2003 California Statewide Multifamily Program Evaluation

1
2003 California Statewide Multifamily Program
Evaluation

• Wirtshafter Associates, Inc.
• Energy Market Innovations, Inc.
• Itron, Inc.
• Kreitler Research and Consulting

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Multi-family Rebate Program Features

• Rebates for a broad list of energy efficiency
  measures installed in apartments and in common
  areas
• Contractors reserve incentives on first-come
  basis. (reservation held 45 days).
• Utilities verify installations, (SDGE 100,
  other 35)

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PY2003 Multifamily Rebate Participation
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Evaluation Methodology

• Process Evaluation and Summary of
  Accomplishments.
• Contractor Interviews. (22)
• Owner/Property Manager Surveys. (150)
• On-Site Verification and Tenant Surveys. (102)
• Impact Savings Assessment.
• Hard-to-Reach Assessment.

5
MFRP 2002 Issues

• New Program in 2002
• Serious issue of lamp quality
• Large number of uninstalled or removed lamps
• Many lamps put in low use applications
• Low level of gas measure activity
• Funds ran out quickly
• MFRP 2003Managers Used 2002 Recommendations to
  Modify Program

6
2002 On-sites and Owner Surveys Revealed Lamp
Retention Issues

• Lamps not installed, burned out, or removed
• Recommendations Made in 2002 Report
• Increase utility verification
• Hold contractors responsible

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Lamp Retention Issues 2003-04

• Larger contractors resolved issues by changing
  lamp manufacturers, revisiting 2002 sites, and
  supplying additional lamps
• Utilities higher verification seems to have
  eliminated most of the non-install issue
• Managers removing poorly performing contractors
  from program
• Problems with some small contractors re-entering
  under new names remains

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Lamp Quality Was a Big Issues for Property
Managers

• In 2002, property managers felt they were
  receiving free items and did not question
  quality.
• They ended up spending time replacing lamps
• Recommendations Made in 2002 Report
• Empower owners to hold contractors to provide
  reliable, quality measures

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Empowering Owners

• Created manual for property owners that explained
  program and the property owners options and
  responsibilities
• Manual discusses both how to choose a contractor
  and the equipment

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Restricting Lamps to High Use Applications

• 2003 Program restricted lamps to 8-10 per unit.
• 2003-04 Evaluation recommends further restriction
  of numbers and study of run times.

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Reaching Gas Markets

• There are no gas technologies, except
  thermostats, that can be given away by
  contractors.
• In 2003, utilities did reach gas activity goals,
  but largely due to thermostat installations.
• Need greater buy-in by owner who must contribute
  if larger items to be rebated.

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Program Deserves Greater Funding

• If quality issues can be resolved, program
  dollars should be increased
• MFRP is only program reaching residential tenant
  sector
• Market is largely uncaptured, unlimited, and
  non-free-rider
• By definition, they are Hard-to-Reach

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Hard to Reach Issues

• Program Policy that Emphasized Serving Rural
  Areas was counter-intuitive.
• Contractors mined neighbors--Areas served were
  very concentrated.(4 of Census Block Groups has
  activity).

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2003-04 Recommendations

• Maintain close scrutiny of contractor activities.
• Make it clear in the application that contractors
  who are found to not install products for which
  rebates are claimed will be banned from future
  participation.
• Continue efforts to educate property managers
• Dedicate more funds to applications directed by
  property managers

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2003-04 Recommendations (cont)

• De-emphasize non-hard-wired solutions.
• Reduce the number of lamps per unit even further
• Monitor the programmable thermostat settings
  closely
• Determine run-time of lamps.
• Expand multifamily reach into geographic areas
  with high potential but no current activity.
• Increase program funding