Our Story
CCES
Central Coast Energy Services is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation that provides help with energy bills to low income people. CCES provides this help in the form of payment assistance and home weatherization services with the federally funded Low Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) and Department of Energy Weatherization Assistance (DOE) Programs under contract with the State of California Department of Community Services and Development (CSD). There are about 41 other similar Local Service Providers (LSPs) in California.
Initial Development
In 1998, CCES Executive Director, Dennis Osmer, developed a database application (MS Access) to track program customer data in order to improve efficiency in the delivery of services and the submission of claims to the state. Concurrently, CSD developed an on-line system known as, California LIHEAP Automated Service System (CLASS) to track customer data and utility payments. The state system allowed the transfer of records from local agencies into this system to accommodate local control. Dennis continued to develop the local database application to include the tracking and reporting of dwelling and weatherization information.
Mutual Aid Solution
Other agencies, recognized the need for such a utility, and absent any off-the-shelf software, asked to use the application. Development continued under Database Manager, Chris Johnson, who implemented an SQL backend. As more LSPs sought installation, more and more customization was built into individual copies of the application. This customization allowed agencies to make minimal changes to their service delivery operations. Propagation of the application was done solely through word of mouth of participating agencies. CCES' intent was to offer “mutual aid” to similar agencies that could benefit by having an open application which was relatively easy to customize locally. Over time, it became clear that agencies were not developing any such capacity and CCES became responsible for the maintenance of the application in 21 agencies under annual maintenance contracts (2012). The application itself cost agencies nothing, but CCES charges for installation and maintenance. The application was named “ServTraq” (since ServTrac and ServTrak were in use!).
2013
In 2013, ServTraq released a standardized web-based version of the software. The new version included the best features of the 21 previous customized versions of ServTraq.
Moving to a standardized web-based version allowed us to provide enhanced technical support and devote more time to developing more software solutions. The release of the standardized version, included a library of resources that agencies could use to on-board current and new staff members.
2019 – Future
Since the 2013 release of the standardized version, we’ve more than doubled the solutions offered and expanded our customer portfolio. ServTraq is currently used by 32 out of 41 Local Energy Services Providers in California.
We work hard to and bring you solutions that will meet your local needs and help you achieve efficient results through technology. Our promise to you is to:
- Develop software solutions with your best interest in mind
- Evolve with technology and keep surprising you
- Advocate for policy and data collection requirements that make sense
- Listen to your needs, ideas and suggestions.
That’s a DEAL!