Multifamily properties have been notoriously reluctant to participate in energy upgrade programs. Most find savings too meager and the process too cumbersome. Frontier Energy’s approach is to streamline and customize the rebate approach for custom multifamily projects in the Bay Area. Each year, the program has been fully subscribed to and awarded additional funding to increase participation. Frontier Energy leads a team of field analysts and quality assurance specialists who engage multifamily property owners and guide them through the rebate scoping and application process. Participants receive in-field and remote technical assistance to ensure their applications meet program requirements, and the Frontier Energy team reviews and approves applications for rebate payment. By December 2021, BayREN’s Multifamily program had completed projects for 43,377 units and over $32.5 million in rebates processed.
Frontier Energy:
- Conducts outreach to owners of existing multifamily properties.
- Oversees contractor engagement.
- Processes applications and rebates.
- Conducts QA/QC, including on-site inspections.
- Coordinates and engages with stakeholders, including the California Public Utilities Commission, statewide multifamily coordinating groups, and regulatory compliance forums.
- Builds the BayREN team’s knowledge of the regulatory landscape.
- Integrates non-ratepayer funding sources to support the inclusion of new technologies and decarbonization strategies, like heat pump water heaters.
