Updated PAYS® Essential Elements and Minimum Program Requirements effective December 31, 2020

The Energy Efficiency Institute has updated the PAYS Essential Elements and Minimum Program Requirements to clarify for utilities, regulators, advocates, and others interested in PAYS the operational components that must be part of a resource efficiency program to be called PAYS. This revision is based on feedback that we have received from individuals working in or advocating for PAYS programs around the country. 

Among the changes in this version is the requirement that when calculating the monthly charge and copay amount for an upgraded location, utilities must use estimates of all significant annual resource savings the participant will receive (e.g., water, sewer, electricity, gas, and oil) from upgrades installed at that location. Also, utilities are not permitted to impose the requirements of their other program offers to limit PAYS program offers or participation.