Achievable electricity conservation potential : the role of utility and non-utility programs..

American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.
Nadel, Steven.

199

2320
CIENA

In recent years there has been extensive debate among utilities, regulators, and intervenors on the amount of electricity and peak demand savings demand-side management (DSM) efforts can actually achieve. For the most part, this debate has been marked by extensive rhetoric, but only limited objective data. In an attempt to narrrow the range of this debate, this paper summarizes recent objective data related to the question of achievable conservation potential, including: (a) actul DSM results achieved by utilities with particularly aggressive DSM programs; (b) long-range resource plans recently filed by several major utilities; (c) an in-depth study on the amount of conservation New York State's three largest utilities can achieve over a 10-18 year period; and (d) a study on the amount of electricity that can be saved in New York as a result of market forces, codes and minimum efficiency standards. Two major findings emerge from this analysis: (1) Through utility-operated DSM programs, the average utility can likely reduce its annual electricity sales by approximately 1 percen per year, for a period of at least ten years (i.e., 10 percent savings after ten years), and probably longer. Slightly higher reductions in peak demand are often possible. (2) Substantial additional savings (of the same order of magnitude as savings from utility programs) can be achieved as a result of other mechanisms besides utility sponsored programs, including market forces, equipment efficiency standards, and building codes. However, in order to achieve these additional savings, utilities will need to take a pro-active role, including support of efforts to strengthen codes and standards, coordination with government agencies on training and enforcement issues, and work with manufacturers to promotoe the develpment of high efficiency equipment..

Presenta gráfs., tbls.

ESTADOS UNIDOS; CONSERVACION DE LA ENERGIA; ADMINISTRACION DE LA DEMANDA; SERVICIOS PUBLICOS; PROGRAMAS; UTILIDAD; USO RACIONAL DE LA ENERGIA;