PowerClerk Support Center

Project Pages
Project Admin Page
Locating the Project Admin Page
How to Use the Project Admin page
Project View/Edit Page
Locating the Project View/Edit Page
How to use the Project View/Edit Page
Program Design
Automations
Questions to Ask
Locating the Automations feature
How to create an Automation
Automation Triggers
Automation Action Rules
Validation Rules
Scheduled Triggers
Troubleshooting Automations
FAQs
Channels
Questions to ask yourself
Locating the Channels feature
What are Channels?
Types of Channels
Channel Type: Mark as Child
Channel Type: Make Successor
Channel Type: Create Related Project
Channel Type: Submit Related Project
Channel Type: Project Lookup
How to create a Channel
Channel Signals and Automations
Using Channels in Test Environments
FAQs
Communications
Questions to ask yourself
Locating the Communications feature
Creating Communication templates
Finding Data Tags
Images in Communications
Sending Mass Communications
Project Attachments and Content Library Items
Smart Templates
Upgrading to Smart Templates
Upgrading when a Test Environment Exists
Broken Template Tags
Examples of Broken Template Tags
PowerClerk Mass Communication Policy
FAQs
Connections
Questions to ask yourself
Locating the Connections feature
What are Connections
How to Create a Web Connector
Define the Web Connector
Connecting, Testing, and Enabling the Web Connector
Creating a Standard Web Connector Configuration
Utilizing Connections on PowerClerk
Maintaining and Editing the Web Connector
Web Connector Payload Type Format
Supported Message Versions
Error Handling
Custom List Lookup
Create a Custom List Lookup
Utilizing Custom List Lookup
FAQs
Content Library
Questions to ask yourself
Locating the Content Library feature
Uploading content to the Content Library
Use with Communication Templates
Use for Front Page content
FAQs
Custom API IDs
Questions to Ask
Locating the Custom API IDs feature
How to edit a Custom API ID
FAQs
Data Fields
Questions to ask yourself
Locating the Data Fields feature
How to work with Data Fields
Custom Lists and Data Field Groups
Table form element
PV System + batteries element
FAQs
Deadlines
Questions to ask yourself
Locating the Deadlines feature
What are Deadlines
How to Create a Deadline
Deadline Automation Action Rules
Utilizing Project Admin Page for Deadlines
Communication Templates for Deadlines
Deadline Set/Satisfy Options
Program-Wide Deadline Actions
Reporting on Deadlines
Deadlines in Project List Columns
FAQs
Document Templates
Questions to ask yourself
Locating the Document Templates feature
How to define a new Template
How to define a new Merged Document
eSignatures
DocuSign template tags
Mapping eSignature tags
Smart Templates
FAQs
eSignature Envelopes
Questions to Ask
Locating the eSignature Feature
What are eSignature Envelopes?
eSignature Checklist: The Prerequisites to create a new Envelope
How to set up Advanced eSignature Envelopes Step-by-Step
How to add an eSignature Envelope to a form
eSignature Automation Trigger
Viewing Completed eSignature Envelopes
Resending eSignature Notifications
Canceling eSignatures
FAQs
Forms
Questions to ask yourself
Locating the Forms feature
How to create and edit Forms
Adding data fields
Configuring Forms
VersaForms
Sensitive Data Fields
FAQs
Formulas and Calculated Fields
Questions to ask yourself
Locating the Formulas feature
How to work with Formulas and Calculated Fields
Formula Data Dictionary
Dynamic Formula References
Rules of Formula References
Advanced Visibility Rules
Video Guides: Formulas
FAQs
Front Page
Questions to ask yourself
Locating the Front Page feature
How to edit the Front Page
FAQs
Incentive Design
Questions to ask yourself
Locating the Incentive Design feature
How to create and edit Incentive Designs
Incentive Options for One-Time Incentive Type
Incentive Design Options
FAQs
Milestones
Questions to ask yourself
Locating the Milestones feature
How to define a Milestone
FAQs
Project List Columns
Questions to ask yourself
Locating the Project List Columns feature
How to use Project List Columns
FAQs
Project Summary
Questions to ask yourself
Locating the Project Summary feature
How to edit the Project Summary
FAQs
Project Views
