The State of California Energy Strategy and Support Program (SOC ESS) is a statewide energy efficiency program that launched in fall 2021. The statewide administrator, Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), awarded the design and implementation contract to Alternative Energy Systems Consulting, Inc. (AESC).
Supported by PG&E and the State’s other investor-owned utilities under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), the program addresses key barriers that California State agencies experience while working to reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.
SOC ESS provides direct support to identify and implement energy efficiency projects, along with engineering support for projects developed by trade professionals. With two different pathways to serve all non-higher education California State agencies, SOC ESS offers a flexible program to cost-effectively meet the diverse needs of agencies and their assets.
Core Services- Pathway 2
All agencies have access to the program’s core services, also known as “Pathway 2”:
Financial Support
The program offers agencies exclusive rebates, incentives, and access to financing options to complete energy efficiency projects in their building. Learn more about the program’s financial support.
Technical Support
The program provides ongoing technical support through AESC’s staff of energy experts who assess building potential, help with project scoping, and identify opportunities to implement a wide range of technologies, including those that are often overlooked.
Policy Support
The program helps agencies navigate CPUC and IOU compliance to ensure all projects meet regulatory requirements to qualify for incentives, rebates and IOU-offered financing. In addition, SOC ESS helps State agencies implement energy efficiency projects in disadvantage communities.
Trade Pro Management
Agencies will have access to and information about SOC ESS’s list of Pre-Qualified Trade Professionals, each of whom are confirmed to meet many State procurement requirements and are trained to work with the program. Pre-qualified trade professionals will be trained on energy efficiency best practices and gain exclusive access to various program benefits. Learn more about how become a pre-qualified trade professional.
Expanded Services- Pathway 1
Finally, a committed group of Agencies have access to additional services through, what’s known as, “Pathway 1”. These agencies receive an invested partner in their greenhouse gas reduction / energy efficiency (EE) goals for long-term, strategic planning and project implementation support, including:
- an energy concierge to apply agency-specific knowledge for scoping EE and renewable/storage projects,
- an Energy Action Plan (EAP) for portfolio-level EE and Integrated Demand Side Management (IDSM) planning,
- and a program-funded Climate Corp Fellow to augment existing agency staff.
