Market-driven DSM programming at HYDRO-QUEBEC

Technical Report · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1996

OSTI ID:254536

Ducharme, P

Market-driven demand-side management (DSM) is more a philosophy than a program. DSM programs based on that philosophy acknowledge the fact that, although the electrical industry has existed for 100 years, commerce has existed for centuries. Moving goods from one person to another is not new. By definition, market-driven DSM programs are conceived and managed in such a way as to use existing market synergies to the mutual benefit of the utility, its market partners, its clients, and the community as a whole. How does a market-driven DSM program differ from a utility-driven one? Market-driven programs make optimal use of prevailing market mechanisms; they focus on long-term goals and changing purchasing habits, and show substantial impact even after the incentives are phased out. They require a relatively small initial investment, although one such program at Hydro-Quebec required as much as $20 million. Market-driven programs also pass on a portion of the cost of promoting energy efficiency to other partners, such as retailers and manufacturers, and have proven useful for developing strong and lasting ties between the partners and the utility. Potential program applications for market-driven DSM in the residential sector are: appliances; `small` energy-saving products promotion; retrofit; new construction; and lighting. In the commercial and institutional sector they are: lighting; energy-efficient motors; retrofit; building design; and process design.

• Research Organization: Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (United States); Policy Research Associates, Inc., Reston, VA (United States)
• OSTI ID: 254536
• Report Number(s): EPRI-TR--105963; CONF-9312121--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
ELECTRIC UTILITIES
ENERGY CONSERVATION
MANAGEMENT
MARKETING
PLANNING
QUEBEC