SPARKe Strategic Energy Management for SoCal Businesses
Unlock your facility's full
potential with utility funding
Are you looking to reduce operating costs, improve energy efficiency, and enhance your facility’s performance? SPARKe offers comprehensive, data-driven strategic energy management (SEM) solutions for commercial, industrial, and agricultural businesses across Southern California.
Paid for by the public purpose surcharge on your electricity bills*
What’s in it for you?
SPARKe provides a holistic approach to strategic energy management, tailored to the unique needs of your Southern California facility. We work with a wide range of commercial, industrial, and agricultural businesses, from manufacturing plants to cold storage facilities. Our team of experts will guide you through every step of the process, from initial assessment to implementation and beyond.
Save Money Year Over Year.
Identify and eliminate energy waste across your operations. No capital projects required.
Gain Confidence With Data.
Get the tools and coaching to track performance, set goals, and make decisions backed by real results.
Unlock Hidden Potential.
Train your staff on energy efficiency, build corporate decarbonization knowledge, and transform teams into performance drivers. Turn your facility into a model of sustainability.
Get Dedicated Support.
You’re not alone. Our local SEM program provides experienced energy coaches, peer collaboration, and proven processes to help you succeed. We are committed to supporting your journey towards energy efficiency and cost savings.
What Participants Say
“The SEM program has transformed how we look at energy consumption. With the help of the Cascade team’s technical expertise, tools, and encouragement, we were able to effectively embed energy efficiency into our decision-making process and benefit not only from sustained savings but also from improved operations and maintenance practices as well as higher employee engagement.”
— Sustainability Manager, Food Processing Facility
How SPARKe Strategic Energy Management (SEM) Works
Treasure Hunt
Discover projects with strong ROIs alongside our energy efficiency experts.
Workshops
Get training from our dedicated experts on how to sustain and expand energy savings.
Impactful Projects
Complete no and low cost changes on site as the first step towards your energy efficiency goals.
Financial Support
Retrieve the funding you need to maximize the benefits from your engagement.
Data Software
Unleash the power of energy monitoring with our tool for centralized data management.
Persistent Savings
Identify and implement changes that provide ongoing cost and energy reductions.
All of the above services and consulting are available to eligible businesses through the SPARKe SEM program, paid for by your utility.
With SPARKe your business has access to the highest incentive rates for capital projects (up to $0.21/kWh) and electrification (up to $7/therm) to help you upgrade and improve your legacy equipment.*
Project Type | Incentive | Cap |
|---|---|---|
No- and Low-Cost (BRO) | $0.02/kWh | 100% of implementation cost |
Capital | $0.21/kWh | 50% of implementation cost |
Electrification | $7/therm | 50% of implementation cost |
Who is Eligible?
Our industrial, commercial, and agricultural strategic energy management programs are available to businesses in Southern California that use at least 6 million kWh annually. This includes:
Cold Storage
Entertainment
Farms
Food Processing
Hotels & Hospitality
Indoor Cannabis
Manufacturing
Retail
Transportation
Wastewater
And More!
* Within the following counties:
- Fresno
- Imperial
- Inyo
- Kern
- Kings
- Los Angeles
- Madera
- Mono
- Orange
- Riverside
- San Bernardino
- Santa Barbara
- Tuolumne
- Tulare
- Ventura
Bright SPARKs: Success Stories
See how others have turned energy into an asset
Bimbo Bakeries USA
Energy savings above and beyond projected levels were achieved through our review of Bimbo’s solar system during their SEM program.
Muller Pinehurst Dairy
An energy treasure hunt through their SEM engagement led this processing facility to the pot of gold: significantly increased energy efficiency and the resulting cost reductions.
Feeling pressure to cut operational costs or emissions while increasing performance? We get it.
Operations managers like you are often asked to do more with less: keep systems running, hit sustainability targets, reduce costs, and support your team, all while navigating external pressures and internal resource constraints.
That’s where SPARKe comes in.
SPARKe is a Strategic Energy Management (SEM) program that helps you uncover energy-saving opportunities within the systems and equipment you already have. Through focusing on no-cost operations and maintenance projects, the program is designed to quickly reduce operating costs and improve efficiency without slowing production.
The best part? SPARKe is funded through the Public Purpose Program (PPP) charge already on your utility bill. That means you can access expert support, training, and energy management tools at no added cost.
Less risk. More results. All with the resources you already have.
Why Choose SPARKe?
Industry-Leading Incentives
Earn the best incentives in your region; up to $0.21/kWh for capital projects and $7/therm for electrification.*
Integrate Data-Driven Insights
Access software that makes it easy to visualize your progress, validate reductions, and keep teams aligned.
Unlock Hidden Potential
Train your staff on energy efficiency, build corporate decarbonization knowledge, and transform teams into performance drivers.
Future-Proof Operations
SEM keeps your sustainability and decarbonization efforts grounded and achievable without major capital spend.
Freqently Asked Questions
How is SEM different from other demand response or energy efficiency programs?