Questions to ask yourself
Locating the Project Views feature
How to edit Project Views
FAQs
Roles
Questions to ask yourself
Locating the Roles feature
How to create and edit a Role
Access Groups
Access Groups and Automations
Access Groups and Data Imports
Access Groups and Reports
FAQs
Workflow
Questions to ask yourself
Locating the Workflow feature
How to create and edit the Workflow
Transitions
Workflow Example Overview
FAQs
Administration
Announcements
Locating the Announcements feature
Creating an Announcement
Triggering an Announcement
Managing Announcements Topic List
Managing Announcement Topic Enrollment Via User Account
Prerequisites for Using Announcements
Business Days
Questions to ask yourself
Locating the Business Days feature
Setting up Business Days
FAQs
Dashboards
Questions to ask yourself
Locating the Dashboards feature
How to create widgets in your Dashboard
Other Dashboard Actions
Data Import
Questions to ask yourself
Locating the Data Import feature
Steps to Complete a Data Import
Data Import Configurations
Column Header Types
Automatic Data Imports via SFTP
Revert Data Imports
FAQs
Duplicate Check
Questions to ask yourself
Locating the Duplicate Check feature
How to use Duplicate Checks
FAQs
Import Projects
Questions to ask yourself
Locating the Import Projects feature
How to Import From V2
FAQs
Operation Status
Questions to ask yourself
Locating the Operation Status feature
How to use the Operation Status feature
FAQs
Program Info
Project Inquiry
Locating the Project Inquiry feature
How to edit the Project Inquiry Settings
Automating Communications for Project Inquires
Inquiry Summary
Questions to ask yourself
Locating the Program Info feature
How to edit the Program Info menu
Notification Banners
Usage Info
FAQs
Program Statistics
Questions to ask yourself
Locating the Program Statistics feature
How to use Program Statistics
FAQs
Reports
Questions to ask yourself
Locating the Reports feature
How to setup Reports
Multi-instance reports
Sharing Reports
Integrate scheduled Reports
Cross-Program Reports
FAQs
User Administration
Questions to ask yourself
Locating the User Administration feature
How to work with User Administration
FAQs
Test Environment
FAQs
Questions to ask yourself
Locating the Test Environment feature
How to setup a Test Environment
Tools Menu
My Account
Questions to Ask
Locating the My Account feature
How to use the My Account feature
Setting up Multi-Factor Authentication
Missing, lost, or stolen mobile devices: resetting Multi-Factor Authentication
Disabling Multi-Factor Authentication
Recovery Guidelines for MFA Administrators
FAQs
FormSense
Questions to Ask
Locating the FormSense feature
How to use the FormSense feature
FAQs
Grant Access
Questions to Ask
Project Grants vs Broad Grants (i.e. "Grant Access")
Locating the Project Grant feature
Locating the Grant Access feature
How to use the Grant Access feature
FAQs
Integration Guides & API
ePayments
Questions to ask yourself
Locating the ePayments History feature
How to add ePayments
FAQ
PowerClerk API
Questions to Ask
What is the PowerClerk API?
What can the PowerClerk API do?
Integrating with the PowerClerk API
API Documentation for Developers
Single Sign On (SSO)
Questions to Ask
PowerClerk SSO Configuration
Azure AD Configuration (SAML)
Azure AD Configuration (OIDC)
Okta IDP Configuration (SAML)
SP Configuration
SSO for multiple programs
IDP Configuration Troubleshooting
FAQs
Integration Guide 001: How to configure an ArcGIS Connector – ArcGIS Implementation
Integration Guide 002: How to configure Electric Power Research Institute’s (EPRI) DRIVE Connect software with PowerClerk
PowerClerk Video Guides
Setting up Roll-up Reports
New User Video Guide
Configuring Forms
Roles and User Administration
Setting up Business Days
Formulas and Advanced Visibility Rules
Visualize Workflows
Dashboards
ArcGIS
FormSense
API
Edit Forms - Tutorial #1
SFTP Automatic Data Import
Calculated Fields
Web Connector Setup
Build A Formula
Milestones
Edit Forms - Tutorial #2
Project Summary
Automation with Formulas in Action Rules
PowerClerk Program Launch
PowerClerk User Group Sessions (UGS)
Learning Management System (LMS)
Join us for Reflow!
NEW: PowerClerk Certifications

