This memo discusses utilities’ efforts to engage their communities in decision-making and improve language accessibility, based on their performance in the 2023 Utility Energy Efficiency Scorecard. When they engage their communities in an inclusive way, utilities can ensure that they accurately understand and address the barriers disinvested community members face. Similarly, by taking an information-driven approach to language access, they can help customers benefit from services such as bill assistance or energy efficiency programs. Across the scorecard, we found that utilities can substantially improve their efforts to embed equity in their programs. In this memo, we profile the efforts of Portland General Electric and Mass Save, which set strong examples for other utilities looking to advance procedural equity.
