
NYSERDA operates multiple programs to support adoption of solar PV and energy storage in New York State. NYSERDA is conducting a study to examine market adoption, balance of system and soft costs, system performance, and equity in the distribution of solar and storage benefits. APPRISE is supporting the development of research questions for the study’s equity framework, implementing customer surveys to collect income and other data, and conducting analysis of program and other data to assess the distribution of solar benefits to disadvantaged communities.
The Ohio Department of Development, Office of Energy Efficiency, has implemented programs funded by the Universal Service Fund. Participating customers receive cost-effective energy efficiency services and education targeted at reducing electric usage. APPRISE conducted a Process Evaluation of this program. The work included review of all program documents; interviews with program managers, staff, and contractors; observation of service delivery; customer surveys; contractor surveys; and economic analysis of the impacts of the program on Ohio’s economy.
Ohio’s Department of Development, Office of Community Services, was awarded a REACh grant to research how to provide additional resources to low-income weatherization services in a way that addresses the more comprehensive needs of low-income households. These funds were used to assess the in-home environmental health risks for vulnerable individuals, prioritize usage reduction measures to meet the energy and health needs of vulnerable individuals, and provide additional measures that enhance the health and safety of the home. The program also established a partnership with vulnerable households to take actions to mitigate the environmental health risks in the home and refer clients to other services that can improve the health of the home and the clients who live there. APPRISE conducted a process and impact evaluation of this project.
Energy efficiency programs have significant impacts in addition to the energy savings they achieve, including economic, environmental, and participant impacts. The Non-Energy Impact (NEI) literature extends back for a few decades, but there are many challenges with the research. While there are hundreds of reports that cover NEIs from energy efficiency programs, many are dated and most do not calculate benefits that are specific to the program and jurisdiction studied. This study aimed to overcome several of these issues by conducting a survey with participants in the program studied; performing rigorous sample design, implementation, weighting, and analysis; obtaining high survey response rates; and providing transparency regarding methods, potential issues, and limitations. The study focused on five specific participant NEIs achieved through one market rate and one low-income energy efficiency program. The winter comfort, summer comfort, health, safety, and noise impacts were measured through three different survey-based approaches, results across approaches were compared, and recommendations were made with respect to the preferred methodology and additional research that is needed.
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.
PPL Electric Utilities (PPL) implemented the Winter Relief Assistance Program (WRAP) in 1984 to help reduce electric bills and improve home comfort for low-income customers. The objectives of the WRAP are to reduce energy usage and bills of low-income customers and to increase low-income customers’ ability to pay their electric bills, resulting in reduced arrearages. The program also aims to increase health, safety, and comfort for low-income occupants; create and maintain partnerships with community based organizations and contractors; and make referrals to other low-income assistance programs. APPRISE conducted a comprehensive Process and Impact evaluation of PPL’s WRAP. The research consisted of administrative interviews, review of program procedures, on-site observation of service delivery, customer interviews, service delivery provider interviews, and usage and payment impact analyses.
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.
Sacramento Municipal Utility District’s (SMUD) Low Income Weatherization Program provides no-cost energy services to qualified low-income residential customers. The goals of the program are to reduce electric bills, improve safety and comfort, provide energy education to reduce usage and lower bills, and partner with contractors and community organizations in providing these services. APPRISE’s comprehensive evaluation included needs assessment, interviews with program administrators and contractors, a participant survey, on-site inspections of completed jobs, and billing analysis to measure the impacts on energy usage.
UGI’s Low-Income Usage Reduction Program (LIURP) provides no-cost energy efficiency services to low-income customers in its service territory. APPRISE conducted a Process and Impact Evaluation of this program. The research included review and assessment of program materials and procedures, on-site interviews with UGI managers and staff, in-depth telephone interviews with a sample of program participants, and analysis of the program’s impact on the energy usage of participating customers.