Center for Sustainable Energy

What Center for Sustainable Energy does

Center for Sustainable Energy (CSE) is a San Diego-headquartered national nonprofit organization founded around 2000 that serves as a neutral, third-party administrator of large-scale clean energy and clean transportation incentive programs for state and local government agencies and investor-owned utilities. The organization designs, implements, and evaluates multimillion and billion-dollar programs across EV adoption, EV charging infrastructure, distributed solar, energy storage, and building decarbonization, operating in more than a dozen U.S. states that collectively are home to roughly a third of the American population. CSE does not charge end consumers; instead, it operates on a fee-for-service model under multi-year government and utility contracts, and it explicitly disclaims member, donor, or shareholder influence.

CSE's core technology asset is the Caret® software suite, a proprietary program design and management platform with four integrated modules: EV Infrastructure Planner (site targeting with weighted multi-criteria optimization), Administrator for EV Charging Programs (workflow automation and rapid incentive processing), EV Charging Knowledgebase (charger session data analytics and uptime/usage reporting), and Administrator for EV Programs (point-of-sale and post-purchase rebate portals with multilingual outreach). This software layer is complemented by an exclusive partnership with Clean Power Research for the PowerClerk® rebate management platform, which is used by 75+ utilities and agencies across 36 states and has processed more than 2.5 million energy applications and $6 billion in solar rebates. CSE also operates an EV Infrastructure Construction Progress Tracker customized for state-level oversight of fast-charging deployments.

The business model is fundamentally B2G/B2B services procurement, not consumer-facing. CSE secures contracts to design, administer, and evaluate programs funded by state agencies (notably the California Energy Commission, California Public Utilities Commission, and now Washington State) and utilities (SDG&E, PG&E, SCE, PECO). Revenue derives from administrative fees on programs that CSE manages valued at over $4-5 billion in aggregate, including CALeVIP (the nation's largest EV charging incentive initiative supporting 10,500+ charger installations), SOMAH (a $1 billion solar-on-multifamily-affordable-housing program), and SGIP energy storage rebates. CSE employs 101-250 staff across more than two dozen states, including 70+ incentive program specialists and 35+ research experts, and pursues an enterprise field sales motion targeting government and utility procurement opportunities.

Name

Center for Sustainable Energy

Legal name

Center for Sustainable Energy

Website

https://energycenter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Center for Sustainable Energy is a San Diego-based national nonprofit that designs and administers large-scale clean transportation, energy storage, and solar incentive programs for state agencies and utilities across 10+ U.S. states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Clean Energy Program Administration

NAICS

Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution (2211), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (924), Solar Electric Power Generation (221114)

SIC

Electric Services (4911), Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)

akta.pro primary industry

Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) & Clean Energy Standards Compliance (EUAMANAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Renewable Distributed Generation (Rooftop/Onsite Solar, Small Wind, Small Hydro) (EUACALAJ), C&I Onsite/Behind-the-Meter Energy Supply (Solar, CHP, Microgrids) (EUAGACAJ), Home Energy & EV Charging (HEMS, Smart Meters, Batteries, Chargers) (HSAPAQAF), Residential / Behind-the-Meter Storage Installation & Integration (EUAEAEAC)

Keywords

• Clean energy program administration
• EV incentive management
• Solar rebate administration
• Energy storage incentives
• Utility program services

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Program Administration Services: CSE designs and administers multimillion and billion-dollar programs in clean transportation, renewable energy and built environment for state and local governments and utilities. As a neutral third-party nonprofit administrator, they provide turnkey scalable program administration, data-handling IT, and secure rapid rebate processing.
2. Software Platform Services: CSE's Caret® platform provides software-enabled services including EV site targeting, incentive administration, charger data analytics, and EV adoption programs for states, utilities and businesses. They protect independence through a fee-for-service business model free from members, donors or shareholders.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Center for Sustainable Energy (CSE) is a national nonprofit that designs and administers multimillion and billion-dollar clean energy and clean transportation incentive programs for state and local governments and utilities. Its core offerings include third-party program administration, technical advisory services, and the proprietary Caret® software suite for EV site targeting, charger deployment, and rebate processing. Programs span EV adoption, EV charging infrastructure, solar on multifamily affordable housing, energy storage rebates, and built environment decarbonization, collectively managing over $4 billion in program value.

Product overview

Center for Sustainable Energy is a national nonprofit that offers a portfolio of software platforms and administered programs for clean energy adoption. The core software offering is the Caret® suite, which includes four integrated modules: Caret EV Infrastructure Planner for site selection, Caret Administrator for EV Charging Programs for deployment workflow automation, Caret EV Charging Knowledgebase for data analytics, and Caret Administrator for EV Programs for rebate management. CSE also administers major statewide incentive programs including CALeVIP (EV charging), SGIP (energy storage), SOMAH (solar on affordable housing), and provides Solar for All program implementation support. The company operates fee-for-service without donors or shareholders, providing data-driven and software-enabled program administration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Caret®: A proprietary program design and management software suite that uses real-world data and experience to accelerate EV adoption and optimize EV charger deployment.

