Efficiency, demand response could cut Texas winter peak loads 23.5 GW, save billions over new gas: ACEEE

The cost of the programs would be “substantially below” a Texas Senate plan to construct 10,000 MW of new gas-fired capacity, the report concluded.

By Robert Walton • May 12, 2023

New efficiency standards for electric motors will save consumers $8.8B over 30 years, DOE says

Along with finalized standards for electric motors, the U.S. Department of Energy announced proposed standards for new dishwashers that are expected to save consumers almost $3 billion.

By Robert Walton • May 10, 2023

Hawai’i leads the way on advanced rate design with default time-of-use rates, fixed charge innovations

Hawai’i’s planned granular cost study still must prove to other states that the new TOU rates, fixed charge framework and new way of defining costs will allocate costs accurately, analysts said.

By Herman K. Trabish • May 9, 2023

Insulation vital to electrification effort but ‘DOE completely ignoring’ new tax credits: manufacturers

Insulation manufacturers say the federal government must do a better job educating consumers about the value of multiple-measure efficiency improvements.

By Robert Walton • May 8, 2023

Florida regulators reject adding new cost test to state’s energy efficiency goal-setting process

“There hasn't been a material change” to the state’s energy efficiency goal-setting process in almost 30 years, Andrew Giles Fay, Florida’s top utility regulator, said before the PSC vote.

By Robert Walton • May 4, 2023

Affordable, all-electric and energy-efficient housing gets $15M boost from NYC initiative

The initiative “will demonstrate to the affordable housing market a highly replicable new construction solution,” said Doreen Harris, president and CEO of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.

By Ysabelle Kempe • May 3, 2023

EnergyHub, Synop partner to expand revenue opportunities for commercial EV fleets

The partnership will offer utilities a “full, vertically integrated solution” to manage load associated with electric vehicle chargers, said Mark Braby, chief commercial officer at Synop.

By Robert Walton • May 3, 2023

Rep. Casten, ex-FERC chairs eye DERs, more power sector competition to achieve net zero goals

"We're not going to get to where we need to go with a zero-carbon electric grid unless we have distributed demand-side resources supporting what we need to do on the supply side,” said former FERC Chair Jon Wellinghoff.

By Diana DiGangi • April 27, 2023

Xcel launches microgrid-based resiliency service for large Minnesota commercial, industrial customers

In Wisconsin, where the Empower Resiliency program was already offered, Xcel reached a deal to develop energy assets to power the Bayfield County jail and courthouse. 

By Robert Walton • April 26, 2023

Multifamily buildings: An untapped opportunity for managing load shifts

Hear how utilities like LADWP, Austin Energy, Seattle City Light and Alliant Energy are successfully engaging with this underserved audience.

April 24, 2023

EPRI launches 3-year initiative to address grid constraints, develop tools to serve coming EV loads

EVs2Scale2030 will develop a timeline of anticipated electric vehicle charging loads, down to the distribution circuit level, said EPRI Director of Transportation Britta Gross.

By Robert Walton • April 19, 2023

With looming EV load spikes, PG&E, Duke, other utilities adopt new rate design and cost recovery strategies

New dynamic time-varying rates and demand charge adjustments from California to the Carolinas could align customer usage with utility costs to make EVs a system benefit, rate design experts said

By Herman K. Trabish • April 18, 2023

How to rescue TOU from no man’s land — and make it more useful

Utility companies can take full advantage of the energy savings TOU provides to their grids by integrating consumer retail signals and wholesale value provided by aggregators like ecobee — and help customers save.

April 17, 2023

Climate, consumer groups request Florida PSC hearing to modernize utility efficiency rules

The groups want an “interactive process” for discussing the modernization of the state’s energy efficiency rules, said George Cavros, an energy policy attorney and director with the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy.

By Robert Walton • April 11, 2023

Beyond thermostats: Why behavioral load management will be essential for successful energy decarbonization

As the energy transition drives a need for greater load flexibility, behavioral strategies can be among the most scalable and equitable approaches to demand management.

By Essie Snell • April 10, 2023

TVA and other Southeastern utilities underinvest in energy efficiency, but federal funding could help: SACE

The report, by the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, calls out Tennessee Valley Authority’s lack of efficiency investment in particular. The utility says its programs “have achieved a proven track record of results.”

By Robert Walton • March 29, 2023

New efficiency standards for air conditioners, air purifiers will save consumers up to $25B by 2055: DOE

The new standards will go into effect in two phases, beginning in 2024, and the U.S. Department of Energy expects them to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 106 million metric tons over 30 years.

By Robert Walton • March 27, 2023

Record-high electricity prices fail to boost residential energy management programs: JD Power

Time-of-use rates can help to engage customers with energy conservation programs, but utilities must be careful to explain how the new pricing structure works.

By Robert Walton • March 22, 2023

World hurtling toward critical global warming benchmark, but IPCC report highlights clean energy potential

For the electric sector, demand-side management technologies could play a major role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, according to a report by the IPCC.

By Robert Walton • March 21, 2023

NREL to test real-time utility meter data as resilience solution amid rising renewable energy adoption

As larger percentages of renewables dominate the grid, access to real-time data will become more important for avoiding outages and maintaining reliability, said Dan Forman, CEO of project partner Copper Labs.

By Emma Penrod • March 9, 2023

Efficiency, demand response and EV charging are priorities for commercial building sector: GridPoint survey

Almost 80% of respondents reported energy cost increases in the last 12-24 months and 99% said they were concerned about the issue.

By Robert Walton • March 8, 2023

Florida regulators streamline energy efficiency goal-setting process as advocates push for broader reforms

The Public Service Commission last updated Florida’s energy efficiency rules in the early 1990s. Energy efficiency advocates say this latest iteration does not make substantial changes.

By Robert Walton • March 8, 2023

NARUC examines how states can make power grids more flexible with performance-based mechanisms

The analysis looks at Hawaii, which abandoned cost-of-service ratemaking in favor of a performance-based approach and now uses a menu of rewards and penalties to incentivize demand flexibility.

By Robert Walton • March 1, 2023

Property-assessed clean energy programs are popular for local decarbonization financing: report

PACE programs are more common than taxes and other strategies as a source of dedicated climate funds for local governments, a Brookings Institution report found.

By Michael Brady • Feb. 28, 2023

The key to turning the US into the world’s clean energy powerhouse? Energy companies.

Recent changes in the U.S. signal that gas-powered vehicle ownership is on its way out and that EVs are in — American energy companies can use this to gain traction towards becoming renewable energy leaders globally.

By Lara Beers, Global Director at Kraken Technologies, part of Octopus Energy Group • Feb. 27, 2023