Franklin Energy Modernizes Incentive Payments with Choice Digital

Franklin Energy is a national leader in delivering demand-side management and clean energy programs. With a growing network of utility partners and customers across the country, Franklin found itself up against a common but critical challenge: outdated, check-based payment systems were creating friction, delays, and operational headaches. That friction didn’t just affect customers—it slowed down program performance and put pressure on internal teams trying to meet increasingly complex compliance requirements.

“We were relying on manual processes that just weren’t built for scale,” said a senior program manager at Franklin Energy. “Whether it was issuing payments to customers or contractors, everything felt like it took too long—and we had limited visibility into what happened after a check went out.”

In response, Franklin Energy partnered with Choice Digital to overhaul how payments were delivered. The goal was simple: make disbursements faster, more flexible, and easier to manage without compromising on cost or compliance.

With Choice Digital, Franklin introduced a modern, self-service payment infrastructure that met the needs of customers, contractors, and internal teams alike. Instead of waiting on checks, recipients could now choose from multiple payout options—including ACH, prepaid cards, PayPal, Venmo, or even a traditional check for those who still preferred one. That flexibility significantly improved satisfaction and accessibility across the board.

Meanwhile, Franklin’s staff gained access to a real-time portal for issue resolution, making it easier to track payment status, assist customers, and ensure that every dollar was accounted for. Built-in regulatory controls helped Franklin maintain full audit-readiness—a must for programs funded by public dollars.

What started as a tactical fix for outdated processes quickly became a strategic advantage. By modernizing its payments with Choice Digital, Franklin saw improvements on multiple fronts:

• Faster payments led to happier customers and fewer support tickets.

• Flexible options allowed for broader participation across demographics.

• Lower operating costs came from eliminating check printing, mailing, and reissuance expenses.

• Improved compliance helped Franklin meet program standards with ease.

As Franklin continues to scale its clean energy programs nationwide, the company is better positioned than ever to deliver on its mission—backed by a payment system that’s as modern and impactful as the programs it powers.