Weekly Detail on Application Processing Progress

May 16, 2023

Energy Solutions remains committed to providing frequent updates and details on application processing progress for Illinois Shines. Project application review volumes for the week again exceeded our forecasted processing volume, continuing progress toward the Program Administrator’s forecast to bring application processing to within two months of submission by mid-May, as shared in the April 4, 2023, announcement. The Program Administrator continues to allocate staff to increase applications reviewed each week and implement process solutions toward the goal of reviewing applications within a two-week turnaround by the end of Summer 2023.

This announcement provides the following application processing updates:

Updated application processing tables through the week starting May 8, 2023 and forecast aligning with a two-month turnaround this week.
Updates on staffing, training, resourcing, process improvement, and automation to accelerate application reviews

Application Processing Updates

The Program Administrator continues to forecast achieving review turnaround times of two weeks by Summer 2023. Updated application processing data continues to be published on the Program website on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. This weekly announcement reflects application processing throughput and any variances in submitted applications as well as updates on our Need Info efforts.

The week of May 8, 2023, the Program received more new project applications than projected, and the Program Administrator remains prepared to address these higher volumes which are expected to continue for the coming month.

Applications are reviewed in order of submission date by Part I/Part II groups, regardless of project category reflected in forecasted review dates. For example, older Part I Small DG applications are processed before more recently submitted Part I Large DG applications.

Part I Small DG	New Applications Submitted		Actual Applications Batched and Paid	New Applications Reviewed		End of Week Queue*	Reviewing Apps Submitted Week of
Part I Small DG	Projected	Actual	Actual Applications Batched and Paid	Projected	Actual	End of Week Queue*	Reviewing Apps Submitted Week of
Week Of						4,339
3/13/2023	100	475	37	400	358	4,018	11/7/2022
3/20/2023	310	38	985	600	418	4,585	12/19/2022
3/27/2023	310	30	120	850	425	4,280	12/19/2022
4/3/2023	310	N/A	N/A	550	N/A	4,040	1/30/2023
4/10/2023	310	N/A	N/A	600	N/A	3,750	2/6/2023
4/17/2023	310	N/A	N/A	645	N/A	3,415	2/6/2023
4/24/2023	310	N/A	N/A	680	N/A	3,045	2/27/2023
5/1/2023	310	N/A	N/A	710	N/A	2,645	3/6/2023

Part II Small DG	New Applications Submitted		New Applications Reviewed		End of Week Queue*	Reviewing Apps Submitted Week of
Part II Small DG	Projected	Actual	Projected	Actual	End of Week Queue*	Reviewing Apps Submitted Week of
Week Of					3,375
3/13/2023	235	235	800	505	3,105	1/6/2023
3/20/2023	225	348	600	52	3,401	1/9/2023
3/27/2023	225	374	600	106	3,669	1/16/2023
4/3/2023	250	N/A	225	N/A	3,694	1/16/2023
4/10/2023	250	N/A	340	N/A	3,604	1/16/2023
4/17/2023	225	N/A	460	N/A	3,369	1/23/2023
4/24/2023	225	N/A	540	N/A	3,054	1/30/2023
5/1/2023	250	N/A	570	N/A	2,734	2/13/2023
5/8/2023	250	N/A	610	N/A	2,374	3/6/2023

Part I Large DG	New Applications Submitted		Actual Applications Batched and Paid	New Applications Reviewed		End of Week Queue*	Reviewing Apps Submitted Week of
Part I Large DG	Projected	Actual	Actual Applications Batched and Paid	Projected	Actual	End of Week Queue*	Reviewing Apps Submitted Week of
Week Of						104
3/13/2023	N/A	2	2	N/A	3	103	11/22/2022
3/20/2023	N/A	0	1	N/A	6	98	12/19/2022
3/27/2023	N/A	9	9	15	6	101	12/19/2022
4/3/2023	3	N/A	N/A	30	N/A	74	1/30/2023
4/10/2023	3	N/A	N/A	25	N/A	52	2/6/2023
4/17/2023	3	N/A	N/A	0	N/A	55	2/6/2023
4/24/2023	3	N/A	N/A	12	N/A	46	2/27/2023
5/1/2023	3	N/A	N/A	2	N/A	47	3/6/2023

