VPP: Virtual Power Plant CA Program

1

• Authenticate the customer and gather the following information:

1. Name

2. Type of customer (contract holder/homeowner/authorized person or installer/sales rep)

3. Property address

4. Reason of call

2

• Use the VPP Program Enrollment spreadsheet to determine if customer is actively part of the EverBright VPP program:

  • If yes, proceed to Step 3

  • If no, proceed to Step 4

3

Refer to the following table to address the customer’s concern:

General Information / FAQs

• HOMEOWNER FAQs ON EVERBRIGHT WEBSITE

• HARDER CUSTOMER SUPPORT-ONLY FAQs

Battery Concerns

• HOMEOWNER FAQs ON EVERBRIGHT WEBSITE

• HARDER CUSTOMER SUPPORT-ONLY FAQs

• PRIOR VPP EVENTS

VPP Credit

• HOMEOWNER FAQs ON EVERBRIGHT WEBSITE

• HARDER CUSTOMER SUPPORT-ONLY FAQs

Spanish

• SPANISH TRANSLATION OF HOMEOWNER FAQs ON WEBSITE

Proceed to Step 5

4

• Advise the customer (located within HOMEOWNER FAQs ON EVERBRIGHT WEBSITE table):

“This VPP program is for select EverBright PPA solar customers with an activated Powershift or EverFixed Plus battery system. Participants must be a customer of Pacific Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison or San Diego Gas & Electric. If you don’t meet these requirements today, you may be eligible for a future program.”

• If the customer does meet the requirements, advise the customer (located within HOMEOWNER FAQs ON EVERBRIGHT WEBSITE table):

“If you’re an eligible Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) customer, you will receive an email from EverBright notifying you of your enrollment in EverBright’s VPP program.”

Proceed to Step 5

5

Was the customer’s concern(s) resolved?

• If yes, Enter disposition notations and Stop

• If no, follow the appropriate SOP based on their additional concern(s)

What is a Virtual Power Plant?

A Virtual Power Plant, or VPP, is a network of distributed energy resources, like solar batteries, that work together to provide energy to the grid when it's needed. This network is managed by software that coordinates the use of each resource virtually. Eligible homeowners in the VPP program can be compensated if their battery's energy is used. By participating in a VPP, you can save money and contribute to a more efficient and sustainable power grid for your community. 

Why is my power needed and how will it be used?

Your stored solar energy may be needed in a VPP if there's high energy demand due to extreme weather or when the price of electricity is high. Using the energy from your battery in the VPP can be a cost-effective way to supply power to the grid.

How often will the battery be used by the VPP?

Because VPP activation is generally triggered by an unexpected energy need, it’s unknown how often your battery may be needed. A VPP event can occur at any time, but it won't exceed two hours. You won't experience any interruptions in your electric service during this time.

If your battery isn’t needed in a given month for a true need on the grid, the program operator may perform a test just to ensure everything is working as it should. The test will mirror an actual VPP event with your battery being used for a limited time.

Will I know when my battery is being used?

You might notice a decrease in battery levels during a VPP event if your battery's app provides this information. The battery will recharge normally after the event. However, most homeowners won't realize their battery has been activated until they receive a one-time credit on their EverBright bill after the program ends.

Which VPP program will I be enrolled in?

Your VPP enrollment depends on whether you agree to share some utility data.  

• Option 1 with data sharing enrolls you in the CAISO Capacity and Wholesale Energy Market Program administered by LeapFrog Power, Inc. This offers the potential for a higher credit on your EverBright solar bill largely because of the data sharing requirement. 

• Option 2 without data sharing enrolls you in the Demand Side Grid Support Program (DSGS), which is administered by the California Energy Commission. If you’re a customer of Pacific Gas & Electric Company, you may be enrolled in PG&E’s ACDC program. Both give you the opportunity to receive a credit on your EverBright solar bill, but likely a lower amount. 

When and how will I get paid for VPP participation?

If your battery was used as part of the VPP program and your solar account is in good standing with EverBright, you should see a credit on your EverBright solar bill a few months after the program ends on October 31, 2024. The credit should be reflected on your statement in early 2025. 

How much credit can I earn from this VPP program? 

The amount you can earn depends on factors like how often your battery is used and your program enrollment. As an EverBright Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) customer, you will be eligible to receive a bill credit equaling up to 50% of the net revenue of any energy generated by your system and used in the VPP.

Who is eligible for EverBright’s VPP program?

This VPP program is for select EverBright PPA solar customers with an activated Powershift or EverFixed Plus battery system. Participants must be a customer of Pacific Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison or San Diego Gas & Electric. If you don’t meet these requirements today, you may be eligible for a future program.

What do I have to do to be part of a VPP program?

