15,504 research outputs found
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Using Experiments to Foster Innovation and Improve the Effectiveness of Energy Efficiency Programs
This paper argues that the establishment of a process designed to manage innovation must be developed in California to foster the creation of needed program improvements and develop new and more effective energy efficiency delivery programs. This paper discusses several key institutional problems that must be overcome to achieve significant progress
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Process Evaluation Insights on Program Implementation
This white paper has the explicit intention to draw lessons learned from the past 30 years of energy efficiency program evaluation in order to facilitate improved program design and implementation going forward. The discussion in this white paper is developed based on interviews with 43 individuals who are either practitioners or users of process and market evaluation. In addition, we obtained references to published materials from our contacts and reviewed conference proceedings dating from 1992 to 2008, which resulted in a review of nearly 100 articles or reports documenting the results of, or commenting on, process and market evaluations
Evaluation of the East Bay Municipal Utility District's Pilot of WaterSmart Home Water Reports
This report presents the results of an independent evaluation of the East Bay Municipal Utility District's (EBMUD) year-long pilot project (Pilot) of WaterSmart Software's Home Water Reports (HWRs) service.The Pilot was intended to address three primary questions:First, would an SNB efficiency program like WaterSmart result in measurable reductionsin household water use?Second, would it increase rates of participation in other EBMUD conservation programs? Third, would it increase household knowledge and awareness of water consumption andways to use water more efficiently
Determinants of the Cost of Electricity Service in PCE Eligible Communities
This report is one of two companion reports ISER prepared for the Alaska Energy Authority. The other
report, âTrue Cost of Electricity in Rural Alaska and True Cost of Bulk Fuel in Rural Alaska,â is dated
October 26, 2016. That report estimates the full costs of providing electricity in rural Alaska, including
the costs of subsidies provided to lower the price consumers pay. This second report assesses how the
costs of electric generation in Power Cost Equalization (PCE) communities are or might be affected by
three factors that are not related to the differences in electricity generation costs. Those three factors
are the organizational structures of utilities, postage stamp rate design, and managerial information
available on energy subsidy programs.
1. Organizational Structures of Utilities
Electric utilities in PCE communities are organized as cooperatives, are run by local villages and
municipalities, or are investor-owned utilities. The scale of these utilities varies widely, and includes
regional utilities that manage separate electric grids in multiple communities. A review of those
organizational structures indicates that:
1.1. There are significant differences in distribution, customer service, and general and
administrative costs (DCG&A) across utilities. These differences are correlated with the utility
size and organizational structure, with the smallest utilities having significantly higher DCG&A
costs per kWh.
1.2. Small local utilities that have merged with larger regional utilities have benefited from reduced
costs and professional management. Incentives to encourage small local utilities to join
larger, more efficient regional utilities should be considered.
1.3. The cost of borrowing for large local and regional electric coops remains low compared with
that for stand-alone local villages, municipalities, and investor-owned utilities.
1.4. The state government should consider allowing a return on equity as an allowable expense
within the PCE cost of service [AS 42.45.110(a)] to enable utilities to build equity, enhance debt
coverage and facilitate the expanded use of private capital, and reduce dependency on limited
public capital resources. This private capital may take the form of investor capital for
investor-owned utilities or member capital for cooperatives.
2. Postage Stamp Rate Designs
2.1. Postage stamp rate designsâa single rate for electricity for some set of customersâcan help
reduce costs and improve affordability in smaller, remote communities through an implicit cost
subsidization from customers in larger communities.
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2.2. The subsidies in postage stamp rates may decrease incentives for utilities to manage their
costs, because higher costs may be subsidized by postage stamp rate-making.
2.3. The increase in cost in subsidy-providing communities risks inefficient bypass by large
commercial or government users. This could increase the total cost of electric service and
leave the remaining customers with higher rates and diminished affordability. Separating
communities into rate groups according to their cost structure may mitigate, but not eliminate,
the risk of self-generators bypassing the local electric utility.
