New utility strategies for saving energy in the commercial sector

Conference · Sun Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1982

OSTI ID:6544335

Maves, S; Harris, J P

The large electric and gas utilities in California have been conducting energy-conservation programs for their comercial customers for several years. Although each utility tailors its conservation programs to the specific characteristics of its territory, the changes that have been introduced since the programs started reveal several important common trends. Initially, most utility energy-audit programs emphasized visiting a large number of buildings, identifying energy-conservation opportunities, and writing recommendations to building owners or operators. Experience with this approach sowed that the average implementation rate of measures recommended by auditors was unacceptably low. Utilities in California and elsewhere are now beginning to restructure their programs to emphasize an on-going relationship wit their commercial customers rather than a one-time audit; increased attention to the energy management process, including operations, maintenance, and investment decision-making; and accountability for actual measured savings in energy use and peak load, rather than for the number of audits performed or measures recommended. These emerging new directions may be able to improve program impact and cost-effectiveness, but careful monitoring and evaluation remain essential. We point to some ways in which utilities elsewhere in the country might benefit from the California utilities' experience.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Berkeley Lab., CA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC03-76SF00098
• OSTI ID: 6544335
• Report Number(s): LBL-14818; CONF-820849-17; ON: DE83005923
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
291000 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Conservation
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320104* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Commercial & Industrial Buildings-- (-1987)
ATTITUDES
AUDITS
CALIFORNIA
COMMERCIAL SECTOR
DECISION MAKING
ENERGY AUDITS
ENERGY CONSERVATION
ENERGY MANAGEMENT
FEDERAL REGION IX
FINANCIAL INCENTIVES
MANAGEMENT
NORTH AMERICA
PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
PUBLIC UTILITIES
TRAINING
USA