If you’re an eligible Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) customer, you will receive an email from EverBright notifying you of your enrollment in EverBright’s VPP program. There are two options to consider. Option 1 requires you to securely share some utility data and offers the potential for greater savings. Option 2 is an automatic enrollment without data sharing. If you don’t want to share the requested utility information, or if you miss the window to share the data, you’ll be automatically enrolled in Option 2.

Why do you need me to share some of my utility data?

Some VPP program operators require additional information to confirm your eligibility such as your name, address, and a unique identifier from your utility bill, known as a Service Agreement Identification or SAID.

When does the program end?

The program runs from June 1 to October 31, 2024. Afterward, your battery will no longer participate in VPP events. EverBright will notify you of future eligible programs.

Who can I contact if I have questions?

If you have more questions, reach out to EverBright at support@myeverbright.com or (877) 425-5201.

Can I opt out of the Virtual Power Plant (VPP) program?

[Confirm with customer that they received an email from EverBright about the VPP program]

As a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) customer, you cannot opt out of the VPP program as participation is part of your agreement. The program should not affect your energy use or ability to power your home. In fact, if your battery is activated for a VPP event, you may not even know it until you see a one-time credit on an EverBright bill after the program ends.

Why was I automatically enrolled in the VPP program?

The potential to be enrolled in this type of program is included as part of your Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). EverBright enrolls, administers, and operates the system at your home when needed for programs like this VPP. These programs are all designed to reduce your electricity costs or to support the reliability of your local electrical grid. We enrolled you automatically to make it easy for you to take part in the program and save money.

[If more is needed...]

Keep in mind, with a PPA like yours, EverBright owns, operates, and maintains the solar system on your property and sells the electricity generated by the system to you at a rate determined in your solar agreement. The PPA allows you to experience the benefits of solar power without the upfront costs of buying a system.  

[If pressed for more specifics: “Where is a VPP program located in my agreement?”...]

You will find information about the possibility of participating in a program like this within your EverBright agreement. Depending on your battery type (EverFixed Plus or PowerShift) it will be located within Section 2 or 3 (b) of the agreement.

Look for “Monitoring; Other System Use; Data” and then “Other System Uses.” You should see wording along these lines: “We may, from time to time, administer and operate the System to optimize your home’s energy production and consumption, as well as for demand response or other utility-based programs designed to reduce your electricity costs or to maintain the reliability of your local electrical grid (if available in your utility area.)”

I no longer want to share my data with this program. How can I stop sharing?  

To revoke your authorization to share data, you need to log into your utility’s customer portal / website and search for information about data sharing. You should see an option to stop sharing data.

[Only if asked... Will I be un-enrolled from the VPP program?]

Revoking authorization does not remove you from the VPP program. You’ll remain in the program until it concludes on October 31, 2024, and will still be eligible for a one-time bill credit like all other participants.

[Only if customer has trouble finding the data sharing option on their utility portal/website, please ask them to email EverBright at support@myeverbright.com and then forward that customer email to Rachel Marcus at rachel.marcus@goeverbright.com. She will coordinate the removal process on the customer’s behalf.]

Is my data safe?   

EverBright prioritizes data privacy and security. That’s why we’ve partnered with Leap Connect, which has strict protocols for data protection. If interested, I could send you Leap Connect's privacy policy for more information.

Will the VPP program put someone relying on electricity for medical equipment at risk?

We understand how important reliable electricity is when you have a loved one who counts on it for medical support. However, our guidance for customers in your situation, which is also noted in your solar agreement, is that you should never rely on your solar system – even if it includes a battery – to power life support or other medical devices. The amount of power available from a battery varies depending on what’s connected to it, your energy consumption, and the battery configuration. Remember, if your battery doesn’t have available power, you will still be able to get electricity from the grid as you normally would.

Will I have energy when I need it during or after VPP events?

[If EverFix Plus customer...]

VPP programs are designed so that your battery keeps at least a 20% charge, meaning you will have a reserve of energy leftover after a VPP event until your battery has a chance to recharge. Depending on the energy needs at your home, you shouldn’t need to tap into energy from your utility any more than you might normally.

[If PowerShift customer...]

Because of the nature of your battery, it could be mostly or fully discharged during a VPP event, meaning you may need to use electricity from your utility until the battery has a chance to recharge.

Will participating in the VPP program increase my utility bill?

Taking part in a VPP should not result in your utility bill increasing. This type of program is intended to allow you to save more money, not less.

[If EverFix Plus customer...]
VPP programs are designed so that your battery keeps at least a 20% charge, meaning you will have a reserve of energy leftover after a VPP event, and you shouldn’t need to tap into energy from your utility any more than you might normally. We crunched the numbers on your potential savings and only enrolled you after making sure that you would save money in the long run.
If your utility bill seems higher than you expected, there could be other reasons for this. Let me see if I can help you figure it out. Refer to Common Homeowner Questions [savings, production, usage, and utility bills].

