In the spring of 2005, ACEEE initiated a national search for "exemplary" utility-funded low-income energy efficiency programs as part of a project to identify and profile programs that provide models of "best practices" for addressing the energy needs of low-income households. ACEEE staff worked with an expert panel to select programs from those nominated and identified from around the country, and categorized selected programs to be recognized as "exemplary" or "honorable mention." Selection criteria included positive energy and cost savings impacts; replicability; and qualitative factors, such as innovation, participant satisfaction, unique services, and stakeholder support. ACEEE also chose a mix of programs to represent the variety of approaches, structures, and services provided in this sector. This report presents summary observations and discusses common traits of top quality programs, and then provides a catalog of descriptive profiles of the 24 utility-funded low-income energy efficiency programs selected by ACEEE to represent leading examples in the field.

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121 pp., September 2005, $55.00, U053