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The Clean Energy Improvement Program is coming to particpating Alberta municipalities
IMAGES PROVIDED BY THE ALBERTA MUNICIPAL SERVICES CORPORATION
The Clean Energy Improvement Program is coming to participating Alberta municipalities
Unlock opportunities in the energy efficiency and renewable energy sector
The Clean Energy Improvement Program is a new way to grow the energy efficiency and renewable energy industry and it is coming to Alberta. The Clean Energy Improvement Program, or CEIP, leverages an innovative financing solution known as Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE). This solution allows property owners to make larger, more complex upgrades by accessing flexible, long-term financing through a participating municipality. The best part is, the Clean Energy Improvement Charge is tied to the property, not the property owner. So, if the property is sold, the new owner assumes responsibility for repayment, while also enjoying the benefits provided by the upgrade. “CEIP provides property owners with flexible, affordable financing to pay for upgrades that increase the energy efficiency, comfort and value of their properties.”
The CEIP is administered by the Alberta Municipal Services Corporation (AMSC), a whollyowned subsidiary of the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association, in partnership with participating municipalities across Alberta. To get started, municipalities must pass a bylaw and choose to implement the program; property owners located in these municipalities can choose to apply. This year, the Town of Rocky Mountain House and the Town of Devon will launch their programs. The City of Leduc, Town of Canmore, Town of Okotoks and the City of St. Albert have all passed their CEIP-enabling bylaws and are moving on to program design.
How does CEIP work for residential property owners?
The CEIP allows property owners to finance up to 100 per cent of the eligible energy efficiency and renewable energy upgrade costs. The upgrade is repaid through an added charge to the property owner’s regular property tax bill, just like a local
improvement tax. The Clean Energy Improvement Charge can be prepaid at any time, penalty-free.
With support from AMSC, property owners will be able to easily navigate through the program. Property owners in participating municipalities will submit a pre-qualification form that will be provided on the website, myCEIP.ca. Once pre-qualified, property owners will complete an NRCan Home Energy Evaluation to identify energy-saving opportunities. At this stage, property owners will select a qualified contractor from the online directory available on myCEIP.ca (expected to launch by fall 2021).
Once the energy upgrades have been selected and a qualified contractor has provided a quote, property owners will submit a project application form and supporting documents. After the project application is reviewed, approved, and all agreements are signed, project installation can commence.
Once installation is complete, the property owner submits an upgrade completion form with supporting documents. Once approved, AMSC or the municipality will pay the qualified contractor, the property owner will complete a post Home Energy Evaluation, and the total project cost will be added to the property owner’s property tax bill as a Clean Energy Improvement Charge.
What do solar installers need to know?
Professionals in the energy efficiency or renewable energy industry will benefit from increased business opportunities. Alberta’s Clean Energy Improvements Regulation requires all CEIP eligible upgrades to be completed by a CEIP Qualified Contractor, including solar installers. All qualified contractors must be listed on myCEIP.ca.
Qualified contractor onboarding will begin before each participating municipality’s program launch. Becoming a qualified contractor involves completing an online application form, attending/viewing a brief onboarding presentation, and completing a CEIP onboarding test.
For more information and to stay up to date on CEIP activities, visit myCEIP.ca.
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