The challenge
E Source has worked with Ameren Illinois since the start of its energy efficiency portfolio in 2008 to assess how well the program offerings perform and how effectively they serve the needs of Ameren Illinois’ electric, gas, and dual-fuel customers. As the only dual-fuel (electric and gas) program administrator in Illinois, Ameren Illinois is uniquely positioned as a program administrator in the state, and E Source works closely to ensure that this unique position is carefully represented in our evaluation efforts. The programs, which provide both electric and gas savings, are comprised of a full suite of residential offerings (including efficient products, low-income weatherization, comprehensive multifamily, and midstream programs), business offerings (including prescriptive, custom, small business, retro-commissioning, and midstream programs), and pilots including market transformation and nonresidential behavioral programs.
The solution
E Source provides a comprehensive suite of evaluation services, including annual evaluation planning and management, program-tracking database review, quantitative and qualitative research, on-site M&V and data collection, net-to-gross research, cost-effectiveness analysis, and engineering and statistical analysis. We also provide regular advising services to Ameren Illinois, including support in program design, stakeholder engagement, evaluation methodology, and framework guidance. As the integrated portfolio has matured, E Source has utilized annual process and impact evaluations of the utility’s residential and nonresidential energy efficiency programs to monitor portfolio health and performance. Additionally, we support Ameren Illinois as they consider new approaches to ensure the success of their portfolio through assistance with the design, implementation, and evaluation of pilots, as well as market studies to support future portfolio objectives.
We are regular participants in two major statewide and multi-utility Illinois forums: the Energy Efficiency Stakeholder Advisory Group, which guides energy efficiency policy, and the Illinois Technical Advisory Committee, which makes annual updates to the Illinois TRM. In both groups, our team is frequently asked to lead stakeholder discussions on subjects ranging from how to best assess market effects to the refinement of protocols for net-to-gross analysis.
In addition to these annual process and impact evaluations, E Source regularly conducts targeted studies to support Ameren’s portfolio design and delivery. Examples of specific support E Source has provided for Ameren Illinois as part of this engagement that have led directly to programmatic improvements include the following:
- Societal non-energy impact research to support annual cost-effectiveness testing and planning
- Market studies focused on ensuring that the Ameren Illinois portfolio is effectively serving disadvantaged customers.
- Partnerships research to assess the effectiveness of the Ameren Illinois Market Development Initiative
- Net-to-gross review and research
The results
Our engagement with Ameren Illinois is large in scale; E Source manages an evaluation budget of over $3.5 million annually and a team of subcontractors to ensure that planned evaluation activities are completed, Ameren Illinois’ needs are met, and an ad-hoc budget is available to ensure that any emerging evaluation needs can be serviced. Throughout this engagement, we have a perfect track record of meeting annual statutory reporting deadlines for Ameren Illinois and complying with all negotiated policy requirements for evaluation efforts, which include but are not limited to required deadlines for annual evaluation plans, impact evaluation reports, cost-effectiveness analysis, TRM update efforts, and regulatory testimony to support Ameren’s cost recovery.