Program Details

IES Cycle 4 Priority Theme: Residential Affordability

Innovative Cycle 4 projects should ideally align with the Residential Affordability priority theme.

Residential Affordability provides cost-effective, reliable energy solutions that ease financial burdens for households. Projects under this theme will showcase equitable access to innovative grid technologies and pricing models that keep energy affordable for all residential customers.

Smart Energy Communities themed projects include, but are not limited to:

Other innovation opportunities for Cycle 4 of the IES Program include the priorities identified in Connecticut’s Equitable Modern Grid Framework:

• Energy Affordability 
• Advance metering infrastructure 
• Electric Storage 
• Zero Emission Vehicles 
• Interconnection Standards and Practices 
• Non-wire alternatives 
• Resiliency and Reliability Standards and Programs 
• Distributed Energy Resources Analysis and Program Reviews 
• Building Blocks of Resource Adequacy and Clean Electric Supply 
• New rate designs 

Program Cycles

Eligibility & Scoring Criteria

Phase 1: In order to move on to Phase 2 of the IES Program, projects will need to pass the below criteria. In case of an unexpectedly large volume of applications, IES Program evaluators will prioritize projects based on (1) description completeness, (2) impacts to underserved communities, and (3) innovation potential. Projects in underrepresented topic areas may be favored to offer a variety of innovative energy solutions under the IES Program. Ideally, each cycle will include projects under all participation pathways that fulfill the following objectives:

• Avoids potential EDC competitive advantage
• Avoids potential unreasonable ratepayer impact
• Advances decarbonization goals
• Approved (or will be approved within 30 days of selection) for Connecticut business practice
• Is innovative and/or addresses gaps in current Connecticut EDC offerings
• Addresses underserved communities (See Environmental Justice Communities Map and Distressed Municipalities List for reference)

Phase 2: Projects will be scored according to the following criteria and ranked by category and/or pathway, and voted upon to determine which projects are recommended to PURA to move forward into Phase 3 deployment:

• Relevance: The project must relate to electricity service delivery in Connecticut.
• Innovation: Projects must test a product, service, or business model that is not widely used in the Connecticut utility market.  Projects should be able to scale or serve as a model for future adoption.
• Readiness: The applicant must demonstrate their preparation and readiness for testing their product or service in a live environment. Testing plans must be well-developed and have clear objectives and measures. The tools and resources required to enable pilot testing must be in place at the time of application.
• Economic Benefit: Projects should have a positive impact on the Connecticut economy and ultimately reduce costs for Connecticut electricity customers.
• Cost-Effectiveness: Projects must identify expected costs and benefits to customers, EDCs, and non-participant utility customers.
• Programmatic or Market Gaps: Applicants will be expected to demonstrate how their project addresses one or more gaps in the market and provides clear additionality over existing EDC investments.
• Equity: Participants will be required to develop a credible action plan for prioritizing underserved communities within project implementation. The IES program will require proposals to prioritize hiring and working with vendors from underserved communities wherever possible.

Once Phase 2 applications are received, the Program Administration team and IAC members will rank projects in accordance with their scores and submit a portfolio of recommended projects to PURA. PURA will review the Program Administration team and IAC’s recommended portfolio, request additional information from Phase 2 applicants if needed, and submit a decision on projects eligible for Phase 3 deployment.

Phase 3: PURA-approved projects will conduct their deployment and data collection/reporting according to agreed-upon Project Implementation Tracking Plan.

Phase 4: To inform PURA’s scaling recommendation, ex post assessment of project process and impacts, including quantification of energy and environmental impacts, cost-effectiveness assessment, details around customer experience (if applicable), and other quantitative/qualitative outcomes as deemed appropriate jointly by the project owner and Program Administrator. In addition to the criteria outlined below, there may be additional project-specific criteria, as identified in the Project Implementation Tracking Plan performance metrics:

• Project performance:
  • Cost effectiveness test
  • Cost containment (i.e., under cap in total, under cap at each stage)
  • Achievement of quantitative metrics
  • Achievement of project goals
  • Customer experience (which could include customers, but also vendors, contractors, and stakeholders, if applicable)
  • Project execution
• Economic Development/Job creation:
  • New jobs created
  • New areas of work created
• DEI Metrics:
  • Underserved communities targeted
  • Provides non-energy benefits to underserved communities
• Scalability:
  • Overall project scalability potential
  • Impact on DEI communities if scaled
  • Impact on jobs if scaled
  • Impact on GHG emissions reductions if scaled