The Power Content Label: A tool for building a consumer-driven market for renewable power

Conference · Wed Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1998

OSTI ID:20006364

Davis, C L; Tutt, T N

Building a strong consumer-driven market for renewable power will require that consumers trust the market, understand how to make choices in the market, and understand the implications of those choices. For example, consumers must be aware of the relationship between flipping a light switch and the power plant supplying that electricity. Consumers must have basic information about the implications of different electricity resources, and access to tools that will allow them to compare electricity products based on environmental attributes of the electricity purchased. And consumers need to be assured that when they pay a premium for renewable power that they will get what they pay for. Recent state legislation requires electric service providers to disclose resource (fuel) mix information to consumer for each electricity product sold within the state. Pursuant to this legislation, the Energy Commission created the Power Content Label. The Power Content Label will allow consumers to compare electricity products based on attributes other than cost, and will lend credibility to marketing claims about power sources. As such, the Label will be an important tool for building consumer awareness, providing consumer protection, and educating consumers about the sources of their electricity. This paper includes a description of how this law was developed, what the law provides for, and how the Energy Commission created the Power Content Label. Also included is a discussion of how the Label relates to other consumer information measures and how the Label might support the development of the green power market.

• Research Organization: California Energy Commission, Sacramento, CA (US)
• OSTI ID: 20006364
• Report Number(s): CONF-980815--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
CALIFORNIA
EDUCATIONAL TOOLS
INFORMATION DISSEMINATION
LAWS
MARKET
POWER GENERATION
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES