B. Program History

The following identifies changes to the energy efficiency program measures and incentives for each program throughout the course of the pilot program implementation.

1. Business Programs:

Table 2. Business Programs History

2009 2010 2011 2012

participation goal $25,000 for 60%

participation goal $25,000 for 60%

participation goal

Audit Not applicable Free energy audit and direct Staffing Grant Not applicable

Municipality-employed energy

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Not applicable $25,000 for 60%

participation goal $25,000 for 60%

participation goal

Energy Review Not applicable Not applicable $50 energy audit and direct install

Not applicable Not applicable

Lighting Staffing Grant Not applicable Not applicable

Municipality-employed energy

Financing Not applicable Not applicable Never initiated Never initiated Community

Participation

Reward Not applicable Not applicable $25,000 for 60%

participation goal

$25,000 awarded for 100% of 60%

participation goal Table 3. Business Programs Timeline

Program Brillion Allouez Plover

Start

applicable July 2011 November 2012 Staffing October December October December July 2011 December

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The Small Business Audit Program remained unchanged through its duration in Brillion and Allouez with the exception of adding two (2) direct install lighting measures in February 2012.

However, the Program underwent two (2) changes when launched in Plover: a $50 fee and a new name, Business Energy Review Program. Introducing the fee conveyed a value to the audit and gauged customer acceptance. The fee was not well received by businesses and was dropped by January 2012. The new program name better aligned with the Home Energy Review Program name to convey to customers the unity between the two programs.The main achievement of the program proved to be the energy advisor’s one-on-one interaction and personal approach with the business customer. This interaction engaged customers to complete installations that may not have been accomplished without the energy advisor. Challenges included business customer skepticism (offer is too good to be true) and lack of interest in the program voiced by customers when talking with the energy advisor.

The Enhanced Business Incentives Program implemented changes due to demand for some measures, lack of interest for others, and to align the measures between all the communities. As of January 2012, all commercial lighting incentives offers were the same in the three (3)

communities. The City of Brillion initially offered incentives for variable frequency drives and a multiple measure bonus, both of which ended due to limited participation by October 2010 and coincident with the Allouez program roll out. Brillion and Allouez offered a commercial refrigerator and freezer door gasket incentive, which garnered participation and therefore was offered in Plover. In April 2012, all three (3) communities offered a PC Network Energy Management System measure to address the growing market of PC networking. Also in April 2012, the custom measure redesign addressed low participation rates, thus the introduction of the three (3)-tier design approach. Each tier offered a different incentive structure, with the highest incentive at the Tier 3 level. To establish a sense of urgency, each tier contained a period in which the project had to be submitted. The Tier III project submission deadline was June 30, 2012, Tier II was September 30, 2012, and Tier I was December 31, 2012. The custom incentive redesign was the greatest achievement, processing 48 applications totaling more than $406,000 in incentives. The greatest challenge was obtaining participation from schools and businesses the PC Network Energy Management measure.

The Staffing Grant Program experienced the most changes and subsequent success of all the business programs. By December 31, 2011, the original program had no participation and the communities showed a lack of interest. Despite a grant amount of $80,000, the communities did not have the additional budget needed to sustain the position or fund the position for any portion of goal underachievement, nor the infrastructure to oversee a position. In the first quarter of 2012, the program changed to a student internship. The new design granted a summer

internship to college students pursuing energy- or building-related fields of study the opportunity to perform audits and analyses on municipal buildings and schools within each of the

communities, as well as to prepare final reports on the data gathered and lessons learned. The program was expected to assist the communities with energy management planning, however resulted in the immediate adoption of many of the recommended efficiency improvements (one of which, Brillion High School, had an estimated annual savings of over $7700). A Focus on Energy energy advisor mentored the students throughout the internship. The program provided

FINAL REPORT WPS Community Pilot Programs

internships to four (4) students attending Northeast Wisconsin Technical College for Allouez, two (2) students attending the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point for Plover, and one (1) Brillion High School graduated senior, planning to attend St. Norbert College for Brillion.

Despite initial interest by lending institutions and face-to-face contacts made by a program liaison in Brillion, the Community Supported Financing Program was eliminated because no businesses applied for community supported financing, nor was there much of a push by the lending institutions. In Allouez, despite some interest by local financial institutions, the program did not appropriately engage corporate support and the program was rejected. The program did not fully launch in Plover. In January 2012, all three (3) communities eliminated the program, redirecting budget dollars to the Enhanced Business Incentives Program.

The Community Participation Reward Program set a goal of 60 percent participation for all citizens in each community in the iCanConserve, WPS Territory-Wide, or Focus on Energy programs by December 31, 2012 in exchange for a reward of $25,000 to be used for an energy efficiency project benefiting the community. Plover met their goal in December 2011, in large part due to business owner and homeowner participation in new WPS rates. Unlike Brillion and Allouez, the new rates in Plover were mandated, with customers being placed on the new rate and required to opt out to return to their old rate. If a customer remained on the new rate for a minimum of six (6) months, their rate option counted toward the participation goal. Plover used the full reward amount toward energy efficient LED outdoor lighting at Woyak Sports Complex and their Village Hall. The project ended in October 2012 with an unveiling event held for the community. By December 31 2012, neither Brillion nor Allouez met their goal; however, all program stakeholders agreed to offer a reward amount equal to their percent towards the goal participation rate multiplied by $25,000. Brillion received a $16,000 reward and Allouez received a $21,000 reward. Brillion chose to use the reward for LED street lighting and Allouez used the reward for LED pathway lighting at Green Isle Park. Both projects are scheduled to be completed by the spring of 2013. Plover’s attainment of the 60 percent goal is the program’s greatest achievement while coaxing Brillion participation through 2012 is the greatest challenge.

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