PROGRAM FUNDING Each electric and natural gas investor-owned utility is required to spend 1.2% of the latest three-year average of its gross operating revenue on energy efficiency offerings and renewable resource offerings. With WPSC approval, a utility may retain a certain portion of the revenue it is required to spend on statewide offerings to administer or fund a new energy efficiency offering for the utility’s large commercial, industrial, institutional, or agricultural customers. The state’s municipal utilities and electric cooperatives have the option of participating in the state Program or operating their own “commitment-to-community” programs, which are similar to Focus on Energy. There is a cap on fees for these programs of the lesser of $375 per month or 1.2% of the total other monthly charges. The WPSC does not oversee “commitment-to-community” programs, but cooperatives and municipal utilities are required to submit annual program audit reports to the WPSC. PROGRAM STRUCTURE There are a number of parties involved in the establishment, funding, oversight, and management of the Focus on Energy Program. SEERA (Statewide Energy Efficiency and Renewables Administration) creates and funds Focus on Energy and contracts with the Program Administrator, the Systems Administrator and the Fiscal Agent. The PSC (Public Service Commission of Wisconsin) contracts with the Evaluator and the Compliance Agent and is responsible for setting policy and providing guidance to the Focus on Energy Administrator.
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