Getting Efficient in Being Efficient

Over the years the EMC Incentives Team has become expert in working with an array of utilities and energy efficiency programs to deliver a better bottom line to our customers through utility incentives for their energy efficiency projects.

The irony is that savings realized from these incentives often comes with the process waste that is a part of some very inefficient application processes. In many cases, we are still pulling out a pen to fill out paperwork, licking stamps and dropping forms off at the mailbox so that the mail carrier can pick it up, drive it across town, sort it, send it and deliver it to the utility.

Fortunately, many utilities are starting to move to more efficient on-line processes that not only speed the process of delivering information to the utility, but also reduce the carbon footprint for the process....which is a high level goal for everything we do. EMC and EMC partners in the utility industry continue to collaborate on ways to improve the process and increase efficiencies to support our customer's goals. By increasing the speed of delivery, projects can be completed more quickly, and energy savings can be realized sooner.

As more programs move online, it will help improve these timelines even further and improve the tools we use to check on all stages of the process and program payments. The next time you are on the phone with any of your utility representatives, ask them how they are adjusting and improving this process for you.

Katie Quam is Energy Management Collaborative's Manager of Customer Incentives. In this role she utilizes her knowledge of incentive programs nationwide to expedite the application process and secure maximum incentive dollars for EMC customers.