[If PowerShift customer...]
Because of the nature of your battery, it could be mostly or fully discharged during a VPP event, meaning you may need to use electricity from your utility until the battery has a chance to recharge. You could see a slight increase on your utility bill for the power used from the grid during this time. But the money you’ll be credited in exchange for being part of the VPP program is expected to be more than any utility bill increases you might see. Said a different way, we crunched the numbers on this program and only enrolled you after making sure that you would save money in the long run. You’ll receive a one-time credit which is expected within 120 days after the program’s conclusion on October 31, 2024.

Will I receive a notification when a VPP event happens?

You might notice a decrease in battery levels during a VPP event if your equipment manufacturer’s app provides this information. The battery will recharge normally after the event. However, most homeowners won't realize their battery has been activated until they receive a one-time credit on their EverBright bill after the program ends.
We’re just in the first year of this program. We intend to learn from it and continually make improvements. Alerts and notifications may be one of the enhancements we make in the future.

Only if you’re notified by an EverBright team member that a VPP test is happening today/tonight…

I notice something going on with my battery / I heard that there’s a VPP test. What does that mean?

VPP system operators were scheduled to run a routine and required test of batteries enrolled in California’s VPP programs today / tonight. Since your EverBright battery is enrolled in this program, you might notice a decrease in battery levels during this test if your battery's app provides this information. The battery will recharge normally after the event. While batteries are typically only used when there’s an increased need for power (i.e. heat wave, etc.), in this case, there’s no need or emergency.

[Only if asked about getting paid for the test.]

If your battery is used for a true need on the grid or just a test of the system, you will be eligible for a one-time credit on your EverBright solar bill. This one-time credit should appear on your statement in early 2025.

How will the bill credit work?

If you’re eligible for a bill credit as part of the VPP program, you should see it as a one-time credit on your EverBright solar bill a few months after the program ends on October 31, 2024 – likely in early 2025.

[If asked: Could I earn enough that my bill will be negative?]
We’re unable to know how much you could earn as it’s based on how often your battery is used and other factors. But hypothetically speaking, your earned bill credit could be larger than the amount you owe on your bill, giving you a negative balance which will carry over to your next bill.

[Internal example for support agents]
Using hypothetical dollars...
If a homeowner is eligible to earn a $500 bill credit, and assuming their monthly bill is $200 then following would occur:
• Jan bill: $0 (remaining credit $300)
• Feb bill: $0 (remaining credit $100)
• March bill: $100
• April bill: $200 (returns to typical bill)

When and how will I get paid for VPP participation?

A credit for VPP participation is expected to appear on your EverBright solar bill in early 2025, a few months after the program ends. The program ends on October 31, 2024, and you should see a credit on your EverBright bill in early 2025 if your battery was used and your solar account is in good standing.

How much credit can I earn from this VPP program? 

It’s hard to estimate how much you could earn because it depends on several factors, including if the battery is used during the limited program, how long you take part, and what program you are enrolled in. As one of EverBright’s Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) customers, you will be eligible to receive a bill credit equaling up to 50% of the net revenue of any energy generated by your system and used in the VPP.

Why haven’t I received money from my VPP participation yet?

[Verify customer was part of the VPP program. If within the 120 days after the program’s conclusion on October 31, 2024...]
Thanks for reaching out to check. If eligible, you should see a one-time credit on a future EverBright bill within 120 days after the program ends on October 31. 2024 — so you can expect this in early 2025. The evaluation of your battery usage and calculation of the net revenue share (how much credit you are owed) can take some time to process. Thank you for your patience.

[If customer account wasn’t in good standing as of October 31, 2024]
Thank you for calling and your interest in the VPP program. To be eligible to earn credit for your participation, your battery must be activated and your EverBright solar bill needs to be in good standing at the conclusion of the program. Our records show that your account was behind at the time, so you are not eligible for a VPP credit this time.

[If still delinquent]

May I help you make a payment today?

[If 120 days after the program’s conclusion on October 31, 2024, and account was in good standing...]
[Answer to be available for Support later in the year]

¿Qué es una Planta de Energía Virtual?

Una planta de energía virtual (PEV), es una red de recursos energéticos distribuidos, como baterías solares, que trabajan juntos para suministrar energía a la red cuando se necesita. Esta red se administra mediante un software que coordina virtualmente el uso de cada recurso. Los participantes elegibles en el programa PEV pueden ser compensados si la energía de su batería es utilizada. Al participar en un programa PEV, usted puede ahorrar dinero y contribuir a una red eléctrica más eficiente y sostenible para su comunidad.