Product Summary and Key Concepts

Product Summary

 

PowerClerk streamlines utility workflow for multiple programs ranging from Distributed Energy Resource (DER) interconnection, incentives, and Demand Side Management (DSM) programs. It’s a flexible Software as a Service (SaaS) tool that enables utility administrators to streamline application submission and processing, quickly implement changes to keep up with evolving program requirements, and fully integrate application data with comprehensive reporting and a standards-based application programming interface (API)

 

PowerClerk continuously evolves and has been built upon the learnings and insights gleaned from nearly a decade of commercially licensing PowerClerk as a SaaS platform. PowerClerk is the industry-leading software solution for renewable energy processing. Hosted on AWS, PowerClerk is a web-based application with more than 100+ individual programs serving 50+ utilities and processing over 2 million applications to date. It is also used to manage other technologies including solar hot water, wind and small hydro.

 

Once configured using the self-service tools described in the Program Design section, customer administrators begin accepting and processing applications, sending automatic communications, setting project deadlines and running reports through an easy to use administrative user interface. “Applicants” (those seeking approval of applications for the process being administered by the PowerClerk customer) fill out applications, electronically sign documents and later review their application statuses throughout processing. Additional details of how processes can be run in PowerClerk are outlined below.

 

In addition to the web interface, PowerClerk offers an Application Programming Interface (API) for both administrator and applicant users. Applicants can leverage an API integration between PowerClerk and their CRM system to automatically populate applications in PowerClerk from CRM. Additionally, applicants can regularly get updates about existing projects as status or other details change. In addition to applicant functionality, administrators can leverage an API integration to their CIS, billing, or ERP system to automatically update records in those systems based on project status and data updates in PowerClerk. Further, customers can integrate analytical tools such as those used in distribution planning to streamline and automate technical screens and analyses.

 
 

PowerClerk Key Concepts
  • An agency is a PowerClerk customer such as an electric utility or energy agency.
  • An administrator is a Role designated by an agency to configure and operate PowerClerk to manage an application process and/or review applications.
  • A Program is a kind of process within an agency that accepts a submitted item.
  • A project is a submitted item. For PowerClerk, this is can be an incentive application, community solar application, or more. Projects have at least one form(e.g., Incentive Application), but may have multiple.
  • Projects move through a set of statuses. The list of statuses and the flow between statuses is defined per-program as the Workflow, and can be configured self-service by the administrator.
  • A Form is a specific set of data for a project. A typical program will have at least one Form (e.g., Incentive Application) submitted by the applicant. It is possible for a project to have more than one Form associated with the project (e.g. Inspection Form, Proof of Project Milestones, etc.).
  • Every user is assigned a Role. Roles control who can see and do what, and when. Roles are defined per program and can be configured self-service by the administrator.
  • Application Programming Interface –a robust API supports data operations including project creation, data update, and data retrieval. All Roles and form logic is enforced when data is updated via the API. The API makes it possible for applicants to programmatically submit applications, review application status, and more. The API also makes it possible for agencies to pull data into back-end systems for backup or other business processes, and make data updates in PowerClerk.
  • The term “administrator” is used throughout this document to mean an administrator or authorized contractor working on behalf of the agency. The term “administrator” is broadly used to refer to a user with an administrator-level role which gives them access to all program design and Admin features in PowerClerk.