Increasing Utility Energy Efficiency Creates Jobs and Saves Consumers Money
Utilities have substantial power to set rates and determine energy choices for consumers, making them essential to state efforts to reduce pollution and promote clean energy choices. States can take action to reduce costs through strong utility energy efficiency laws, which set ambitious energy efficiency targets for utilities. The Utility Energy Efficiency Act tasks utilities with increasing efficiency and preventing energy waste. States with these goals have seen billions in savings, along with growth in the clean energy sector.
-
Consumers
-
Environmental advocates
-
Renewable energy and energy efficiency sectors
-
Utilities with proper support
-
Proponents of deregulation
This act shall be known as the Utility Energy Efficiency Act
To encourage energy providers and utilities to save money and reduce waste by increasing utility and provider energy efficiency.
(a) It is the goal of STATE to encourage energy sources that are reliable and cost effective. For this reason, energy providers and utilities in STATE are responsible for:
-(i) Ensuring a yearly incremental increase of at least 2% in energy savings from efficiency and conservation initiatives; and
-(ii) First meeting unmet resource demands through any available method of efficiency or conservation that is reliable and cost effective.
(b) Energy providers and utilities shall take any and all reasonable steps necessary to meet these obligations and report on actions taken and results in an annual report submitted to DEPARTMENT.
(c) An energy provider or utility’s energy savings resulting from energy efficiency programs implemented before the effective date of this Act may be credited towards the first 2% savings obligation.
(d) DEPARTMENT shall promulgate all necessary regulations to enact the above and produce an annual report to be delivered the legislature and posted online regarding progress and performance of energy providers and utilities to meet the above, and highlighting best practices and additional legislative steps needed to help utilities and energy providers meet the above standards.