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Access & Affordability

Design programs that broaden access and advance equity. Access & Affordability provides research, evaluation, and advisory services that prioritize equity—helping utilities and energy entities design programs that deliver equitable access to clean energy, address affordability challenges, and achieve measurable outcomes for underserved and energy-burdened communities.


 

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Uncover barriers and close equity gaps

Identify where barriers exist and create actionable solutions to close equity gaps. We conduct equity-focused market research using quantitative and qualitative methods to identify service barriers, assess affordability gaps, evaluate program impacts across populations, and provide policy and planning tools that guide equitable program design and implementation.

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Connect policy and community priorities

Bring regulators, communities, utilities, and energy entities together around shared affordability and access objectives. We facilitate stakeholder alignment to ensure programs reflect community needs, support policy directives on access and resilience, and create planning frameworks that connect equity goals with measurable outcomes. We also connect peers working on similar challenges across the US and Canada through in-person and virtual working groups, helping teams share best practices and lessons learned.

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Center community perspectives

Incorporate lived experiences and local knowledge into every stage of program design and delivery. We use qualitative and quantitative research methods—interviews, focus groups, and participatory workshops—to capture authentic community input and translate it into actionable program strategies. Our approach builds trust, strengthens relationships, and ensures programs remain responsive to evolving needs, regulatory requirements, and local priorities.

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Equitable access

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Policy alignment

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Community engagement

Case Study

Using data-driven insights to design a meaningful payment assistance campaign for LMI customers

E Source empowers Ameren Illinois to strengthen its energy efficiency portfolio through insights that drive equitable outcomes, improve performance, and advance statewide policy leadership.

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2025 Residential Products, Programs, and Services

How Ameren deployed an outage strategy to increase customer satisfaction by 68%

E Source empowers Ameren Illinois to strengthen its energy efficiency portfolio through insights that drive equitable outcomes, improve performance, and advance statewide policy leadership.

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The midstream advantage: Real benefits and realistic expectations in residential efficiency measures

NYSERDA: Energy Equity Collaborative

E Source helped NYSERDA build a more consistent, transparent, and actionable model for incorporating community input into equitable clean energy program design.

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Insights

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Low- and moderate-income customer journey mapping: key findings from two E Source studies

Many households that struggle to pay their utility bills, often low- and moderate-income (LMI) are increasingly turning to utility energy assistance and demand-side management (DSM) offerings - such as home energy efficiency and weatherization upgrades - to provide immediate relief, reduce their
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How utility bills affect customer satisfaction and affordability

Utilities are underestimating the financial risk of affordability

As affordability pressure reshapes how customers pay and engage, financial exposure can grow even when arrears appear manageable.
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Achievements in Customer and Employee Experience: 2025 honorees

Each year E Source celebrates utilities that are creating excellent experiences for their customers and providing a supportive and engaging workplace for their employees with the E Source Customer and Employee Experience Awards.
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Design and deliver equitable energy programs.

Connect with our team today to see how Access & Affordability can help you design programs that broaden access, align policy and community goals, and deliver measurable outcomes for underserved and energy-burdened populations.