Ratepayer-Funded Electric Efficiency Impacts

While calls abound for more efficient use of energy in the U.S., research indicates that now is the time to tap into a growing interest in efficiency and the savings it yields.

Energy efficiency programs are growing in number and in the amount of savings realized, and utilities are playing an important role in that growth, the Institute at Electric Efficiency says in a report issued just after the new year began.

Highlights include:

• Savings from ratepayer-funded energy efficiency and demand response programs in the U.S. jumped 21 percent from 2009 to 2010.
• Savings have grown 80 percent since 2007.
• Efficiency expenditures grew to $4.8 billion in 2010, 28 percent more than in 2009.

The report, titled “Summary of Ratepayer-Funded Electric Efficiency Impacts, Budgets and Expenditures (2010-2011)” can be downloaded using the button above and from the Institute at Electric Efficiency at http://www.edisonfoundation.net/iee/.