Table 24 contains the status of each PY4 process recommendation made to PPL Electric.
Table 24. Status Report for Process Evaluations
Recommendations
EDC Status Report for Process Evaluations (Implemented, Being Considered, Rejected AND
Explanation of Action Taken by EDC) Residential Efficient Equipment
Leverage existing PPL marketing and outreach to
promote the additional rebates and incentives Implemented. Expansion being considered for Phase 2.
19 At the time this report was prepared, PPL Electric was considering a change that requires non‐residential customers to obtain pre‐approval of their project before purchasing their equipment. That should further reduce freeridership.
Recommendations
EDC Status Report for Process Evaluations (Implemented, Being Considered, Rejected AND
Explanation of Action Taken by EDC)
through this channel PPL provided information/marketing materials about other programs to participants in the Phase 1 appliance recycling program. For Phase 2, PPL has expanded the role of its E‐Power Team to provide more face‐to‐face marketing, including information about PPL's Ph 2 programs. PPL will consider expanding this recommendation for Phase 2 if it helps to achieve marketing (and savings) objectives at a lower program cost. This recommendation is specific to the following conclusion from PPL's evaluator: "Only 28% of [residential] program participants were aware of other PPL energy conservation rebates or incentives." That conclusion may be true but the type and extent of marketing must be closely matched to the desired savings objectives (i.e. actual progress compared to goal).
The budget for most programs (and the portfolio) was fully subscribed by the end of Phase 1 and PPL's Phase 1 savings were 50% greater than the compliance target.
Therefore, additional marketing and outreach would not have provided a benefit and may have caused programs to go dark before the end of Phase 1 (would have reached full funding too early).
Because the specifications for TVs change so rapidly, PPL Electric should ensure that the models for which incentives are being offered in Phase 2 are a step ahead of standard specifications to reduce freeridership
Implemented. PPL's approved Ph 2 EE&C Plan includes a mid‐stream delivery channel for television rebates. PPL agrees with its evaluator's conclusion that "Maintaining a high NTG ratio will depend on the ability to influence retailers to carry more high‐efficiency models (possibly multiple tiers above the standard) than they would have without the incentive. Maintaining an understanding of the rapidly changing market for this measure has proven difficult for other utilities." Therefore, PPL is planning to delete this as an eligible measure because it likely is not practical to ensure the TV models are a step ahead of standard specifications and, therefore, the program would likely have unacceptably high freeridership.
Commercial Efficient Equipment
Consider expanding the Direct Discount program to include measures that are commonly installed by small businesses receiving non‐lighting rebates, where the measure is a good fit with the delivery channel’s structure.
Rejected. Adding these measures to the Direct Discount delivery mechanism would merely "displace" other measures (such as lighting) and, therefore, would not increase total savings (program or portfolio) within the existing funding. In addition, since those additional measures are not more cost‐effective than the measures currently in DD (primarily lighting), the benefit‐cost ratio would likely decline.
Recommendations
EDC Status Report for Process Evaluations (Implemented, Being Considered, Rejected AND
Explanation of Action Taken by EDC) sample of QA/QC site‐visits or phone calls to ensure
projects are going smoothly
with the C&I CSP and corrective actions have been implemented to include QA/QC questions in post inspections. The C&I CSP will address the customers' satisfaction and quality concerns with the specific contractor.
Bring general financial savings information for eligible measures more front‐and‐center on the PPL Electric website
Implemented. Expansion being considered for Phase 2.
In phase 1, PPL used case studies on specific projects by C&I customers (with the customer's permission) in advertising (print, direct mail, digital, broadcast). PPL recently won 1st place for its print ad showing savings for a small business customer. PPL will evaluate this recommendation further for Phase 2 and expand it if necessary to achieve savings objectives within budget.
Providing "too much" information to customers is not necessarily ideal and the level of information/program promotion must be closely matched to the desired savings objectives (i.e. actual progress compared to goal).
Otherwise, programs will go dark (exhaust their funding) too early.
Highlight new Phase 2 measure offerings when working with trade allies and on website and program
brochures Implemented.
Repeat customers with multiple facilities have the opportunity to install the same measure types across multiple locations. PPL key account managers should continue to look for opportunities for their customers to install other measures and apply for rebates.
Implemented.
Limit the time between equipment installation and rebate application by requiring that customers submit their applications within six months after they install (or purchase) their equipment. In Phase 2, PPL has already implemented rules requiring an in‐service date of 6/1/13 or later (installed and operable).
Implemented. PPL's approved Ph 2 EE&C Plan and rebate forms require customers to submit the rebate form within 180 days of installing the measure. In addition, PPL is proposing to change its EE&C Plan by requiring non‐residential customers to get pre‐approval of their application before purchasing the measure.
Establish an internal QC procedure to check variables such as space cooling type, fixture code variables, and building type identification in the PA Lighting
worksheet (TRM Appendix C) used to calculate ex‐ante savings to improve lighting project realization rates.
Implemented. PPL has recommended this additional QA/QC to its C&I CSP who is responsible for non‐
residential lighting. A realization rate as close as possible to 100% will help PPL ensure its reported savings (monitored in near real‐time) are reasonably representative of the verified savings (determined in November each year) that will count toward compliance.