Topic:"Low Income Programs" in M11630

1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY - EfficiencyOne ("E1") delivers demand side management ("DSM") programs and is the - administrator and operator of the Efficiency Nova Scotia ("ENS") franchise. The 2023 Annual - Progress Report ("APR") summarizes E1's...

AI summary EfficiencyOne (E1) reports on its 2023 progress toward DSM targets set by the NSUARB, including energy and peak demand savings. The 2023-2025 plan, approved with a $173M investment, requires achieving four performance targets. E1 achieved 32% of its energy savings goal and 35% of its peak demand savings goal in 2023, forecasting full target achievement by 2025.

3. 2023 PORTFOLIO RESULTS - In comparison to E1's 2023 mid-course targets, E1 achieved the following results: - 131.6 GWh of incremental annual net energy savings (109% of the mid-course adjusted target of 120.7 GWh); - 27.6 MW of annual n...

AI summary E1 exceeded 2023 mid-course energy efficiency targets by 109% for net energy savings and 103% for peak demand savings, driven by strong campaign performance and the Canada Greener Homes Grant. The Residential Behaviour program was delayed until 2024, while New Home Construction met targets. Affordability programs achieved 65% of their energy savings goals.

Table 1: 2023 Results to 2023 Plan as Approved, 2023 Mid-Course Adjustments, and 2023 Year-End Forecast 2023 Low-Income 2 10.3 121.4 2.2 11.3 10.5 129.2 2.2 10.6 10.2 127.7 2.5 8.3 8.8 102.7 2.4 6.7 Efficient Product Rebates 35.3 525.5 6.7...

AI summary Table 1 provides a comparison of 2023 results against the 2023 plan, mid-course adjustments, and year-end forecasts for various energy efficiency programs, including low-income initiatives, efficient product rebates, business energy rebates, and custom incentives.

2023 Plan as Approved refers to the investment and savings targets as provided in the 2023-2025 DSM Resource Plan Compliance filing. See M10473, 2023-2025 DSM Resource Plan Compliance Filing, Appendix C, Schedule E, at page 40, October 4,...

AI summary The 2023-2025 DSM Resource Plan Compliance filing outlines investment and savings targets, with the NSUARB approving the plan in November 2022. Program status is compared against year-end forecasts and mid-course targets, with variances indicated by color codes. The 2023 year-end forecast is based on E1's Q3 2023 DSM report. Low-income participation and demand response results are highlighted, with some data pending verification.

Table 3: 2023 Unit Cost 2023 First-Year Unit Cost 2023 Plan as Approved ($/kWh) 2023 Mid-Course Adjustment ($/kWh) 2023 Year-End forecast ($/kWh) 2023 Results ($/kWh) Program Status 2 Efficient Product Rebates Appliance Retirement Instant...

AI summary Table 3 outlines the 2023 unit costs for various energy efficiency programs in Nova Scotia, including Efficient Product Rebates, Residential and Low-Income initiatives, and Business, Non-Profit, and Institutional programs. The table includes first-year unit costs, mid-course adjustments, year-end forecasts, and results for each category.

5. 2023 PROGRAM RESULTS - This section provides an overview of 2023 results and activities for E1's Residential and BNI sector - programs including: - evaluation activities; - program results and highlights; - discussion of program varianc...

AI summary This section outlines E1's 2023 program results for Residential and BNI sectors, including evaluation activities, savings outcomes for underserved communities, variance explanations for programs deviating by 25% from mid-course targets, and Enabling Strategies. Program rate class results are detailed in Attachment 1.

2 5.2.2 Existing Residential - 3 The Existing Residential program consists of the following program components: - 4 Affordable Multi-family Housing and Non-Profit Organizations; - 5 Efficient Product Installation; - 6 Green Heat; - 7 Home...

AI summary The Existing Residential program includes components such as Affordable Multi-family Housing, Efficient Product Installation, Green Heat, Home Energy Assessment, Affordable Single-family Homes, the Mi'kmaw Home Energy Efficiency Project, and Residential Behaviour initiatives aimed at enhancing residential energy efficiency.

Affordable Multi-family Housing and Non-Profit Organizations Highlights - Affordable Multi-family Housing saw strong participation and savings results in 2023, as 79 projects completed, reaching its highest level of participation since lau...

AI summary Affordable Multi-family Housing in Nova Scotia achieved record participation in 2023 with 79 completed projects, driven by outreach and co-funding. Rising costs prompted rebate adjustments, though some participants withdrew due to lower-than-expected rebates. The program targeted co-ops to avoid split-incentives and used digital marketing to boost engagement.

1 5.5 Low-Income, Diverse, Underserved Communities

AI summary Section 5.5 addresses energy efficiency and affordability for low-income, diverse, and underserved communities in Nova Scotia. It highlights the role of programs like Demand Side Management (DSM) and Efficiency Nova Scotia (ENS) in ensuring equitable access to services, with oversight by the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board (NSUARB).

