Greetings!
This month’s MI Solar for All update will include information on the following:
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Some program milestones
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Input opportunities
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MI Solar for All listening sessions
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Feedback on pilot and community solar surveys
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Behind-the-meter solar and storage study call for data and instructions on smart meter data access
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Upcoming meetings/initiatives
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MI Solar for All – Solar Project Matchmaking Meeting planned
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MI Solar for All Pilot Request For Proposal (RFP) update
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Join us at the MI Healthy Climate Conference 2025 on April 22-23 in Detroit!
Thank you for your continued support of this important work!
Some program milestones
In early February, the MI Solar for All program received U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approval that its updated workplan meets the Planning Period Term and Condition. This approval allows the program to design, develop, and offer program offerings described in the workplan without further EPA approval.
During February, the program onboarded two contractor teams to assist in program design and engagement. Guidehouse will lead with Baker Tilly supporting on financial strategies. MI Solar for All program staff looks forward to working with both teams!
Input opportunities
MI Solar for All Listening Sessions
We’ve kicked off our series of listening sessions for the MI Solar for All program and have had two sessions. Please click on the links below to see the presentation recordings.
Below are the dates and topics for future sessions. If you're interested in attending and sharing your thoughts, please register using the links below. Please note, you must register separately for each event:
Feedback wanted – Pilot Survey and Community Solar Survey
The MI Solar for All team is seeking feedback through a survey on upcoming pilot programs and community solar program design. Your input will help shape the selection and development of these pilots to better serve your community. Each survey takes about 10 minutes to complete, and we appreciate your time in sharing your thoughts!
Behind-the-Meter Solar and Storage Study (Call for Data!)
The MI Solar for All program is partnering with the Great Plains Institute and Georgia Institute of Technology on a behind-the-meter solar and storage study led by Dr. Constance Crozier, assistant professor in the H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology.
The project will identify energy bill savings and potential utility cost impacts from behind-the-meter solar for varying consumer types.
We put out a call for data to support the researchers in our update letter and in presentations. Many thanks to those of you willing to share data!
However, though interest in sharing residential data was high, few shared actual smart meter data. The researchers seek electricity use data at intervals of 15 minutes to one hour. If you have an electric smart meter, you should be able to download your electric use at these smaller time intervals. Examples of how to access and download this smart meter data for DTE or Consumers Energy is shared at the end, as well as instructions on how to submit it to study researchers. If you are in a different utility area than the two examples but also have a smart meter, your customer portal likely also allows you to download this data.
We anticipate the researchers will have results to share in mid to late April! If you want to share the needed smart meter data, please follow the instructions at the end of this message on how to send the data. Please send the data by March 26 at the latest, if you wish for it to be included in the analysis. Thank you!
Upcoming meetings/initiatives
MI Solar for All – Solar Project Matchmaking Meeting
Are you interested in developing or partnering on a solar project? The MI Solar for All program, with assistance from Guidehouse, will host a Solar Project Matchmaking Meeting to support connections between communities/organizations that have project ideas and are interested in applying for MI Solar for All funding opportunities with those seeking to collaborate on these projects like developers, contractors, and technology providers. We hope this will be your chance to share project ideas, explore potential partnerships, and help shape impactful solar projects.
The meeting will be scheduled within the next month prior to posting of the MI Solar for All pilot RFP. More details coming soon—stay tuned!
MI Solar for All – Pilot Funding and RFP
The MI Solar for All team is working on the RFP for the upcoming pilot opportunities ($8.875 million in available funding for eligible MI Solar for All projects this year). Though we optimistically hoped it would be available in March, it appears that the pilot RFP will be available sometime in April. We will keep you apprised of the progress!
Join us at the MI Healthy Climate Conference!
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Dr. Joy Wang, MI Solar for All program director, will moderate the “Achieving 60% Renewable Energy: Customer and Community Perspectives” session on April 23 from 10:55-11:55 AM.
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MI Solar for All will also hold a dedicated session from 1:15-2:15 PM on April 23. More details to come!
Thank you for your partnership and dedication to developing MI Solar for All to help reduce energy costs and improve energy reliability/resiliency for low-income families and communities in Michigan!
The MI Solar for All Team
Consumers Energy Smart Meter Data Download Instructions
Step 1:
Navigate to the Consumers Energy login page and sign in using your account credentials. Once logged in, you will be automatically directed to the home page. From the home page, select "View Usage Insights" to access detailed information about your energy usage on a new page.
Step 2:
Scroll down to the bottom of the page until you see the menu. In the lower-left corner, click the link that says, "Download my energy usage data." A popup will appear.
Step 3:
- Under “Select Fuel Type”, select “Electric.”
- Under “Select Data Type”, select “Usage.”
- Under “Select Date Range”, set the start date to reflect one year of data from today’s date, if available. If you have lived at this location for less than a year, use your move-in date as the start date. Set the end date to today’s date.
- Under “Select File Format,” select “CSV.”
Step 4:
Send data to researchers. See “SENDING DOWNLOADED SMART METER DATA TO RESEARCHERS” at end for more instructions.
DTE Smart Meter Data Download Instructions
After logging in, you will be directed to the “Bill and Payment” page. In the menu on the left side, locate and select “Energy Usage Data.”
On the “Energy Usage Data” page, go to the top menu and select “Download Data.”
- Under “Type of Service,” select “Electric (Hourly).”
- Under “Date Range,” set the start date to reflect one year of data from today’s date, if available. If you have lived at this location for less than a year, use your move-in date as the start date. Set the end date to today’s date.
- Under “File Type,” select “CSV - Spreadsheet format.”
- After you have selected the fields indicated above, select “Download Report.”
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Sending Downloaded Smart Meter Data to Researchers
Please email the CSV file as an attachment to Rina Severiano at rseveriano3@gatech.edu with the subject line “MI SFA Smart Meter Data.” In the email body, indicate the type of building (single-family residential, multifamily residential, commercial), approximate square footage of your residence/building, and your electric utility company. If your home or building has electric vehicle charging, solar panels, or energy storage, please include the number and size of these technologies. Thank you!
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