CEE is a non-profit public benefit corporation. Our mission is to accelerate development and availability to the public of energy-efficient technologies and to improve communications and commonality of programs in this field.

CEE membership is extended to all organizations that have a regulatory or legislative mandate to administer energy-efficiency programs as well as other public stakeholders in such programs. Such administrators may be utilities or statewide and regional organizations or agencies.

Other public stakeholders include national and state agencies, US Department of Energy National Laboratories, and public interest groups that advocate for energy efficiency and do not have a significant interest in program implementation. Membership is also extended to utilities as well as public purpose organizations that primarily serve CEE members.

Ineligible firms – regardless of profit status – are those who could have financial interest in CEE initiatives such as manufacturers, retailers, distributors, energy service firms and those firms that provide implementation services for programs of others. The intent of such exclusion is to maintain CEE's objectivity in its promotion of energy efficiency, the perception of which is deemed critical to success.

While excluded from membership, these firms are encouraged to provide input. Indeed, members may invite implementation and evaluation firms they engage to attend and participate in CEE meetings on their behalf. However, such participants must identify themselves with their employer as well as their CEE member sponsor and disqualify themselves during decision-making aspects of discussions.

Organizations that could qualify for more than one category will have their membership based upon their role in energy-efficiency program administration. For example, many state agencies or public purpose organizations administer mandated programs and join CEE on such a basis.

For purposes of qualifying as one of the Public Stakeholder categories, implementation activities shall not constitute more than 15 percent of the revenue for the energy-efficiency program. CEE deems such a level may be perceived to influence the input of such a member to CEE Board decisions and would taint CEE's objectivity.

CEE welcomes utilities that may not be administering mandated programs but provide energy-efficiency services to their ratepayers. CEE views these firms as sufficiently different from other firms engaged in the energy-efficiency business because the utility firms' focus is their utility customers.

Also, utilities whose ratepayers are represented by another CEE member Administrator may join as utilities rather than Administrators. Many states have energy-efficiency programs administered by state or regional agencies and utilities. CEE dues are based on the concept that program administrators with the larger budgets should make the larger contributions.

If one member is paying on a per-ratepayer basis, then utilities from that jurisdiction may join for a significantly lower flat rate. This contribution is based on the additional value that this membership provides to this member as well as the cost to support them. Administrators as well as utilities may join on the basis of the jurisdictions in which they provide energy-efficiency programs.

Also, CEE recognizes federal agencies that provide grants or enter into cooperative agreements with CEE as Sponsors rather than members. Typically, such grants include conditions for participation. Such funding and participation obviate the need for a membership category. National agencies may also choose to be a member.

Individuals may also join CEE at the discretion of the Executive Director. Considerations include CEE's concern for the appearance of conflicts of interest. Individual membership is not to be used in lieu of an organizational membership.

MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES

Efficiency Program Administrators
Any entity designated by a state with a legislative or regulatory mandate to administer energy-efficiency programs. Dues based on contribution per ratepayer. (CEE's Executive Committee may grant exceptions based on differences in mandates or special circumstances.)

Utilities – Special Cases
Utilities whose ratepayers are also represented by a CEE member Efficiency Program Administrator, and utilities without mandated energy-efficiency programs. Dues are based on the size of the utility and reflect such ratepayer contribution.

Public Stakeholders

• State Agency
  
A state government organization with an energy-efficiency mission.
• National Government Agency

A national government organization with an energy-efficiency mission.
• R&D Laboratory

A federal, state or university non-profit entity involved in energy-efficiency research and development. Dues are based on the size and mandate of the organization.
• Energy-Efficiency Service Organization

Other public purpose organizations primarily funded and serving CEE members.
• Individual

Individuals without a potentially conflicting interest, subject to the approval of the Executive Director.

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