Smart Electric Power Alliance and Clean Energy Works Release Utility Guide to Scale Inclusive Utility Investments for Equitable Clean Energy Access

by | Mar 25, 2025 | Energy Efficiency, Rural Electric Cooperatives | 0 comments

Clean Energy Works is proud to partner with the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) to release Inclusive Utility Investment Guide for Distributed Energy Resources (DERs), a publication designed to help utilities expand equitable access to clean energy upgrades.

As utilities face growing demand on the grid, managing rapid load growth without compromising reliability or affordability has become a critical challenge. Energy efficiency, distributed energy resources (DERs), and virtual power plants (VPPs) offer powerful tools to meet this demand while supporting decarbonization goals. But to scale these solutions equitably and at speed, innovative financial models, like inclusive utility investments, are essential to break down access barriers and ensure all communities can benefit.

Inclusive utility investment is a financial solution for distributed clean energy upgrades (including energy efficiency) via a tariff for site-specific utility investment and cost recovery, approved by the utility’s regulatory authority and designed to ensure net annual cost savings for participants.
 

What’s Inside the Guide?

  • Overview of Inclusive Utility Investment – How inclusive utility investments can increase access to energy efficiency and other clean energy upgrades, while helping to reduce peak demand and defer costly grid upgrades.
  • Program Development & Approval – Best practices for feasibility assessments and program design considerations, including stakeholder engagement, consumer protections, and regulatory approval.
  • Program Evaluation & Reporting – Guidance on setting key performance indicators (KPIs), evaluating success and areas for improvement, and assessing resource allocation.
  • Case Studies – Real-world examples of utilities that have successfully implemented inclusive utility investment programs, demonstrating the benefits for both customers and utilities.

Why This Matters

Traditional financial solutions for clean energy upgrades, such as consumer loans and rebates, are often not accessible to lower-income households, those with low credit scores, and renters. Inclusive utility investment can help overcome these barriers, making clean energy accessible, affordable, and equitable.

By adopting this approach to investment, utilities can drive decarbonization, strengthen grid resilience, and unlock new value streams while ensuring that all communities — regardless of income or homeownership status — can benefit from energy efficiency.

 

Read the full guide