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Core Guidelines

 

  1. General
  2. Funding Levels
    1. Funding of AdvanceSC
    2. Funding for Programs
  3. Eligibility and Use of Funds
    1. Public Assistance Programs
    2. Economic Development Initiatives
    3. Educational Programs
    4. Manufacturing Competitiveness Fund
  1. Eligibility and Use of Funds

    This section describes the minimum requirements for eligibility for an AdvanceSC grant. It also enumerates the minimum limitations on the use of funds by a grant recipient, as well as the maximum or minimum amounts of individual grant awards.

    1. Public Assistance Programs

      All South Carolina agencies participating in the Duke Energy Share the Warmth, Cooling Assistance and Fan-Heat Relief programs are eligible to receive additional funds from AdvanceSC under this program. Funds will be used for the above-specified programs.
    2. Economic Development Initiatives
      1. The following South Carolina entities are eligible to apply for funding:
        1. State Department of Commerce and the South Carolina Council on Competitiveness
        2. City and county economic development organizations in Duke Energy’s service area
        3. Economic development regional alliances/partnerships in Duke Energy’s service area
        4. Chambers of commerce in Duke Energy’s service area
      2. Grants shall be used for specific economic development initiatives and projects within the Duke Energy service area.
      3. Initiatives and projects must result in the creation of new jobs, the retention of existing jobs or provide for significant capital investment in the Duke Energy service area.
      4. A grant may not exceed $250,000 without the unanimous consent of the Board.
    3. TopEducational Programs
      1. Technical Colleges
        1. Applicant must be (1) a South Carolina technical college that individually or in collaboration with a South Carolina college or university trains workers for manufacturing and related industry served by Duke Energy, (2) a technical college foundation, with the written endorsement of its school’s president, or (3) a representative of the South Carolina State Technical College office for a project that has been approved by the state president.
        2. Funds must be used to train workers for manufacturing and related industry served by Duke Energy. Capacity building projects that benefit regional manufacturing and related industry may also be considered on a case-by-case basis. Funds may not be used for scholarships to individuals, infrastructure improvements or consulting services.
        3. Use of grant award must result in at least one of the following:
          1. a minimum of 10 new jobs in manufacturing and related industry;
          2. the retention of existing manufacturing or related industry jobs;
          3. a significant increase in wages of employees in an existing manufacturing or related industry.
        4. Grant award may not exceed $250,000 per request.
      2. Colleges/Universities
        1. Applicant must be a South Carolina college or university whose research or higher education programs provide innovative solutions and competitive advantages for manufacturing and related industry served by Duke Energy.
        2. Grant must be used for research and other higher education purposes in support of manufacturing and related industry served by Duke Energy.
        3. Grants may not be used for scholarships to individuals, infrastructure improvements or consulting services.
        4. Grant award may not exceed $100,000 per request.
      3. High Schools
        1. Applicant must be a South Carolina high school or school district in Duke Energy’s service area with a proven track record in increasing graduation rates, and offering programs in work force preparedness for manufacturing and related industry. The State Department of Education may apply for grants to engage in eligible projects.
        2. Award must be used for programs that meet manufacturing and related industry professional needs, including math, science, technology and business acumen.
        3. The project must support manufacturing and related industry served by Duke Energy. Capacity building projects that benefit regional manufacturing and related industry may also be considered on a case-by-case basis.
        4. Grants may not be used for scholarships to individuals, infrastructure improvements or consulting services.
        5. Grant award may not exceed $25,000 per request.
    4. TopManufacturing Competitiveness Fund
      1. The MCF is available to manufacturers within Duke Energy’s South Carolina retail service territory based on the schedule outlined below:

        Sharing Period

        Beginning and End Dates

        MCF Application Deadline

        MCF Sharing Period Amount

        Allocation Basis Year

        1A

        11/1/04 - 5/31/05

        6/30/06

        Q1 '04 Annual Fund Amount allocated to MCF

        2003

        1B

        6/1/05 - 6/30/06

        6/30/06

        Q2-Q4 '04 Annual Fund Amount allocated to MCF

        2004

        2

        7/1/06 - 6/30/07

        6/30/07

        Q1-Q4 '05 Annual Fund Amount allocated to MCF plus any unused 2004 amount allocated to MCF

        2005

        3

        7/1/07 - 6/30/08

        6/30/08

        Q1-Q4 '06 Annual Fund Amount allocated to MCF plus any unused 2005 amount allocated to MCF

        2006

        4

        7/1/08 - 6/30/09

        6/30/09

        Q1-Q4 '07 Annual Fund Amount allocated to MCF plus any unused 2006 amount allocated to MCF

        2007


      2. Applicant must receive electric service under an industrial rate schedule within Duke Energy’s South Carolina retail service territory.
      3. Applicant must meet any MCF Allocation minimum established by the Board.
      4. Proposed projects must meet each of the following eligibility requirements:
        1. Project must be installed in a South Carolina manufacturing facility within the Duke Energy retail service territory.
        2. Project must utilize energy-related applications to increase productivity, reliability, cost control, efficiency or reduce the environmental impact of a manufacturing facility. Assessments by qualified parties to identify projects within these areas are also eligible for grants.
        3. The total investment for the project must meet any minimum established by the Board. Grants for specific projects cannot exceed 50 percent of the installed project cost.
      5. The total dollar amount of grants an applicant may receive during a Sharing Period cannot exceed the applicant’s MCF Allocation. An applicant’s MCF Allocation is equal to: Sharing Period Amount x Allocation Factor x Utilization Factor

        Where the

        Sharing Period Amount is the total amount of funds available for distribution during the Sharing Period (see table above).

        Allocation Factor is the applicant’s total kilowatt-hour usage billed on a Duke Energy SC industrial rate schedule during the Basis Year (see table above) divided by Duke Energy’s total S.C. industrial kilowatt-hours during the Basis Year.

        Utilization Factor is a factor established at the beginning of each Sharing Period by the Board to ratably increase allocations and thereby reduce the likelihood of unused MCF funds. The Utilization Factor for the initial Sharing Period is 1.0.

        Note: An applicant’s unused MCF Allocation for Sharing Period 1A may be carried forward to Sharing Period 1B. Beginning in Sharing Period 2, any unused MCF Allocations will be included in the next Sharing Period Amount and ratably allocated to all eligible applicants through the MCF Allocation formula.
      6. Grants will be paid upon completion of project and receipt of documentation proving project completion.
      7. Board members representing the Duke Energy Category of Board Members may not vote on MCF grant requests.
      8. The following definitions of Qualifying Project Terms apply to the MCF:
        • Productivity – Installation of process applications that utilize energy to increase output, product quality and/or lower per unit product costs.
        • Reliability – Upgrades or expansions to a manufacturing facility’s energy infrastructure or process control systems to increase capacity, reduce the risk of downtime or mitigate potentially unsafe conditions.
        • Cost Control – Process meters or control systems that allow increased control of manufacturing operations or identify cost savings opportunities.
        • Efficiency – Installation of equipment that results in a demonstrated reduction in energy usage or costs for a manufacturing facility.
        • Environmental – Installation of equipment or systems that reduce onsite emissions for a manufacturing facility.
        • Manufacturing Assessments – Documented assessments of manufacturing facilities and operations that identify opportunities to increase productivity, reliability, efficiency, cost control or positively impact the environment. Assessments must be performed by qualified parties such as governmental agencies, accredited engineers or certified energy managers.