Award recognizes value of new, scalable software that enables utilities to streamline their interconnection processes and reduce soft costs

Las Vegas, Solar Power International, Booth 118, Oct. 21, 2014—Clean Power Researchâ (www.cleanpower.com) today received the Innovative Solar Partner of the Year award from the Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) for its collaboration with utilities to develop PowerClerkâ Interconnect, software that transforms utility distributed solar interconnection processes by taking them online. Funded by a U.S. Department of Energy SunShot Initiative Incubator award, PowerClerk Interconnect is a scalable, software-as-a-service solution that gives utilities the flexibility to design and quickly implement online interconnection application programs without custom software development.

In addition to streamlining interconnection, online application processing makes it possible to capture and store PV fleet data in a secure, online database that is accessible for integration with customer engagement, planning and operational tools such as WattPlan™ and SolarAnywhere® FleetView®. Together these software applications give utilities new abilities to manage their distributed solar resources at every stage—from helping customers make smart solar decisions, to planning and operations.

"Utilities have an important role to play in helping to further drive down the total installed cost of solar," said Julia Hamm, president and CEO of SEPA. "Today only about 15 percent of utilities have optimized the processing of high numbers of interconnections in short periods of time, so there is opportunity to improve interconnection processes and reduce soft costs for both utilities and the solar industry. In fact, recent research conducted by SEPA shows that utilities offering an online application platform are able to process applications twice as quickly as utilities only accepting emailed, mailed or in-person applications."

"Clean Power Research is proud to be recognized by the Solar Electric Power Association for the services we provide to utilities," said Jeff Ressler, president of Software Services at Clean Power Research. "Since 1998, it has been our goal to simplify processes and enable informed decision-making while reducing costs through secure, cost-effective software services. More recently, we've expanded our product offerings to allow utilities to leverage the solar PV system information they've obtained via PowerClerk® to better advise customers about solar and reliably integrate solar into their grid operations. The Innovative Solar Partner of the Year Award is recognition of the value these services provide to utilities and the solar industry."

Launched in October 2014, the first customer to implement PowerClerk Interconnect was NV Energy. In addition, SunShot Incubator award partners Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) and the Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO) tested and provided valuable feedback during development of PowerClerk Interconnect.

Clean Power Research is demonstrating PowerClerk Interconnect at Solar Power International 2014, booth #118.

Reducing Soft Costs with PowerClerk Interconnect

PowerClerk Interconnect is a next generation platform that combines the best features of PowerClerk® Incentives—which has been used to process more than 280,000 incentive applications representing more than 6 GW of solar capacity since 2006—with unprecedented new capabilities that make it possible for interconnection administrators to design and modify workflows and forms right from their browser.

By taking interconnection application processing online, PowerClerk streamlines processes and helps reduce soft costs for both utilities and installers. Key features such as auto-communications, auto-document generation, electronic signatures and reporting make it possible for utilities to provide better customer service and use internal resources more efficiently. Solar installers benefit from simple application processes, shortened time to interconnection, visibility into the status of applications, and the ability to integrate into quoting and customer relationship management software.

Read more about PowerClerk Interconnect in "Five things you need to know about PowerClerk Interconnect," and access images in the Clean Power Research press kit.

About Clean Power Research

Clean Power Research provides software, research and consulting services that power intelligent energy decisions. Solar prediction, energy valuation and program optimization products make it simple for customers to get fast, accurate, location-specific information about the impact of energy-related investments. Utilities, government agencies, engineers, developers, manufacturers, installers and financiers rely on Clean Power Research tools and services for project siting, planning and operations, incentive and interconnection management, and renewable energy sales. Founded in 1998, the company has offices in Napa, Calif., and Kirkland, Wash. For more information, visit www.cleanpower.com.

Las Vegas, Solar Power International, Booth 118, Oct. 21, 2014—Clean Power Researchâ (www.cleanpower.com) today received the Innovative Solar Partner of the Year award from the Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) for its collaboration with utilities to develop PowerClerkâ Interconnect, software that transforms utility distributed solar interconnection processes by taking them online. Funded by a U.S. Department of Energy SunShot Initiative Incubator award, PowerClerk Interconnect is a scalable, software-as-a-service solution that gives utilities the flexibility to design and quickly implement online interconnection application programs without custom software development.

In addition to streamlining interconnection, online application processing makes it possible to capture and store PV fleet data in a secure, online database that is accessible for integration with customer engagement, planning and operational tools such as WattPlan™ and SolarAnywhere® FleetView®. Together these software applications give utilities new abilities to manage their distributed solar resources at every stage—from helping customers make smart solar decisions, to planning and operations.

"Utilities have an important role to play in helping to further drive down the total installed cost of solar," said Julia Hamm, president and CEO of SEPA. "Today only about 15 percent of utilities have optimized the processing of high numbers of interconnections in short periods of time, so there is opportunity to improve interconnection processes and reduce soft costs for both utilities and the solar industry. In fact, recent research conducted by SEPA shows that utilities offering an online application platform are able to process applications twice as quickly as utilities only accepting emailed, mailed or in-person applications."

Clean Power Research is proud to be recognized by the Solar Electric Power Association for the services we provide to utilities," said Jeff Ressler, president of Software Services at Clean Power Research. "Since 1998, it has been our goal to simplify processes and enable informed decision-making while reducing costs through secure, cost-effective software services. More recently, we've expanded our product offerings to allow utilities to leverage the solar PV system information they've obtained via PowerClerk® to better advise customers about solar and reliably integrate solar into their grid operations. The Innovative Solar Partner of the Year Award is recognition of the value these services provide to utilities and the solar industry."

Launched in October 2014, the first customer to implement PowerClerk Interconnect was NV Energy. In addition, SunShot Incubator award partners Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) and the Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO) tested and provided valuable feedback during development of PowerClerk Interconnect.

Clean Power Research is demonstrating PowerClerk Interconnect at Solar Power International 2014, booth #118.

Reducing Soft Costs with PowerClerk Interconnect

PowerClerk Interconnect is a next generation platform that combines the best features of PowerClerk® Incentives—which has been used to process more than 280,000 incentive applications representing more than 6 GW of solar capacity since 2006—with unprecedented new capabilities that make it possible for interconnection administrators to design and modify workflows and forms right from their browser.

By taking interconnection application processing online, PowerClerk streamlines processes and helps reduce soft costs for both utilities and installers. Key features such as auto-communications, auto-document generation, electronic signatures and reporting make it possible for utilities to provide better customer service and use internal resources more efficiently. Solar installers benefit from simple application processes, shortened time to interconnection, visibility into the status of applications, and the ability to integrate into quoting and customer relationship management software.

Read more about PowerClerk Interconnect in "Five things you need to know about PowerClerk Interconnect," and access images in the Clean Power Research press kit.

About Clean Power Research

Clean Power Research provides software, research and consulting services that power intelligent energy decisions. Solar prediction, energy valuation and program optimization products make it simple for customers to get fast, accurate, location-specific information about the impact of energy-related investments. Utilities, government agencies, engineers, developers, manufacturers, installers and financiers rely on Clean Power Research tools and services for project siting, planning and operations, incentive and interconnection management, and renewable energy sales. Founded in 1998, the company has offices in Napa, Calif., and Kirkland, Wash. For more information, visit www.cleanpower.com.