The challenge
Energy efficiency is a critical component of North Indiana Public Service Company’s (NIPSCO) integrated resource plans and supports its customer service efforts. NIPSCO has provided energy efficiency programs to its residential and commercial customers for well over a decade and must measure and report on program processes, impacts, and cost-effectiveness annually.
The solution
E Source has led NIPSCO’s EM&V contract since 2019. As part of this engagement, E Source leads a team of subcontractors to provide impact and process evaluation services for a portfolio of 12 residential and 6 commercial energy efficiency programs. These programs include Home Energy Assessment (like City Light Whole Home Energy), Income Qualified Weatherization (like City Light HomeWise), Multifamily, and Home Energy Reports programs. In addition, E Source conducts tracking data reviews and demographic analysis.
The results
E Source strategizes with NIPSCO annually to prioritize and plan evaluation activities, considering prior years’ evaluations and longer-term evaluation needs. The result is a comprehensive, portfolio-focused evaluation strategy to meet commission, stakeholder, and NIPSCO program needs. The evaluation team also provides annual reports that present considerable data and analysis (e.g., engineering algorithms, statistical models, research approaches) in a digestible, accurate format. NIPSCO uses the results to refine program design and savings estimates year-over-year.