Is the current ESA CAM Program Cycle still accepting projects?
No. As of June 2022 ESA CAM is no longer accepting applications for Program Year 2022 (PY2022).
Please fill out an interest from here to have a property added to the waitlist for future program funding opportunities that serve income qualified multifamily owners and residents.
In order to be added to ESA CAM’s waitlist, property representatives will be asked to provide basic property site information, deed-restriction status, and PG&E bill to confirm service.
What are the deadlines for submitting an application and completing construction?
The ESA CAM offering is available on a first-come, first-served basis depending on program funding availability. Enrollment for Program Year 2022 will remain open until program capacity is reached, however, the program will only allow projects into the program on a case-by-case basis after June 1, 2022.
If your property is interested in participating, we encourage you to contact ESA CAM Staff to join the waitlist for the next ESA CAM program cycle. Please submit an interest form to get started.
The construction deadline for ESA CAM projects is the deadline set in the Project Approval Letter or September 1, 2022, whichever comes first.
How many properties can a Property Owner/Representative have enrolled in ESA CAM for Program Year 2022?
Property Owners/Representatives can have up to 3 active properties enrolled in ESA CAM during Program Year 2022. “Active project” means an enrolled ESA CAM project that is still in progress and has not received an incentive payment.
Property Owner/Representative is considered the organization coordinating and managing the retrofit on behalf of the property. This includes but is not limited to the property owner, developer or property manager.
Will there be another round of funding for ESA CAM beyond Program Year 2022?
PG&E submitted an application to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) regarding the ESA 2021-2026 program years. The CPUC issued Final Decision D.21.06.015 on June 3, 2021 and has approved additional funding for 2021-2026.
ESA CAM as currently implemented will end on Dec. 31, 2022. To receive timely information about future program opportunities, please subscribe to our Newsletter.
What measures does ESA CAM include?
The current list of eligible measures is available on www.esacommonarea.com.
Will ESA CAM modify the measure list on a case-by-case basis?
Not at this time. Additional measures may be approved in the future. If you are interested in implementing a measure that is not on the current approved measures list, please contact ESA CAM staff.
How will I know that incentives have been reserved for a property?
When incentives are officially reserved for a project, an incentive reservation letter will be issued. Funding is available on a first-come-first-served basis dependent on program eligibility and funding availability. Projects that begin work prior to receiving the incentive reservation letter do so at their own financial risk.
Are ESA CAM funds impacted by any funding changes that other PG&E programs have experienced or might experience in 2020?
This ESA CAM Program Cycle has an incentive budget of $25M. Changes to other PG&E programs will not impact ESA CAM funding availability. However, please note that the offering is available on a first-come, first-serve basis and program funding availability.
How do I know which ESA CAM Program Cycle my project is in?
PG&E ESA Common Area Measures program has implemented three program cycles. Please reference the following to understand which program cycle your ESA CAM project classifies as:
Program Year 2018-2020: Projects enrolled between Nov. 2018 – June 2020 and required to complete construction by Sept. 1, 2021.
2021 Bridge Period: Projects enrolled between Mar. – Sept. 2021. As of Nov. 2021, the 2021 Bridge Period construction deadline will align with Program Year 2022 (Sept. 1, 2022).
This program cycle was established as “bridge” between official program years while PG&E awaited the release of California Public Utility Commission (CPUC) final decision D.21.06.015, which provides approval and funding for 2021-2026 ESA, CARE and FERA programs.
As of Nov. 2021, PG&E’s ESA CAM will also no longer refer to the “2021 Bridge Period” as a program cycle. From this date forward all active ESA CAM projects will be referred to as Program Year 2022 and subject to its policies and procedures. View the ESA CAM Policies and Procedures for more information on program requirements.
Program Year 2022: Projects enrolled starting in Nov. 2021 and required to complete construction by the date assigned in the Project Approval Letter or Sept. 1, 2022, whichever comes first. Enrollment is limited to properties on ESA CAM’s waitlist and will be closed once the program reaches capacity.
See “Is the current ESA CAM program cycle still accepting projects?” for current enrollment status.
Who can I contact with additional questions?
Please contact ESA CAM program staff at 866-352-7457 or email multifamilySPOC@trccompanies.com.
Are property audits provided by ESA CAM?
Yes. ESA CAM staff will audit properties that are prepared to participate in ESA CAM if a qualifying audit has not been performed on the property within the past three years.
Why is an audit required for participation in ESA CAM?
ESA CAM funds are public goods money, and it is the responsibility of the program to spend these funds in alignment with program goals on behalf of California rate payers. ESA CAM staff will work with each project before conducting the audit to make sure there is enough opportunity on site to successfully complete a qualifying ESA CAM scope of work.
When will ESA CAM provide audit reports?
The audit report will be sent within twelve business days of the property’s audit.
What is PG&E program layering?
PG&E program layering is when a multifamily customer or property owner is able to participate in multiple energy-saving programs to achieve greater project cost savings through available incentive opportunities. PG&E offers energy efficiency and renewable programs specifically designed for multifamily property owners, residents, and contractors that serve these properties to offer building upgrade assistance to reduce energy and utility bill savings. Benefits to layering include identifying all potential incentive programs based on basic site characteristics and customer interests. Additional benefits can include streamlining of eligibility screening/applications, audits/site visits, scope of work design, and incentive payment timelines.
ESA CAM works directly with PG&E’s Single Point of Contact (SPOC) to utilize a one-stop model to help to refer customers to other energy efficiency programs in addition to renewable, water-saving, and financing opportunities.
To get started, please complete an interest form here. or notify your ESA CAM point-of-contact of your interest.
What if ESA CAM doesn’t cover 100% of costs?
In the event ESA CAM is not able to provide incentives that match 100% of project cost, PG&E’s Single Point of Contact (SPOC) utilizes a one-stop model to refer customers to other energy efficiency programs in addition to renewable, water-saving, and financing opportunities that may be able to cover additional project costs.
ESA CAM staff will refer property owners to PG&E’s SPOC service for this direct assistance.
How do I learn about other incentive programs I may qualify for?
PG&E’s Single Point of Contact (SPOC) utilizes a one-stop model to help multifamily property owners and managers identify qualifying energy efficiency, renewable, water savings, and financing opportunities.
To get started, please complete an interest form here.
What is PG&E’s Single Point of Contact (SPOC) One-Stop Model?
PG&E’s Single Point of Contact (SPOC) service helps property owners/representatives reach carbon-free affordable energy consumption through no-cost benchmarking, financing resources, and assistance to identify, enroll in, and combine relevant multifamily programs. SPOC works closely with customers to offer technical expertise and support navigating the multifamily program market. To get started, please complete an interest form here, or simply notify ESA CAM staff of your interest.