Strategic Energy Management (SEM) is a holistic, year-round approach focused on ongoing energy reduction—not just one-time rebates or projects. Instead of just incentivizing a single project, SEM builds an internal energy management system, trains your team, identifies operational and capital improvements, and provides continuous support to help your facility save energy every year.
How much does it cost to participate in the SPARKe program?
There is no cost to participate. The program is fully funded through your utility’s public purpose program.
Will I ever be asked to pay for anything directly?
No. You will never be asked to pay for program participation, workshops, coaching, analysis, or any other program services.
What services are included in the SPARKe program?
The SPARKe program provides all of the following services at no cost to you:
- Dedicated energy coach for your facility
- Facility Energy Scan / Treasure Hunt
- Project opportunity identification
- Energy modeling and savings calculations
- Measurement & verification support
- Utility incentive coordination
- Workshops and staff training
- Ongoing technical assistance throughout the year
Will you manage project implementation and engineering?
The SPARKe program provides guidance, technical support, and engineering recommendations, but does not serve as a project contractor. You maintain full control of vendor selection, permitting, and installation. We help evaluate options and streamline the process to make implementation easier.
Who is eligible for the SPARKe program?
Most medium and large commercial, industrial, institutional and agriculture facilities that pay into the public purpose program fund are eligible. The primary qualification is based on annual energy usage – facilities must use over 6,000,000 kWh per year.
What types of facilities and industries can participate?
The SPARKe program serves a wide range of industries, including: Manufacturing, distribution, cold storage, healthcare, cannabis cultivation, higher education, retail, hospitality, food processing, government, wastewater, and more.
What does the SPARKe enrollment process look like?
The enrollment process is straightforward and includes:
- Introductory call to discuss your facility’s needs
- Review of utility account data and eligibility verification
- Program overview and enrollment form
- Baseline energy review
- Scheduling the Treasure Hunt / Energy Scan
How long is the program commitment?
The SPARKe program is implemented in 2-year cycles. Participants commit to the full 2-year cycle, with the option to extend for up to two additional 2-year cycles (6 years in total).
Can I leave the program early without penalty?
Yes. You may withdraw from the SPARKe program at any time with no fee or penalty.
What happens if we don’t complete any energy saving projects?
You will still receive coaching, training, and support throughout the program. However, incentive payments are only issued when projects achieve verifiable energy savings. There is no penalty for lower-than-expected savings or if projects aren’t completed.
Which departments or staff members typically participate?
SPARKe participants typically include staff from:
Facilities/maintenance, operations, production, sustainability, engineering, and finance/management (when needed for decision-making).
Are there regular meetings or time commitments?
Yes. The SPARKe program typically requires monthly coaching check-ins and a few required workshops throughout the year.
How much time will the program require from our team?
Most organizations dedicate 2–4 hours per month to SPARKe program activities, including coaching sessions, workshops, and project implementation.
What data do we need to provide to the program?
- Utility bills and access to interval data
- Basic equipment information
- Production or occupancy data (if relevant to energy use)
How long are the required workshops?
Workshops are typically 2–3 hours each and held a few times per year.
What types of energy efficiency projects does SPARKe identify?
SPARKe identifies a comprehensive mix of energy-saving opportunities, including:
- Operational improvements: controls tuning, scheduling, maintenance
- Behavioral changes: staff training and energy-conscious practices
- Capital upgrades: HVAC, lighting, compressors, process equipment
How are energy efficiency projects identified?
Energy-saving opportunities are identified through multiple methods:
- Energy Scan/Treasure Hunt walkthrough
- Equipment assessments
- Energy data analysis
- Onsite observations
- Discussions with facility staff who know your operations best
Are there examples or case studies from facilities like ours?
Yes. Case studies are available by industry and can be provided upon request. Some can be found online: Success Stories | Cascade Energy
What kind of ROI can we expect from SPARKe projects?
Most operational improvements identified through SPARKe have immediate or under-1-year payback periods. Capital projects vary, but utility incentives frequently shorten ROI periods significantly.
How do SPARKe incentives work?
SPARKe incentives are based on verified annual kWh savings from completed energy efficiency projects. The program helps calculate savings and manages all the incentive paperwork for you.
When will we receive incentive payments for completed projects?
Incentive payments are issued annually after project completion and verification of energy savings.
How are energy savings measured and verified?
Through industry-standard measurement & verification techniques (utility data analysis, equipment run-time, metering, and engineering models).
What does “verifiable kWh savings” mean?
Verifiable kWh savings means projects must demonstrate measurable reductions in energy use compared to a baseline. Savings are calculated using actual meter data and validated engineering assumptions to ensure accuracy.
Is there a limit to how many incentives we can receive?
There is no limit on the number of projects your facility can complete through SPARKe. However:
- Capital projects must have a minimum project cost of $50,000 to be eligible for Capital Incentives.
- Incentives are capped at $250,000 per program year.
Can the SPARKe program help our site with solar energy?
Yes. While SPARKe strategic energy management does not provide solar incentives, the program can help you evaluate solar readiness, understand financial impacts, and integrate solar into your long-term energy management plan.