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.