Why should my community do an Aboriginal Community Energy Plan (ACEP)?
By completing all three modules of the ACEP program, your community will develop a plan that can include ways to use less energy, manage energy costs and help the environment.  Only costs associated related to assessing electricity needs and opportunities will be covered under the ACEP program.  The plan will also promote awareness in your community and can get community members involved in developing and implementing the plan.  

What kinds of costs will be eligible for funding under the ACEP?
The Aboriginal Community Energy Plan program provides funding in three modules to complete a community energy plan.  

In Module I, the community will complete activities that include community meetings or workshops to develop guiding principles and vision for the community. The community will also complete a profile that includes information such as community size, community location and its current energy situation.

In Module II, the community will look at its total energy use to find out how much electricity is being used and identify where cost savings might be possible. This will help determine if and where conservation and renewable micro-generation benefits can be found. It will also help determine the impact of existing community policies and procedures on meeting the community’s vision and guiding principles.

Module III will help the community identify its electricity conservation priorities, develop a conservation action plan and make recommendations for any community policy changes that might affect electricity use. The plan also includes a review of renewable micro-generation opportunities and the development of a micro-generation action plan.

Please note that work previously carried out is not eligible for funding under the ACEP program. While previous work may be incorporated into the ACEP templates and can assist in the development of the final plan, no funding will be provided for work that has been already been completed.

How does my community apply to the ACEP?
The Aboriginal Community Energy Plan program began accepting applications on March 31, 2011. Applications are available on the Aboriginal Renewable Energy Network at www.aboriginalenergy.ca. Paper copies are available from the OPA at 1-888-471-2377 or by email to acep@powerauthority.on.ca Applications are accepted on a continuous basis.

Is there a deadline for accepting applications?
No, applications will be accepted on a continuous basis.

Is there a maximum amount of funding that my community can receive?
First Nations and Métis communities can qualify for up to $70,000 each to complete all three modules of the Aboriginal Community Energy Plan program. Remote communities may be eligible for up to $5,000 in additional funding. Please see the Program Rules for more information about Remote Communities.

Is there additional funding available for Remote Communities?
Yes, Remote Communities are eligible for up to $5,000 in additional funding. Please see the Program Rules for more information about Remote Community eligibility.

How do I know if my community is eligible for the ACEP program?
The Aboriginal Community Energy Plan program is available to First Nations and Métis communities in the province of Ontario which meet the following criteria:

• First Nation that is a “Band” as defined by the Indian Act (Canada)
• the Métis Nation of Ontario or any of its active Chartered Community Councils
• a Person, other than a natural person, that is determined by the Government of Ontario for the purposes of the FIT Program to represent the collective interests of a community that is composed of Métis or other Aboriginal individuals; or
• a corporation that is wholly owned by one or more Aboriginal Communities as described in (a), (b) or (c).

How does the program work?
The ACEP Program consists of three modules designed to help a community complete its community energy plan. Easy-to-use ACEP templates are available to complete each module. These templates are available on the website (www.aboriginalenergy.ca/acep) or from ACEP program staff at 1-888-471-2377.

In Module I, the community will complete activities that include community meetings or workshops with the purpose of developing guiding principles and a common vision for the community. The community will also complete a profile that includes information  such as community size, community location and its current energy situation..

In Module II, the community will look at its total energy use to find out how much energy is being used and identify possible cost savings. The information gathered in the baseline study will help determine if and where conservation and renewable micro-generation benefits can be found. It will also help determine the impact of existing community policies and procedures on meeting the vision and guiding principles developed by the community.

Module III will help the community identify its electricity conservation priorities, develop a conservation action plan and make recommendations for any community policy changes that might affect electricity use in the community. The plan also includes a review of renewable micro-generation opportunities and the development of a micro-generation action plan.

Once a funding contract has been signed, the community will have 24 months to complete all modules.

Please see the Aboriginal Community Energy Plan program guidelines and rules at www.aboriginalenergy.ca for more information.

What types of micro-generation technologies are currently eligible to review under the ACEP?
Your community may look at renewable micro-generation technologies that include wind, water, solar photovoltaic (PV) and bioenergy (biogas, biomass or landfill gas) projects under the ACEP program. The term “micro” refers to smaller-scale projects, generally 10 kilowatts or less in size.

