FAQ: EnergyCAP Version 3 Sunset (ECI Hosted Clients)

1) Why are you sunsetting EnergyCAP Version 3?

The platform for EnergyCAP Version 3 is Adobe Flash, and Adobe has announced an end-of-life date of December 31, 2020 for the Flash platform and Flash Player. The preferred platform technology is now HTML5, the technology used by EnergyCAP Version 7.  Many organizations have already experienced technical challenges with the Flash-based Version 3, as most of the major web browsers now default to HTML5 and require Flash to be enabled on a site-by-site basis. For more information, we suggest reading these Adobe Flash policy statements from Google and Microsoft.

UPDATE (6/16/2019): The next version of Chrome (set to be released at the end of July) will have an additional barrier for using Flash. A browser-wide setting to turn on Flash will need to be enabled before users can use Flash on a given site. This article shows the option that is being added.  We anticipate future changes, such as this one, which will further hinder users running Flash applications.

2) What are the critical dates?

There are two critical dates of which all organizations should be aware:

• July, 2019—The my.energycap.com login will be changed to default to a Version 7 login. The change is being made to encourage users to make use of Version 7 far ahead of the Version 3 sunset date. Version 3 will be still be accessible via a “Work in Version 3” link within EnergyCAP Version 7.
• Reference the Upgrade Readiness Checklist for more information about current and planned Version 7 functionality. Updates are being made to this document with each release of Version 7.
• Reference the Upgrade Readiness Checklist for more information about current and planned Version 7 functionality.  Updates are being made to this document with each release of Version 7.  
• September 8, 2020—This is the date we're targeting as the last day to access and obtain support for EnergyCAP Version 3. All organizations should plan to complete the upgrade from Version 3 to Version 7 prior to September 8, 2020. Many have already completed the upgrade. Those organizations that have not yet upgraded to Version 7 are strongly encouraged to start now to avoid a last-minute crunch or interruption in service.

Should we need to alter the schedule outlined above, we will provide advance notice via email to all EnergyCAP licensee designated points of contact.

3) What happens on September 9, 2020?

As of September 9, 2020, EnergyCAP users will have access to two EnergyCAP versions: Version 6.x (Installed Client) and Version 7.x (Web Client). The “Work in Version 3” link will no longer be available in EnergyCAP Version 7, and support will no longer be provided for Version 3.

4) Is EnergyCAP Version 6.x (Installed Client) impacted by the sunset?

No changes are being made to EnergyCAP Version 6.x (Installed Client) at this time; therefore, it will remain available to EnergyCAP users in its current state.

Note that we do intend to sunset Version 6 at some point in the future, as its use has declined substantially over the past few years. That said, some organizations rely on functionality that is still unique to Version 6, so we will continue to provide and support Version 6 for the foreseeable future. Advance notice of our Version 6 sunset plan will be provided to all licensees, just as we are doing now for Version 3.

5) What if we need functionality that is not yet available in EnergyCAP Version 7?

We fully expect that all Version 3 features that are going to be offered in Version 7 will be available by June 30, 2020. That means that, as of July 1, 2020, all organizations should be able to upgrade fully to EnergyCAP Version 7 without the loss of any required functionality. Please reference the Upgrade Readiness Checklist for more information about current and planned Version 7 functionality.

No changes are being made to EnergyCAP Version 6.x (Installed Client) at this time; therefore, it will remain available to EnergyCAP users in its current state.

6) Will the upgrade to Version 7 impact my EnergyCAP license or maintenance agreement?

The upgrade to Version 7 does not require any change to your current EnergyCAP Software License or Maintenance Agreement (ECMA). Software upgrades are included in the Maintenance Agreement, and Version 7 is an EnergyCAP software upgrade.

If, as part of the upgrade process, you decide to expand your software license (e.g., add functionality, increase meter count, etc.) or purchase optional services, we will provide pricing as appropriate, but license changes are not required to upgrade to Version 7.

7) Are there any required fees to upgrade from Version 3 to Version 7?

No. Organizations that have maintained a current EnergyCAP Software License & Maintenance Agreement (ECMA) have access to Version 7 today and will not be required to pay any additional fees to upgrade fully from Version 3 to Version 7.

Note that our staff is available to consult with you and help document a plan for your organization to transition away from Version 3 to Version 7. Areas for which consultation is recommended include Chargebacks and Cost Avoidance (M&V) setup, system integrations, and automated processes. As part of our consultation with you, we may propose for-fee services to expedite the upgrade process; however, those services will be optional.

8) What does my organization need to do to upgrade prior to September 8, 2020?

Each organization’s upgrade path is unique. Many organizations already use Version 7 solely, while others still rely heavily on Version 3 due to functionality requirements or the effort required to transition many users. Upgrade resources are accessible from our Help Center, and we encourage you to review them at your earliest convenience. Additionally, our Customer Success staff are available for a one-on-one consultation to help you clarify your upgrade path.

If you would like to schedule a consultation call with one of our Customer Success representatives, please complete and submit the Consultation Request form that’s available in the EnergyCAP Help Center.

We want to make the upgrade process as simple and straightforward as possible for your entire organization. With that goal in mind, a library of upgrade-specific resources has been assembled and is accessible from our Help Center. Available resources currently include the following:

• Upgrade Guide
• Version 3-to-Version 7 Upgrade Readiness Checklist
• Request a Consultation form
• Webinars & Training Videos (see our Events page for a list of upcoming webinars)

Our Customer Success staff are also available by phone at 877.327.3702 x2 or you can submit a support ticket to request upgrade assistance.

10) Will the upgrade to Version 7 impact my Automation process(es)?

We are in the process of evaluating the client automation processes ECI is hosting and will contact those impacted by the sunset announcement to coordinate action. If you are hosting automation processes or system integrations around EnergyCAP, an IT review is probably in order, and we suggest that you request a consultation. The consultation—which is free and no-obligation—will enable us to walk through your EnergyCAP-related processes to determine where technical upgrade assistance is appropriate to avoid any interruption in critical business processes.

11) Does my IT staff need to be involved in the upgrade?

All ECI-hosted customers have access to EnergyCAP Version 7 today from the my.energycap.com login screen, so no action on the part of your IT staff is required to access Version 7. We are in the process of evaluating the client automation processes ECI is hosting and will contact those impacted by the sunset announcement to coordinate action. That said, if you are hosting automation processes or system integrations around EnergyCAP, an IT review is probably in order, and we suggest that you request a consultation. The consultation—which is free and no-obligation—will enable us to walk through your EnergyCAP-related processes to determine where technical upgrade assistance is appropriate.

12) What browsers are supported by EnergyCAP Version 7?

EnergyCAP Version 7’s performance has been tested and verified in the following browsers:

• Google Chrome
• Mozilla Firefox
• Microsoft Edge

Note that Internet Explorer (IE) is not a supported browser for EnergyCAP Version 7. Microsoft ended support for IE Versions 8-10 on January 12, 2016 and announced that IE11 will be the last supported version. Given the planned deprecation of IE, ECI has designed EnergyCAP Version 7 for optimal performance in Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, and Firefox.