State Energy Program Guidance

For more than 30 years, the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) State Energy Program (SEP) has provided funding and technical assistance to states, U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia. State Energy Offices use SEP funds to develop state plans that advance energy solutions through regional networks, strategic energy planning, executive orders, legislation and local ordinances, management of local retrofits, and land-use plans.  The SEP Operations Manual is a reference tool for the SEP network states and program officials within DOE. This manual contains information needed to administer the State Energy Program.  

Download the SEP Operations Manual.

SEP released the following guidance documents, listed chronologically below, that explain how states must report and manage SEP program funding. More program guidance documents are available on the Recovery Act Guidance by Topic page.

2018 Program Guidance

• SEP 2018 Administrative and Legal Requirements Document (ALRD) - This ALRD is to solicit the annual grant applications under SEP for Program Year 2018.
• Program Year 2018 SEP Formula Grant Guidance –  Effective February 7, 2018
• Annual Summary Template FY18

2017 Program Guidance

• SEP 2017 Administrative and Legal Requirements Document (ALRD) - This ALRD is to solicit the annual grant applications under SEP for Program Year 2017.
• Program Year 2017 SEP Formula Grant Guidance –  Effective Jan. 19, 2017
• Annual Summary Template FY17

2016 Program Guidance

• SEP 2016 Administrative and Legal Requirements Document (ALRD)
  This ALRD is to solicit the annual grant applications under SEP for Program Year 2016.
• Program Year 2016 SEP Formula Grant Guidance
  Effective Feb. 26, 2016
• SEP Program Notice 10-008E, Guidance for State Energy Program Grantees on Financing
  Effective May 20, 2016
• NEPA Determination FY16

2015 Program Guidance

• SEP 2015 Administrative and Legal Requirements Document (ALRD)
  This ALRD is to solicit the annual grant applications under SEP for Program Year 2015.
• Program Year 2015 SEP Formula Grant Guidance
  Effective Feb. 27, 2015
• NEPA Determination FY15

2014 Program Guidance

• SEP Program Notice 10-006D, Reporting Requirements
  Effective Sept. 19, 2014

• SEP Program Notice 14-2, Implementation Model Guidance
  Effective July 1, 2014

• SEP 2014 Administrative and Legal Requirements Document (ALRD)
  This ALRD is to solicit the annual grant applications under the SEP for Program Year 2014.

• Program Year 2014 SEP Formula Grant Guidance
  Effective March 19, 2014

• NEPA Determination FY14

2013 Program Guidance

• SEP and Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) 13-001 Guidance for Returning Interest Earned
  Effective March 21, 2013

• SEP 10-006C DOE Reporting Requirements for the State Energy Program
  SEP Program Notice 10-006C effective Feb. 4, 2013
  Attachment to EECBG-SEP Reporting Guidance: Process Metrics List

• NEPA Determination FY13

2012 Program Guidance

• SEP 10-008D Guidance for State Energy Program Grantees on Financing Programs
  SEP Program Notice 10-008D effective Oct. 26, 2012

• SEP 12-002 Guidance for State Energy Program Grantees on Interest Rate Buy-Down Programs
  SEP Program Notice 12-002 effective June 4, 2012

• Oct. 16, 2012 Property Clarification Letter 

2011 Program Guidance

• SEP 12-001 Guidance for State Energy Program Recipients on Policy and Procedures Pursuant to the Closeout of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Grants
  SEP Program Notice 12-001 effective Nov. 9, 2011

• SEP Reporting Guidance: Program Notice 10-006B
  Effective June 23, 2011

• SEP 10-008C Guidance for State Energy Program Grantees on Financing Programs
  SEP Program Notice 10-008C effective March 14, 2011

• SEP 11-001 Guidance on Basic Best Practices in Management of Energy Performance in Buildings
  SEP Program Notice 11-001 effective Jan. 21, 2011

2009–2010 Program Guidance

In some cases, DOE combined guidance documents for SEP and EECBG Program.

• Recovery Act Program Guidance by Topic

• SEP 10-001 National Environmental Policy Act Guide for SEP and EECBG Projects
  SEP Program Notice 10-001 and EECBG Program Notice 10-003 effective Dec. 16, 2009.

• SEP 10-002 Retooling and Manufacturing Program Guidance Using SEP Funds
  SEP Program Notice 10-002 effective Dec. 22, 2009

• SEP 10-003A Guidance on Implementation of the Davis-Bacon Act Prevailing Wage Requirements for SEP Grant Recipients under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
  SEP Program Notice 10-003A revised guidance effective April 7, 2010

• SEP 10-004A Guidance on Davis-Bacon Act Requirements for Recovery Act-Funded Rebate, Grant and Financing Programs for Individual Homeowners Conducted Under SEP, EECBG Program and Appliance Rebate Program
  SEP Program Notice 10-004A revised guidance effective April 7, 2010

• SEP 10-005 Historic Preservation DOE Program Guidance
  SEP program notice 10-005 effective Feb. 11, 2010

• SEP 10-006A DOE Recovery Act Reporting Requirements
  SEP Program Notice 10-006A effective Sept. 20, 2010

  • SEP 10-006A Reporting Guidance Process Metric List
    SEP Program Notice 10-006A Attachment

• SEP 10-007A DOE Recovery Act Jobs Creation Reporting Requirements
  SEP Program Notice 10-007A effective Sept. 29, 2010

• SEP 10-008B Guidance on Financing Program
  SEP Revised Program Notice 10-008B effective Aug.10, 2010

• SEP 10-010 Guidance on Davis-Bacon Act Wage Rates for ARRA-Funded State Energy Program Projects Including Residential Weatherization Work
  SEP Program Notice 10-010 effective May 6, 2010

• SEP 10-011 Guidance for SEP Recipients on Payment Procedures
  SEP Notice 10-011 effective June 23, 2010

• SEP 10-012 SEP Guidance Regarding Appliance Rebate Programs
  SEP Program Notice 10-012 effective July 22, 2010

• SEP 10-013 Guidance for State Energy Program Grantees on Qualified on Qualified Energy Conservation Bonds and New Clean Renewable Energy Bonds
  SEP program notice 10-013. Effective July 28, 2010

• SEP 10-014 Guidance on Non-appliance Rebates
  SEP Program Notice 10-014 effective Aug. 10, 2010

• SEP 10-015 Guidance for Grantees on Sub-recipient Monitoring
  SEP Program Notice 10-015 effective Oct. 26, 2010

• Projects Funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and Administered by EERE Notice
  DOE program guidance for complying with the Buy American Provision of the 2009 Recovery Act, effective Dec. 17, 2009. You can find a more in-depth explanation of the Buy American Provision in the Recovery Act section of the EERE website.

• Guidelines for States Conducting or Contracting Evaluations of ARRA Funded SEP Activities
  From the SEP and American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (AARA) Evaluation Webinar June 16 and 17, 2010