Energy Performance Contracting is a financing mechanism used to pay for energy efficiency improvements all at once that are then paid back through annual energy savings. The CEO provides technical assistance to public agencies, helping them navigate the process and ensuring that the service providers maintain the highest levels of quality. Furthermore, the CEO actively provides education and outreach on the components of Energy Performance Contracting, maintains contract documents, and sets industry standards for our Pre-Approved Energy Service Companies. For a detailed list of how the CEO-approved process works along with a checklist of important milestones and responsibilities, please look at the Standards for Success document. If you have questions regarding the program, please e-mail the EPC Program Manager.

 

If you are a public agency that is interested in participating in the program please e-mail the EPC Program Manager. If you choose to participate you will need to sign an Memorandum of Understanding.  In addition, please review the EPC ESCO Milestone Checklist.

 

The Colorado EPC program has a very successful history and is currently ranked 5th in the Country for EPC completed by State. As of August 2012, the program has supported over 146 completed projects for a total of $294 million construction. The program is currently supporting 26 projects that are in construction providing jobs throughout the state.

---

Picking an ESCO

 

To help you find an Energy Service Company (ESCO) for your performance contracting project, the CEO has compiled this list of pre-approved ESCOs.

Please note that although the ESCOs have been prequalified through a rigorous, competitive RFP selection process, the CEO does not, in any way, promote or underwrite any individual company. The CEO RFP selection process simply selects companies based on criteria that we feel are important to provide exemplary service to agencies that participate in the CEO Energy Performance Contracting (EPC) program. Therefore, the companies listed on this CEO pre-approved list have been found to be qualified to act as ESCOs under the CEO EPC program only. They have not been evaluated for additional services that their businesses provide and should be evaluated independently by the agency for services outside of the CEO EPC Program.

We recommend that public entities interested in an EPC follow a Secondary ESCO Selection Process. State agencies are required to follow the solicitation process.

 

---

Technical Energy Audits

We encourage entities to refer back to the Standards of Success and the Milestone Checklist throughout the TEA process. To obtain State Agency or local technical energy audit information, please go to the links below:

 

For State Agencies, Including Higher Ed

For Counties, Municipalities and K-12 Schools

 

Technical Energy Audit	Technical Energy Audit
TEA Exhibit A Scope of Work	TEA Exhibit A Scope of Work
TEA Exhibit B Notice of Acceptance	TEA Exhibit B Notice of Acceptance
TEA Exhibit C Building List	TEA Exhibit C Building List
TEA Exhibit D Cost and Pricing Elements	TEA Contract Exhibit D - Cost and Pricing Elements
TEA Exhibit E Record of Reviews	TEA Exhibit E Record of Reviews
Equipment Lease Purchase Agreement

 

 

---

 Performance Contract

 

We encourage entities to refer back to the Standards of Success and the Milestone Checklist throughout the EPC process. To obtain State Agency or local performance contracts, please go to the links below:

 

For State Agencies, Including Higher Ed	For Counties, Municipalities and K-12 Schools
Energy Performance Contract	Energy Performance Contract
Financing Bid Package	* Financing Bid Package
Commissioning Guidelines	Commissioning Guidelines
Measurement & Verification Guidelines	Measurement & Verification Guidelines
EPC General Conditions	EPC General Conditions
List of Schedules and Exhibits	Colorado Statutes
Colorado Statutes
Executive Orders

 

---

Office of the State Architect

 

For State Agencies, Including Higher Ed

For Counties, Municipalities and K-12 Schools

Form of Performance Bond Form of Labor and Material Payment Bond Form of Notice of Substantial Completion Notice of Final Acceptance Notice of Contractor's Settlement Certification & Affidavit Regarding Unauthorized Immigrants Notice to Proceed Pre-Acceptance Check List Contractor’s Application for Payment Emergency Field Change Order Notice of Partial Substantial Completion Notice to Proceed to Commence Construction Phase Form of Change Order Form of Amendment to Contract Certificate for Contractor’s Payment Schedule of Values

Form of Performance Bond Form of Labor and Material Payment Bond Form of Notice of Substantial Completion Payment Schedule and Schedule of Values

---

How an ESCO Becomes Part of the Colorado Program

The CEO reviews the ESCOs on our existing list and accepts proposals for new partners regularly. The CEO is not currently reviewing applicants. The next RFP will be posted on the Colorado BIDS website. The following are some helpful documents to help prepare a potential ESCO for the upcoming application process:

 

Example Base Agreement

 

2009 RFP - ESCO Prequalification Document

 

If you have questions regarding the program, please e-mail the EPC Program Manager.

 

---

Additional Sources of Funding

The energy savings from a performance contract can pay for many efficiency improvements. However, to successfully implement higher capital-intensive measures, additional sources of capital may be necessary. Some possibilities include:

 

Utility company incentive programs – Your electric, gas, and water utilities may have incentive programs to help you pay for efficiency improvements. As part of the performance contracting process, your ESCO can identify and apply for efficiency incentives.

 

The Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) Energy and Mineral Impact Assistance Grant – Your ESCO can explore and apply for this potentially viable resource for no-cost grant funds. Funding cycles are open three times per year.

 

Xcel Energy’s Standard Offer Program – Xcel Energy provides rebates for technical energy audits (TEA's) and the installation of bundles of energy conservation measures. For projects where this would be appropriate, customers should contact their Xcel Energy account manager to start the preapproval process or Kim Spickard, Standard Offer Product Manager at 303-294-2069 or  kim.a.spickard@xcelenergy.com.

 

EPA Water Sense - This website provides links to rebates for water efficiency projects such as toilet replacements. The CEO highly encourages integrating water efficiency into your EPC project.

 

Recharge Colorado - This website provides links to rebates, tax incentives, and other financing options for energy and water improvements throughout the state of Colorado

 

Your own funds – If you have an adequate capital budget, your own funds can be used to fully, or partially fund the cost of your investment in energy upgrades. You will effectively pay pennies on the dollar for the improvements, because the generated energy cost savings will fund all or a portion of the upgrades.