Products and services

• Caret EV Infrastructure Planner
• Caret Administrator for EV Charging Programs
• Caret EV Charging Knowledgebase
• Caret Administrator for EV Programs
• CALeVIP (California Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Project)
• Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP)
• SOMAH (Solar on Multifamily Affordable Housing) Program
• Clean Vehicle Rebate Project (CVRP)
• Fast Charge California Project
• Solar for All Program Support

Quantifiable outcome

• CVRP provided over $475 million (158,000+ rebates) for EV incentives including increased rebates to low- to moderate-income car buyers
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Washington StatecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 August 2023Washington State selected CSE to launch an EV charging program, expanding CSE's multi-state administration footprint into a new state.
• California Energy CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEC partners with CSE to administer CALeVIP (California Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Project), the nation's largest EV charging incentive initiative. CSE provides program administration, incentive processing, technical assistance, outreach, and reporting for EV charging infrastructure programs funded by CEC's Clean Transportation Program and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund.
• Association for Energy AffordabilitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation for Energy Affordability is a CSE partner in administering California's Equitable Building Decarbonization program (Northern California) and part of the SOMAH program administration team for solar on multifamily affordable housing.
• GRID AlternativescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGRID Alternatives is a partner in the SOMAH program administration team, providing solar installation expertise and workforce development for the largest statewide solar incentive program on multifamily affordable housing in the U.S.
• Clean Power ResearchcoreTechnology or IntegrationCSE has an exclusive partnership with Clean Power Research for PowerClerk® rebate management software, used by 75+ utilities and energy agencies across 36 states. Together they published the Solar for All Playbook based on 50+ years of combined experience.
• County of Los AngelescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty of Los Angeles is a regional partner administering the Equitable Building Decarbonization program in Southern California, working alongside CSE (Central California) and Association for Energy Affordability (Northern California).
• San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSE administers the Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) in the SDG&E service territory, offering rebates for energy storage technologies to residential and nonresidential utility customers.
• California Public Utilities CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCPUC directs and funds major programs administered by CSE including SOMAH ($1 billion solar program) and oversees SGIP. CSE participates in CPUC proceedings and working groups including CAEECC.
• UC DavisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUC Davis research on rideshare driver EV adoption barriers informed California's Drivers Assistance Program design. CSE draws on academic research to inform program design.
• UC BerkeleyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUC Berkeley research on EV adoption barriers for high-mileage drivers informed incentive program design. CSE leverages academic research for evidence-based program development.
• Southern California EdisonminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSCE offers pre-owned EV rebates ($1,000 standard, $4,000 income-qualified) through the Low Carbon Fuel Standard program. CSE does not directly administer this program but partners on overall EV ecosystem development.
• Pacific Gas & ElectricminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPG&E offers pre-owned EV rebates ($1,000 standard, $4,000 income-qualified) through the Low Carbon Fuel Standard program. CSE collaborates on EV ecosystem programs.
• PECO Energy CompanyminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCSE administered a pilot EV charging rebate project for PECO in southeastern Pennsylvania, demonstrating viability of EV charger make-ready rebates for commercial and industrial customers.
• California Solar & Storage AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCALSSA is an industry organization used by SOMAH for contractor outreach and engagement in the solar equity program space.
• Bishop Paiute TribeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Bishop Paiute Tribe is a success story under SOMAH, with 24 apartment households receiving approximately $985 in annual energy savings from solar installation.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Energy Solutions: Energy Solutions is a mission-driven clean energy consultancy that designs, implements, and evaluates energy efficiency, electrification, and decarbonization programs for utilities and governments. It is a direct nonprofit-style peer to CSE, competing on the same program-administration RFPs in California and other states.
• Resource Innovations: Resource Innovations is a clean energy consulting and program administration firm that designs and manages energy efficiency, electrification, and demand-response programs for utilities and state agencies. It is one of the closest direct competitors to CSE in U.S. utility program administration, with similar customer profiles and service offerings.
• Clean Power Research: Clean Power Research is CSE's exclusive PowerClerk® rebate-management software partner serving 75+ utilities across 36 states. It is a direct peer in utility-facing clean energy software and rebate processing, and a critical technology partner whose independent product overlaps with CSE's Caret® suite.
• Opinion Dynamics: Opinion Dynamics is an energy research and program evaluation firm supporting utility and state energy efficiency, demand response, and clean energy programs. It competes with CSE's research and program-evaluation capabilities and serves overlapping utility and government clients.

Broad incumbents

• Cadmus: Cadmus is a consulting firm that advises and implements energy, environment, and infrastructure programs for governments and utilities, including EV and building decarbonization initiatives. It competes with CSE on program design, evaluation, and administration contracts, particularly for federal clients.
• Black & Veatch: Black & Veatch is a global engineering, construction, and advisory firm with substantial energy infrastructure and program management practices serving utilities and governments. It is a broad incumbent peer that competes with CSE for larger program administration and infrastructure deployment mandates.
• Tetra Tech: Tetra Tech is a global engineering and consulting firm that administers and implements clean energy, water, and environmental programs for federal and state agencies. It competes with CSE on renewable energy and EV program administration mandates, particularly larger federal contracts, with greater capital and scale.
• DNV: DNV is a global energy advisory and assurance firm with deep renewables and grid services expertise that administers and advises on incentive and compliance programs. It is comparable to CSE as a sophisticated energy-services vendor for utilities and government clients, though it serves a broader international footprint.
• ICF International: ICF is a large global consulting firm with a substantial energy, environment, and climate practice that administers federal, state, and utility incentive and grant programs. It competes with CSE directly on program administration RFPs and brings broader cross-sell capabilities (policy, communications, IT) that CSE lacks as a nonprofit specialist.

Emerging players

• Atlas Public Policy: Atlas Public Policy is a policy analytics firm known for its Atlas EV Hub and clean transportation data platforms serving governments and advocacy organizations. It is a partial peer to CSE in clean transportation research, policy analysis, and data-driven program support.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/energycenter
• Facebookfacebook.com/energycenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/center-for-sustainable-energy-cse

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Center for Sustainable Energy