Membership

Membership dues are assessed annually based on population served and must be paid within 90 days of each anniversary of joining the program. Utilities are also expected to review and update their records, including population served and utility contacts for the Partnership program, at least annually.

Starting with baseline data, utilities must submit annual performance data for each plant enrolled in the program. This data helps identify trends, guide optimization efforts, and pursue awards to recognize improvements in performance.

By submitting an application to join and baseline data, members complete Phases I and II of the program. To realize the full value of the Partnership, all members are required to also complete the Phase III Self-Assessment and pursue, at minimum, the Phase III Directors Award. While there is no set deadline, utilities must demonstrate ongoing progress toward completing their self-assessment to identify performance limiting factors, develop an action plan to address these, and submit a self-assessment completion report for review by Partnership experts on utility operations.

Utilities are not expected to meet all optimization goals upon joining the program; rather, the goal is to identify areas for continuous improvement. Partnership staff are always available to support utilities facing challenges in meeting program requirements.