3. Efficiency in Governance of Energy Subsidy Systems
3.1. To assess whether the PCE program is achieving its goals, transparent information about the
allocation of the subsidies and about the operation of the subsidized utilities is required. The
companion report to this one identified some issues about reliability of information generated
under the current reporting system. Improvements in the reporting requirements could
address these issues. A common issue is inconsistency in accounting for capital that state and
federal agencies contribute to utilities. Those capital contributions include both grants or
low-interest loans to finance capital projects as well as sources of short-term government
financing, such as annual fuel loans, emergency loans, and write-offs of operating loans for
troubled utilities. If capital investments for generation were separated from other capital,
investments to reduce fuel costs (such as wind power) could be assessed more directly.
3.2. The PCE program is one of several programs that subsidize energy costs in rural Alaska, and an
understanding of the interaction among these programs is required. An annual compilation of
all state and federal heating and electrical subsidy support systems by community would
enable better understanding of both individual program impact and also the collective
programmatic impact of the subsidies on energy affordability.
3.3. Information on system reliability, usually measured as outage hours, is required to fully assess
utility performance.
3.4. Currently, there is no information on how well the PCE program and other energy subsidy
programs in rural Alaska target families and communities that face the greatest energy
affordability challenges. Because of limitations on income data in small rural Alaska
communities, assessing how well subsidies are targeted may be challenging. However, in light
of general information that energy subsidies are often inefficient at poverty reduction, this is an
important question.
3.5. The environmental impact of energy subsidies for rural Alaska, including the PCE program,
through CO2 emissions and PM 2.5 emissions, has not been assessed.Alaska Energy AuthorityExecutive Summary / Background / Impact of Alternative Utility Organizational Structures on Cost / Postage Stamp Rate Design Issues for PCE Communities / Energy Subsidy Administration / Summar
Water efficiency opportunities for mid-sized utilities
This paper draws on several Water Efficiency strategies recently developed by ISF for mid-size utilities. It describes examples of opportunities being identified by utilities and the approaches applied in analysing the potential for water conservation. In detailing some of the current âbest practiceâ the paper aims to provide pointers for the water industry more generally. This includes both how to identify areas of water conservation potential and in the design of programs to effectively realise savings. The paper also highlights how advances in digital technologies and data analytics can shift thinking around program design and implementation
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Lessons Learned and Next Steps in Energy Efficiency Measurement and Attribution: Energy Savings, Net to Gross, Non-Energy Benefits, and Persistence of Energy Efficiency Behavior
This white paper examines four topics addressing evaluation, measurement, and attribution of direct and indirect effects to energy efficiency and behavioral programs: Estimates of program savings (gross); Net savings derivation through free ridership / net to gross analyses; Indirect non-energy benefits / impacts (e.g., comfort, convenience, emissions, jobs); and, Persistence of savings
Next generation water efficiency: looking over the horizon
After major investment during the Millennium drought, many Australian cities have become more resilient by diversifying their water supplies with desalination, water recycling, rain tanks, and importantly, increased water efficiency through both programs and regulations. The achievements in efficiency such as reduced per capita demand and success of large-scale demand management programs, are internationally recognised. However, with both Sydney and Melbourne heading towards mega-city status by mid-century, further increases in efficiency must be considered. This paper explores the technologies, behavioural interfaces and programs that could aid Australiaâs next generation of water efficiency
Residential Feedback Devices and Programs. Opportunities for Natural Gas
Behavior-based approaches have been a growing interest in the energy efficiency field over recent years and the use of residential energy feedback has garnered particular interest. By providing an increased level of detail, feedback can greatly increase a consumer's understanding of how energy is used in their home. This project reviewed the existing body of research on electricity feedback to identify parallel lessons for gas, discussed the benefits and challenges of different types of feedback, and identifying three feedback options that show strong potential for natural gas savings
Energy Saving Obligations and White Certificates : Ideas and Considerations for the Transport Sector
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