Part II Large DG	New Applications Submitted		New Applications Reviewed		End of Week Queue*	Reviewing Apps Submitted Week of
Part II Large DG	Projected	Actual	Projected	Actual	End of Week Queue*	Reviewing Apps Submitted Week of
Week Of					55
3/13/2023	N/A	8	N/A	3	60	12/19/2022
3/20/2023	N/A	4	N/A	10	54	12/26/2022
3/27/2023	N/A	3	14	0	57	1/16/2023
4/3/2023	5	N/A	15	N/A	47	1/16/2023
4/10/2023	5	N/A	4	N/A	48	1/16/2023
4/17/2023	10	N/A	3	N/A	55	1/23/2023
4/24/2023	10	N/A	3	N/A	62	1/30/2023
5/1/2023	10	N/A	19	N/A	53	2/13/2023
5/8/2023	10	N/A	7	N/A	56	3/6/2023

Part I Public School	New Applications Submitted		Actual Applications Batched and Paid	New Applications Reviewed		End of Week Queue*	Reviewing Apps Submitted Week of
Part I Public School	Projected	Actual	Actual Applications Batched and Paid	Projected	Actual	End of Week Queue*	Reviewing Apps Submitted Week of
Week Of						4
3/13/2023	N/A	1	1	N/A	0	5	12/19/2022
3/20/2023	N/A	0	0	N/A	1	4	12/19/2022
3/27/2023	N/A	0	0	N/A	0	4	12/19/2022
4/3/2023	1	N/A	N/A	0	N/A	5	12/19/2022
4/10/2023	2	N/A	N/A	1	N/A	6	2/6/2023
4/17/2023	1	N/A	N/A	0	N/A	7	2/6/2023
4/24/2023	2	N/A	N/A	0	N/A	9	2/6/2023
5/1/2023	2	N/A	N/A	1	N/A	10	3/13/2023

*End of Week Queue column includes the total number of applications batched and paid which have not been reviewed. Due to project cancellations, the current queue may not exactly equal the previous week’s queue plus submitted less reviewed application volumes.

Staffing and Training Enhancements

Staffing – The Program Administrator’s applications team is more than 50 full-time equivalent employees. Gains in both automation and reviewer experience are allowing the Program Administrator to strategically allocate staff across high-need review areas including Need Info process including relevant reviews and AV communications.
Productivity and Quality Gains – Increases in staff experience, the continued success of training cohorts, bulk review tools supported a 25% increase in review volumes for the week of May 8, 2023, from the prior week.
Monitoring and Resourcing – The Program Administrator’s senior leadership continues to actively monitor the team’s performance and adjust resources to meet review requirements.

Need Info Updates

A high proportion of new application processing staff has resulted in a significant volume of project applications erroneously flagged as Need Info. Addressing this issue and resulting delays in application approvals is a very high priority. Last week a Need Info working group, led by experienced Program staff, was formed, and began meeting to review data, identify erroneous patterns and assign responsibilities to correct applications and improved training of reviewers. The Program Administrator appreciates the feedback of stakeholders and expects to soon report significant progress here.

Avoiding Need Info Reminder: When submitting a Disclosure Form with any changes, it must be signed by the customer.

Portal Development and Processing

Portal Tools and Bulk Review – The bulk processing model continues to help accelerate application review. Following the usage on Part II application review, the bulk tool and process were implemented for Part I applications last week, supporting improved review speeds and volumes. The Program Administrator continues to consider opportunities to increase efficiencies for faster application review and verification.
Monitoring Throughput and Application Guidance – Individual and team coaching and monitoring processors’ throughput against daily and weekly goals has continued, supporting continued productivity and accuracy.

The Program Administrator thanks stakeholders for their continued patience and feedback. We are continuing to work hard to meet aggressive review targets and bring application processing into expected timeframes for the benefit of all stakeholders. Stakeholders are invited to contact the Program Administrator at any time regarding specific applications or overall application processing, by contacting: [email protected] or (877) 783-1820.