For state community solar and LIHEAP administrators
State Low-Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) Administrators and Community Solar administrators receive support from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory to establish the rules and agreements for local LIHEAP agencies and community solar developers to join the Energy Connector (Connector). If you would like to learn more about built-in consumer and data privacy protections, see the Example agreements page.
The role of state administrators on the Energy Connector
State community solar and LIHEAP administrators collaborate to bring the Connector to their state and ensure robust consumer protections. State Community Solar administrators review and approve subscription managers and the community solar projects available before a subscription manager can reach out to an income-verified household.
State LIHEAP administrators invite Local LIHEAP agencies to use the Connector. Local LIHEAP agencies inform income-verified households of the option to have household contact information listed on the Connector so subscription managers can reach out with low-cost community solar subscriptions. State LIHEAP administrators have the option to prioritize which income-verified households receive subscription offers first (e.g., the state may want to make households with medical devices, elderly residents, or families with young children a higher priority to receive cost saving community solar subscriptions).
The state community solar program administrator only approves reputable subscription managers and the community solar projects that meet the mandatory consumer protections. State community solar administrators also evaluate the Connector program annually to ensure consumer protections are met.
State community solar administrator role
1. Sign agreement
Work with NREL to review, finalize, and sign Connector agreements. Partner with state community solar administrators to launch the Connector in your state.
2. Receive training
NREL provides free training, educational materials, and support for all Connector users.
3. Create account
Use the Contact us form to request access Connector. You will receive an email to prompt you to create your user account.
4. Approve subscription managers
Review and approve subscription manager requests to use the Connector to access leads to income-verified households.
5. Approve community solar projects
Subscription managers submit projects when an interconnection agreement is in place; the state confirms consumer protection requirements and approves projects.
6. Evaluation
Evaluate program annually; ensure subscription managers meet consumer protections.
State LIHEAP administrator role
1. Sign agreement
Work with NREL to review, finalize, and sign Connector agreements. Partner with state community solar administrators to launch the Connector in your state.
2. Receive training
NREL provides free training, educational materials, and support for all Connector users.
3. Create account
Use the Contact us form to request access Connector. You will receive an email to prompt you to create your user account.
4. Send user invitations
Invite local LIHEAP agencies to participate on Connector.
5. Set/Adjust prioritization (optional)
Prioritization factors determine which household types can connect to community solar projects first, if availability is limited.
6. Upload data
Either local LIHEAP agencies or the state LIHEAP administrator can upload household data to the Connector.
7. Assist with compensation (optional)
Assist with billing subscription managers, if opting to compensate local LIHEAP agencies.