Virginia Fast Tracks Energy Rebates via Online Automation Process

An online program that expedites energy rebate requests for citizens and businesses is helping Virginia better disburse such funds through a public-facing interface.

The state's Online Energy Rebate Solution -- an automated public-facing service that allows users to apply for various energy efficiency improvement rebates -- has facilitated the submission and processing of nearly 60,000 such transactions, according to NIC's subsidiary Virginia Interactive (VI), which contracts with Virginia.

"This system automated an otherwise unwieldy process, not just for our original requirements, but for subsequent initiatives charged to our agency," said Al Christopher, director of Virginia's Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy's (DMME) energy division.

Virginia's DMME approached VI in fall 2009 with hopes of developing an online rebate program for home and business energy-efficiency programs, an NIC press release stated. Recognizing the benefits of automation to handle the high volume of anticipated rebate requests and to decrease staff, two more renewable energy rebate programs -- for solar and wind, and Energy Star appliances -- were announced.

"Citizens and businesses use the online solution to apply for a wide range of rebates such as conducting energy evaluations, installing efficiency upgrades, purchasing Energy Star appliances and installing solar/wind energy systems," the press release stated.

The public interface walks users through the complex requirements for numerous rebate options and provides the following benefits, VI stated:

• profile account creation enabling users to enter, review and verify submissions without having to re-enter common data;
• validation of required information for thoroughness and accuracy; 
• calculation, using complex formulas, for eligible rebate amounts based upon user selections; 
• generation of improvement statistics related to the proposed energy project; 
• reservation of funds to ensure "first come, first served"; and
• anti-fraud rules to highlight suspicious submissions.

VI also developed a "cutting-edge" administrative interface, enabling DMME staff to manage the three programs, including submissions tracking rebate processing and opening up additional rebate rounds as funds become available, the press release stated.

Bar codes are also used on submitted documents, in an effort to streamline the approval process, allowing administrators to quickly scan and approve the thousands of rebate redemptions accurately, VI stated.