Negawatts - Rx for megagoofs

Journal Article · · Public Power; (United States)

OSTI ID:5900347

Lovins, A B

Economic analyses show that utilities need to reshape management to conserve electric power that will then be available for resale. Lovins cites examples showing how new hardware retrofits that lower operating costs have been cost effective. Utilities are expanding their conservation efforts beyond information services to help customers use market incentives to optimize the comfort and utility of the electric power they buy. Utilities offer modernizing grants, sliding scales, shared-savings, and other arrangements to encourage the use of new technologies. Lovins emphasizes that utilities can still come out ahead as long as declining costs exceed the drop in revenues due to lower sales. Utilities should pursue this route even if they have an overcapacity because the reduction in air pollution and deferred construction will save future investments.

• Research Organization: Rocky Mountain Institute, Old Snowmass, CO
• OSTI ID: 5900347
• Journal Information: Public Power; (United States), Journal Name: Public Power; (United States) Vol. 44:2; ISSN PUPOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
291000 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Conservation
296000 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Electric Power
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320603* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Municipalities & Community Systems-- Public Utilities-- (1980-)
320900 -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Education & Public Relations-- (1980-)
ECONOMICS
EFFICIENCY
ELECTRIC POWER
ELECTRIC UTILITIES
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ENERGY CONSERVATION
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
EQUIPMENT
FINANCIAL INCENTIVES
INFORMATION
MANAGEMENT
POWER
PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
PUBLIC INFORMATION
PUBLIC UTILITIES
RETROFITTING
TECHNOLOGY UTILIZATION