Ameren Illinois receives 2022 Innovative Energy Project award
The Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) is a professional society of more than 18,000 members in over 100 countries who are working to improve energy efficiency to save energy, make buildings perform better and help reach global sustainability goals.
For the second year in a row, the Ameren Illinois Energy Efficiency Program — administered by Leidos — received AEE’s Region III Innovative Energy Project of the Year Award. This achievement recognized Ameren Illinois’ Competitive Large Incentive Program (CLIP) offering as a unique opportunity for its large energy users to participate in its energy efficiency program.
2022 Innovative Energy Project of the Year Award – Ameren Illinois
Every year, the Ameren Illinois Energy Efficiency Program offers the Competitive Large Incentive Program (CLIP), which allows the "Top 1,000" customers (based on energy usage) to submit multiple projects on a single application. By considering multiple project opportunities, CLIP encourages customers to think strategically about energy efficiency rather than taking a tactical approach.
What distinguishes Ameren Illinois’ CLIP offering is its innovative, strategic approach to engaging large energy consumers in Illinois and, as a result, achieving proven energy savings. The CLIP offering has led to significant and increased savings over the years — including 25 million kWh in 2018, 28 million kWh in 2019, 31 million kWh in 2020 and 33 million kWh in 2021.
Ameren Illinois successfully engages large customers in the CLIP offering with the following innovative elements:
Streamlined application process
Typically, a customer would be required to submit one application for each project. CLIP provides an easy, one-step application process for customers to submit multiple projects.
Modified program requirements
Some program requirements can provide obstacles for customer participation. Large customers can move their projects forward with modified program requirements, including no minimum payback requirements, incentives provided based on actual operating hours, up to 85% of project costs covered and a longer timeframe to complete projects.
High touch marketing
Outreach for CLIP focuses on creating relationships between the program and large customers. With the multichannel marketing approach, target customers receive emails, letters and invitations to attend interactive webinars. Throughout the application process, program staff are available to provide one-on-one assistance to help customers navigate the requirements.
Proactive energy management
The CLIP process challenges customers to plan energy-saving upgrades for an entire year. This encourages customers to proactively establish an energy strategy and identify larger energy savings goals.
Comprehensive energy savings
Customers are also encouraged to think outside the box and include as many energy efficiency projects as they can conceptualize. Taking a big picture approach motivates customers to identify greater opportunities and capture more comprehensive energy savings.
Competitive application process
Another innovative aspect of CLIP is that customers are competing to submit the best application possible. Customers know in advance that their application will be reviewed by program technical staff and will be judged on potential energy savings, so they must have a thorough and detailed application.
Scalable model
The CLIP offering is a replicable/scalable model that could be used by other organizations who wish to target a specific customer base or market segment where they anticipate getting the most energy savings.
For more than 30 years, Leidos has been providing utilities across the country with high-quality program implementation support and expert energy engineering services. We design innovative offerings to engage customers and inspire energy efficiency action.
Learn more about Leidos and our award-winning energy efficiency solutions and services.