Table 12: 2023 Results Applicable to Affordable Single-family Homes, Affordable Multi-family Housing, and Mi'kmaw Home Energy Efficiency

AI summary Table 12 presents 2023 results for energy efficiency programs targeting affordable single-family and multi-family housing, as well as Mi'kmaw home energy initiatives. It outlines performance metrics for these specific housing categories under regulatory oversight.

5.5.2 Performance Indicator The NSUARB also established a Performance Indicator of incidental cumulative annual energy savings of 23.6 GWh applicable to low-income and underserved communities from non-targeted programs. [26](#page-39-1) E1...

AI summary The NSUARB set a 23.6 GWh annual energy savings target for low-income/underserved communities via non-targeted programs. E1 met its 2023 mid-course adjusted target (10.3 GWh achieved) using Residential and BNI rebates, custom incentives, and direct installation. E1 updated its methodology for estimating program impacts in Q3 2023, with 2023 results reflecting these changes.

1 Table 13: 2023 Results Applicable to Low-Income and Underserved Communities, Non-Targeted Programs 2023 Plan Performance Indicators 2023 Mid-Course Adjustments 2023 Forecast (Year-End) 2023 Results First-Year Energy Savings (GWh) Lifetim...

AI summary Table 13 presents the 2023 results for low-income and underserved communities and non-targeted programs, showing performance indicators such as energy savings, participation, and expenditures for programs like Efficient Product Rebates and Appliance Retirement.

Table 3: 2023 Interviews Completed Program Component Manager1 Program / EOne Staff/Business Development Manager Service Provider/ Distributors/ Contractors Participants Dropped Out or Overdue Participants Retailers Residential Appliance Re...

AI summary Table 3 summarizes the number of interviews completed in 2023 across various program components, including managers, service providers, participants, and retailers. The table highlights the distribution of interviews by program, showing the number of interviews conducted with different stakeholders.

Table 14: 2023 Recommendations on Residential Program Components No. Recommendation GH – R2 Ensure that the Green Heat website is as user-friendly as possible by making sections, links, eligibility criteria, and eligible equipment lists cl...

AI summary The table outlines recommendations for improving the Green Heat program, including enhancing the website's usability, clarifying program differences, improving communication, and offering increased incentives for low-income households and heat pump replacements.

ding: Free-ridership levels increased for Green Heat measures, particularly for MSHPs (48% in 2023). Free-ridership for biomass measures was evaluated at 47% and for demand reduction measures at 9%. 2023 Green Heat-Finding: The MSHP market...

AI summary Free-ridership levels for Green Heat measures increased in 2023, especially for MSHPs at 48%. The MSHP market is growing due to consumer interest, rising fossil fuel costs, and incentives. Many low and moderate-income households without heat pumps face barriers to installation. Recommendation #4 suggests increasing incentives for these households and for heat pump replacements if cost-effective.

8.3.3 Distributors All MSHP distributors report some level of familiarity with Green Heat , with three being very familiar and two stating they are somewhat familiar. Familiarity is similar with CGH Grant, with four distributors stating th...

AI summary MSHP distributors report varying levels of familiarity with Green Heat and the CGH Grant. The CGH Grant is seen as offering higher incentives and wider product eligibility, but it involves more steps and longer wait times. Green Heat no longer offers a financing option since the launch of a mail-in rebate structure.

MSHP contractor quotes: "Historically, it provided an opportunity for people to get a rebate for a single type of measure who didn't want a home energy assessment, and that made sense. Now that's not the same thing with other programs in t...

AI summary Contractors face challenges with rebate programs, including outdated incentives compared to federal and other provincial programs, difficulties in supporting participants with limited knowledge, communication issues with EOne, and eligibility restrictions for switching from oil heat to ETS. Contractors argue that eligibility criteria should be expanded to encourage switching from oil to ETS.

2023 Green Heat-Finding: The MSHP market is in a sustained growth phase. NS Power data indicate a marked increase in annual incremental heat pump installations in 2022 and forecasted that 40% of Nova Scotia households were using a heat pum...

AI summary The MSHP market in Nova Scotia is growing rapidly, driven by consumer interest and financial incentives like the CGH Grant. However, challenges remain, particularly for low and moderate-income households and those needing heat pump replacements. The report recommends increasing incentives for these groups to boost participation in Green Heat.

3.3.3 Contractors Contractors were generally satisfied with SBES. Satisfaction was highest with project documentation requirements (8.4), while it was lower with the application and rebate amounts. In contrast, contractors were dissatisfie...

AI summary Contractors participating in the SBES program expressed high satisfaction with project documentation requirements but were dissatisfied with the time it took to approve projects and the rebate amounts. Approval times ranged from six to 20 weeks, and rebate amounts were perceived as too low and unclear in calculation.

(4) Low-flow Showerheads

AI summary This section discusses the topic of low-flow showerheads, though no detailed analysis or arguments are provided in the given text.

M11630 / 2023 DSM Annual Progress Report, 2023 DSM Evaluation Reports, 2023 Savings Verification Report // EfficiencyOne Reply to Stakeholder Comments DSMAG Member Comments E1 Response The report suggests that single family low-income prog...

AI summary The DSM Annual Progress Report indicates that single-family low-income programs missed their targets due to higher-than-anticipated customer demand, leading to extended timelines.