Can my community hire a consultant to do the work required for the ACEP program?
Yes, your community may choose to use people from within your community to carry out the work or choose to have consultants carry out the majority of the ACEP program modules. Please keep in mind that your consultants will need to use the ACEP templates for each module.

Does it cost anything to apply and take part in the ACEP Program?
The ACEP Program has been designed so that a community may not have to provide any funds to complete the process. There may be, however, some activities a community may wish to complete during the process that fall outside the funding provided by the ACEP program. For example: exploring geothermal heating may be of interest to some communities but it is not included in the funding provided from ACEP. In addition, a community may incur costs required that are excluded from funding under the program.

Costs excluded for funding through the ACEP Program include:

• Payments for travel to the community for members that do not normally live in the community
• Any activity not listed as a Module I, II or III activity in the Program Rules.

My community has already completed some components of the ACEP program. Are we able to use this material in developing a new Community Energy Plan?
It is possible for previous work undertaken by the community to be incorporated into a new community energy plan through the ACEP program. Please note that while previous work may be incorporated into the ACEP templates and can assist in the development of the final plan, no funding will be provided for work that has been already been completed. Communities who choose to incorporate work already carried out should contact program staff for more information.

How much time does my community have to finish the Aboriginal Community Energy Plan?
Once the OPA has accepted your ACEP application and a Funding Contract has been signed with the Ontario Power Authority, the community will have 24 months to complete all modules of the community energy plan.

Can my community apply to the Aboriginal Community Energy Plan more than once?
An Aboriginal community that meets the criteria can submit only one application for the Aboriginal Community Energy Plan program. 

Can my community apply to both the OPA’s Aboriginal Community Energy Plan program and the Aboriginal Renewable Energy Fund?
Yes, your community may apply for both the Aboriginal Community Energy Plan program and the Aboriginal Renewable Energy Fund.  

Is the Aboriginal Community Energy Plan application process competitive?
No, applications are accepted continuously, in a non-competitive manner.

How are applications evaluated?
Applications will be evaluated on community eligibility, completeness and the availability of internal community resources to assist in completing all components of the community energy plan within the 24-month time period.

Once an application is approved, how is the funding distributed?  
Once an application is approved and a Funding Contract has been signed by both the OPA and the community, 30 percent of the Module I budget will be distributed. Once all activities for Module I have been completed and submitted, along with all supporting invoices and receipts, 60 percent (or less based on upon actual costs as demonstrated in the receipts) of the budget will be distributed. 10 percent of the total Module I  budget is held back until all components of all three ACEP modules have been completed. Funding for Module II and III is distributed in the same way as Module I.

How is the Aboriginal Community Energy Plan program related to the OPA’s Conservation programs?
The ACEP program is designed to work in conjunction with the OPA’s suite of Conservation programs. This includes a number of new conservation programs that are currently under development. As part of the ACEP, a community will determine its conservation priorities by completing a community energy plan. A community may choose to participate in the OPA’s conservation programs prior to completing an ACEP, however, priority will be given to those communities who have advanced a community energy plan.

If my community applied for the Aboriginal Community Energy Plan program, can it also apply for other funds and grants to develop a community energy plan?
Yes, your community may leverage other funds to carry out costs that may not be covered by the program; however, the Aboriginal Community Energy Plan program will not fund costs that have already been fully covered by other funding sources.

If my community applies to the ACEP program, are we allowed to develop a full energy plan that includes components beyond the scope of the ACEP program?
Your community may choose to complete other aspects of a community energy plan that are not included in the ACEP, however, ACEP funding will not be provided to carry out those components. Your community is encouraged to find other sources of funding to carry out activities that are not included in the ACEP.

Who can I contact for more information about the Aboriginal Community Energy Plan program?
For inquiries about any aspect of the Aboriginal Energy Partnerships Program, including the Aboriginal Community Energy Plan program, please contact the OPA at 1-888-471-2377 or email us at acep@powerauthority.on.ca.  You can also visit www.aboriginalenergy.ca for more information.