¿Por qué mi energía es necesaria y cómo se utilizará?

Su energía solar almacenada puede ser necesaria en un programa de PEV si hay una gran demanda de energía debido a condiciones meteorológicas extremas o cuando el precio de la electricidad es alto. La utilización de la energía de su batería en el programa PEV puede ser una forma económica para suministrar energía a la red.

¿Sabré cuándo se está utilizando mi energía?

Es posible que observes una reducción en los niveles de carga de la batería durante un evento PEV si su app proporciona esta información. La batería se cargará normalmente después del evento. Sin embargo, la mayoría de los clientes no se darán cuenta de que sus baterías han sido activadas hasta que reciban un crédito único en su cuenta EverBright una vez que el programa haya finalizado.

¿Sabré cuándo se está utilizando mi batería?

Es posible que notes una disminución en los niveles de batería durante un evento de PEV si la aplicación de tu batería proporciona esta información. La batería se recargará normalmente después del evento. Sin embargo, la mayoría de los propietarios de viviendas no se darán cuenta de que su batería se ha activado hasta que reciban un crédito único en su factura de EverBright después de que finalice el programa.

¿En qué programa de planta de energía virtual (PEV) estaré inscrito?

Su inscripción en el programa de PEV depende si usted acepta compartir algunos datos de su empresa de servicios de electricidad.

• La Opción 1 que requiere compartir datos le inscribe en el Programa de Mercado de Capacidad y Energía Mayorista CAISO (por sus siglas en inglés) administrado por LeapFrog Power, Inc. Este programa ofrece la posibilidad de obtener un mayor crédito en su cuenta EverBright.

• La Opción 2 que no requiere compartir datos le inscribe en el Programa de Apoyo a la Red de Demanda Lateral (DSGS, por sus siglas en inglés), administrado por la Comisión de Energía de California. Si usted es cliente de Pacific Gas & Electric Company, es posible que esté inscrito en el programa ACDC de PG&E. Ambos le dan la oportunidad de ahorrar dinero, pero probablemente una cantidad reducida.

¿Cuándo y cómo recibiré compensación por mi participación en el programa de planta de energía virtual (PEV)?

Si la batería fue utilizada como parte del programa de PEV y su cuenta solar está al día con EverBright, usted verá un crédito en su cuenta solar de EverBright unos meses después de que el programa termine el 31 de octubre de 2024. El crédito debería reflejarse en su factura a principios de 2025.

¿Cuánto crédito puedo acumular con este programa de planta de energía virtual (PEV)?

La cantidad que puede ganar depende de factores como la frecuencia de uso de la batería y su inscripción en el programa. Como cliente del Contrato de Compra de Energía (PPA, por sus siglas en inglés) de EverBright, usted tiene derecho a recibir un crédito en su factura equivalente al 50% de los ingresos netos de cualquier energía generada por su sistema y utilizada en el programa de PEV.

¿Quién puede participar en el programa de planta de energía virtual (PEV) de EverBright?

Este programa de PEV está dirigido a ciertos clientes de energía solar EverBright PPA con un sistema de baterías Powershift o EverFixed Plus activado. Los participantes deben ser clientes de Pacific Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison o San Diego Gas & Electric. Si usted no cumple con estos requisitos hoy, usted podrá ser elegible para un programa en el futuro.

¿Qué necesito hacer para participar en un programa de planta de energía virtual (PEV)?

Los clientes con PPA EverBright elegibles serán incluidos automáticamente en un programa de PEV. Hay dos opciones para considerar. La Opción 1 requiere que comparta de forma segura algunos datos de la empresa de servicios públicos y ofrece la posibilidad de una mayor compensación. La opción 2 es una inscripción automática sin compartir datos. Si no desea compartir la información solicitada, o si se le pasa el plazo para compartir los datos, usted será inscrito automáticamente en la Opción 2.

¿Por qué necesitan que comparta algunos de mis datos de servicio de electricidad?

Algunos operadores de programas de PEV requieren información adicional para confirmar su elegibilidad, como su nombre, dirección y un identificador único de su factura de servicios públicos, conocido como Identificación de Acuerdo de Servicio o SAID (por sus siglas en inglés).

¿Cuándo concluye el programa?

El programa está vigente desde el 1 de junio hasta el 31 de octubre de 2024. Una vez concluido, su batería dejará de participar en los eventos de PEV. EverBright te notificará de los programas elegibles en el futuro.

¿Con quién puedo ponerme en contacto si tengo preguntas?

Si usted no ha encontrado las respuestas que buscaba en esta lista de preguntas frecuentes, EverBright está siempre a su disposición para ayudarle. Por favor, póngase en contacto con support@myeverbright.com o (877) 425-5201.