Energy service company opportunities get hotter

Journal Article · Tue Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1995 · Cogeneration and Competitive Power Journal

OSTI ID:87593

Barrett, L B ^[1]

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1. Barrett Consulting Associates, Inc., Colorado Springs, CO (United States)

An option of growing interest to utilities and their customers is the energy service company or ESCO. It typically provides or coordinates several energy services including performing energy audits or analyses, designing and engineering of retrofit projects, managing the installation of more efficient equipment, and maintaining systems for optimal performance. Perhaps the key distinguishing feature of an ESCO is financing that allows the customer to avoid or reduce first costs and pay for the energy services through savings on electric and fuel bills. By paying for the energy services through savings on energy bills, the arrangement becomes a performance contract. It is difficult to find a major utility in North America that is not considering establishing or working with an ESCO. Many have made that commitment and many more are likely to do so. From the perspective of the facility owner, the increased presence of ESCOs will present some challenges in determining the best option, but the rewards for selecting an ESCO of high quality and reliability should be worth it. A facility manager considering a contract with an ESCO that is not a utility subsidiary should call their local utility for comparative information. A facility manager considering a contract with an ESCO that is a utility subsidiary should be aware that other organizations may be able to provide equivalent services.

• OSTI ID: 87593
• Journal Information: Cogeneration and Competitive Power Journal, Journal Name: Cogeneration and Competitive Power Journal Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 10; ISSN CCPJE8; ISSN 1066-8683
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
COMPETITION
DECISION MAKING
ELECTRIC UTILITIES
ENERGY AUDITS
ENERGY CONSERVATION
MARKET
RETROFITTING
SERVICE SECTOR