by Shane Henson — September 19, 2012—The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), an organization that plays a key role in making California a national and international leader on a number of clean energy-related initiatives and policies, recently announced that the groundbreaking energy efficiency programs approved by the CPUC resulted in savings of 5,900 gigawatt-hours of electricity in 2010-2011 based on utility reported savings estimates. According to CPUC, this is enough to power more than 600,000 households for a year and the equivalent of two major power plants. In addition, the estimated savings cut carbon dioxide emissions by 3.8 million tons, the equivalent of removing more than 700,000 cars from California’s roads.
In its recently released 2010-2011 Energy Efficiency Annual Progress Evaluation Report, the CPUC summarizes investor-owned utility implementation thus far of the CPUC’s $3.1 billion 2010-2012 energy efficiency program. The report details progress toward meeting multiple statewide energy and climate policy objectives including the Energy Action Plan, Assembly Bill 32, and the California Long Term Energy Efficiency Strategic Plan.
The report also includes information on counties in California with the highest energy savings in the state. Los Angeles County leads the way in electricity savings, while Contra Costa County shows leadership in the natural gas area.
The report discusses 11 program areas, which are designed to overcome barriers to investing in energy efficiency in a wide range of customer segments and promote a range of specialized technologies and services. Highlights include:
- Residential energy savings continue to be driven by long-running programs that include lighting, followed by appliances.
- Programs in the industrial and agricultural sectors continue to deliver significant energy savings to California.
- The upstream HVAC equipment incentive program, where distributors are incentivized to promote energy-efficient products, has consistently been achieving savings goals and is cost effective.
- Programs in the industrial and agricultural sectors continue to deliver significant energy savings to California.
The report further shows how energy efficiency programs and initiatives don’t have to take away from other important initiatives within a budget. The 2010-2012 statewide Codes and Standards Program budget is less than 1% of the total portfolio of energy efficiency programs ($30 million), but is projected to account for about 22% the total electricity savings and 25% of the natural gas savings, notes the CPUC.
“Through our energy efficiency efforts, California has avoided the need to build two new power plants and has helped green our golden state,” said CPUC President Michael R. Peevey. “The state’s consumers should applaud themselves for embracing energy efficiency, which helps to lower energy bills and also benefits the environment. Going forward, the CPUC will continue to look for ways to maximize opportunities for energy efficiency to provide quantifiable savings to reach California’s multiple policy goals.”
