Comments on: Regional utilities gather in Colorado to talk energy efficiency http://blog.wapa.gov/wordpress/?p=1127 Wed, 27 Mar 2013 19:55:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Kevon Storie http://blog.wapa.gov/wordpress/?p=1127&cpage=1#comment-290257 Kevon Storie Wed, 27 Mar 2013 19:55:43 +0000 http://blog.wapa.gov/wordpress/?p=1127#comment-290257 John, utilities have a number of reasons to encourage customers to become more efficient. Many utilities today are capacity constrained, and looking for the lowest-cost, clean resource to meet their demand. The integrated resource planning process usually identifies the megawatt you don't use—the negawatt—to be the cheapest, cleanest megawatt. So demand-side management programs that include efficiency and conservation compare favorably to the alternatives. Building new fossil-fueled plants or buying peak power on the open market both drive up the cost of electricity to the utility and the consumer. Further, new plant construction takes time and saddles the utility with long-term financial commitments. Factor in regulatory issues and growing concern about climate change, and energy efficiency looks more and more like the resource of first choice, and not a "photo opp" at all. Public power utilities in particular have an obligation to the communities that they serve, and Western customers have seen their <a href="http://esnews.wapa.gov/wordpress/?p=1645" rel="nofollow">DSM programs</a> have a positive effect on local economies. Programs that promote energy-efficiency upgrades to EPAct 2005 and more current standards can also stimulate job creation and workforce development within the community. Finally, consider that energy is a product and no business succeeds by throwing away its product. It is simply good business sense for utilities to make sure every kilowatt is used wisely. Perhaps you can join us at the next RMUEE to learn more about how energy efficiency benefits electricity producers and consumers. John, utilities have a number of reasons to encourage customers to become more efficient. Many utilities today are capacity constrained, and looking for the lowest-cost, clean resource to meet their demand. The integrated resource planning process usually identifies the megawatt you don’t use—the negawatt—to be the cheapest, cleanest megawatt. So demand-side management programs that include efficiency and conservation compare favorably to the alternatives.

Building new fossil-fueled plants or buying peak power on the open market both drive up the cost of electricity to the utility and the consumer. Further, new plant construction takes time and saddles the utility with long-term financial commitments. Factor in regulatory issues and growing concern about climate change, and energy efficiency looks more and more like the resource of first choice, and not a “photo opp” at all.

Public power utilities in particular have an obligation to the communities that they serve, and Western customers have seen their DSM programs have a positive effect on local economies. Programs that promote energy-efficiency upgrades to EPAct 2005 and more current standards can also stimulate job creation and workforce development within the community.

Finally, consider that energy is a product and no business succeeds by throwing away its product. It is simply good business sense for utilities to make sure every kilowatt is used wisely. Perhaps you can join us at the next RMUEE to learn more about how energy efficiency benefits electricity producers and consumers.

]]> By: John Schultz http://blog.wapa.gov/wordpress/?p=1127&cpage=1#comment-287359 John Schultz Fri, 22 Mar 2013 14:52:27 +0000 http://blog.wapa.gov/wordpress/?p=1127#comment-287359 Energy efficiency may well be better incented by things like the energy tax credits and deductions provided by EPACT 2005. Its great that utility companies are talking about energy efficiency, but what is their incentive for us to use less energy? Seems like a photo opp, more than a real purpose driven event. Energy efficiency may well be better incented by things like the energy tax credits and deductions provided by EPACT 2005. Its great that utility companies are talking about energy efficiency, but what is their incentive for us to use less energy? Seems like a photo opp, more than a real purpose driven event.

]]> By: www.DuPageBlog.com http://blog.wapa.gov/wordpress/?p=1127&cpage=1#comment-169958 www.DuPageBlog.com Fri, 19 Oct 2012 19:13:55 +0000 http://blog.wapa.gov/wordpress/?p=1127#comment-169958 If only we could get the same response and interest from our county's utility providers... We can't even get them to respond to our inquiries via email! If only we could get the same response and interest from our county’s utility providers… We can’t even get them to respond to our inquiries via email!

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