Clean Energy Transformation Act (CETA) and Clean Buildings

Navigating new compliance requirements in Washington state

CETA and Clean buildings compliance affects all utilities in Washington — both large and small.

The first biennial Energy Assistance Compliance report (CETA Section 12) is due in February 2022. Contact us to learn more about how to prepare these reports.

CETA Energy Assistance reports due in:

Do any of these issues keep you up at night?

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Some of these compliance requirements are not typical things we do as a utility
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We’d like to know how much all of these requirements are going to cost
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We want a way to be in compliance as efficiently as possible
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We’re not sure how the rules developed by the Commerce will apply to us – we want to make sure we have realistic goals

Check out our related services below
or start with a comprehensive Clean Energy and Equity brainstorming workshop catered to your utility.

Clean Energy and Equity Compliance Services

Energy Equity Compliance (CETA Section 12)

Beyond requiring 100% clean energy for all utilities by 2045, the Clean Energy Transformation Act (CETA) requires increased energy assistance to low-income households for all utilities. Compliance with these requirements will unfold in three stages.

1. The Dept. of Commerce determines methods to estimate energy assistance need and targets in each service territory.

2. Every two years, utilities report certain key data points related to customer energy burden to the Dept. of Commerce. Dept. of Commerce aggregates and publishes the data.

3. Every two years, utilities are required to develop a cumulative assessment of previous funding levels for energy assistance and a plan to meet certain targets. Utilities must demonstrate progress towards meeting these goals in their assessments.

Empower Dataworks provides turnkey services related to energy assistance programs, delivered through our data-driven Energy Equity Flywheel framework.

Clean Energy Planning Compliance (CETA Sections 6 and 14)

By January 1, 2022, and every four years thereafter, all utilities in Washington state must submit a Clean Energy Implementation Plan that includes specific targets for energy efficiency, demand response, and renewable energy.

Utilities understand very their generation resources very well, so those components of the Clean Energy Implementation Plan should be relatively straightforward. But if you haven’t done any goals and potential studies of energy efficiency, demand response or renewables, Empower Dataworks can help. Contact us now to chat about your Clean Energy Implementation Plan.

Clean Buildings Compliance (SB 1257)

The Clean Buildings law (SB 1257) established energy performance standards (Energy Use Intensity) for large existing commercial buildings (larger than 50,000 sq. ft). Utilities must also administer an early adoption incentive program for customers who wish to comply before the deadline (between 2026 and 2028 depending on building size). After the deadline, non-compliant building owners will be assessed fines until they comply.
Empower Dataworks works with utilities on SB 1257 compliance in two capacities:

1. We set up the data infrastructure to clean and format data for upload to Energy Star Portfolio manager in order to make benchmarking and compliance easier for your large customers.

2. We undertake benchmarking studies that are specific to your service territory to ensure that the benchmarks being used by Commerce reflect your actual building stock.

Clean Energy and Equity Workshop
(CETA and SB 1257 Compliance)
Who is this for? This workshop was specifically designed for public utilities in Washington state who are contemplating various regulatory compliance requirements for SB 5116 and SB 1257.

Overview. The Clean Energy Workshop was designed to provide actionable plans for the components of SB 5116 and SB 1257 that fall outside the purview of day-to-day utility operations and planning. Specifically, we focus on the equity and conservation/demand response components of CETA, as well as the benchmarking and data requirements of SB 1257. A typical agenda is shown below, but can be adjusted depending on your specific needs.

You will leave the workshop with concrete action items for satisfying your compliance requirements.
Location. On-site at your utility.
Duration. Full day (6-7 hours), including a coffee and lunch break.
Scheduling. A Clean Energy and Equity Workshop can be scheduled within 3-6 weeks, depending on the time of year.
Requirements. Key managers and employees should participate in the introductory session and other relevant sessions, based on their role. We will request non-confidential documentation for review (e.g. annual reports, customer counts and segments, recent board presentations).
Cost. $3,995 fee includes expenses for travel within Washington State.
Payment Terms. Prepaid and non-refundable, due ten days before the on-site workshop.
Contact us now to schedule or inquire about the workshop
Let's do it
Agenda
9:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.: Introductions and agenda overview. Relevant to: All interested staff.
9:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.: Clean Buildings (SB 1257), Relevant to: Key Accounts, Large Customer Care, Energy Services, Customer Solutions.
arrow iconWhat are the building benchmarks being developed by Dept. of Commerce?
arrow iconDriving your large customers to SB 1257 compliance: the ins and outs of deploying an early adoption incentive program.
arrow iconCompliance as a Service: How to assist your large customers with benchmarking using Energy Star Portfolio Manager.
10.45 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.: Coffee break
11:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.: CETA Planning Requirements. Relevant to: Energy Services, Planning.
arrow iconThe demand side components of the CETA Clean Energy Implementation Plans: Energy Efficiency and Demand Response
arrow iconPotential Assessments and Goal Setting
arrow iconExpanding your portfolio of energy efficiency and demand response programs.
12:15 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.: Lunch break
1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.: Energy Equity in CETA. Relevant to: Customer Service, Energy Services, Customer Solutions, Finance.
arrow iconIdentifying the energy burden in your service territory
arrow iconEvaluating existing programs and initiatives
arrow iconData collection requirements and reporting
arrow iconDeploying cost-effective energy assistance programs using the Energy Equity Flywheel
3:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.: Wrap up