BOULDER, CO — (Marketwired) — 10/23/13 — E Source recently released the 2012 DSM Achievements and Expenditures report. In its third year, it–s the company–s largest demand-side management (DSM) benchmarking study yet, with actual 2012 DSM results from 52 electric and natural gas utilities.
Of the participating electric utilities, Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) achieved the greatest 2012 energy savings, closely followed by Southern California Edison and Commonwealth Edison in second and third, respectively. Among these three utilities, savings were almost evenly divided between residential and nonresidential sectors. Interestingly, the “other” category — which could include savings from strategies such as outreach and education or codes and standards — had a significant impact on the utilities with the biggest savings.
Though average DSM electric expenditures dropped significantly from 2011 to 2012, average energy savings as a percentage of total (bundled plus delivery-only) retail sales remained flat. “Because of increased regulatory pressure for utilities to do more with less, this is no surprise,” says Julie Herman, product manager for E Source Efficiency Services. “That the majority of annual kilowatt-hour savings goals were met while staying within budget is quite an achievement for the utilities, and it demonstrates their ability to be creative and mine their existing programs for greater overall savings.”
Among participating natural gas utilities, Southern California Gas Co., Consumers Energy, and PG&E were the top performers. The majority of savings came from the nonresidential sector, but gas utilities spent the most money on residential customers. In contrast to their electric counterparts, gas utilities spent almost the same amount on DSM in 2012 as they did in 2011. According to Herman, “Low natural gas prices, coupled with unusually warm weather patterns, required higher incentives to engage customers in energy-efficiency programs.”
For the study, E Source analyzed key metrics such as average energy savings as percentage of total (bundled plus delivery-only) retail sales, average annual cost to save energy, and per-capita energy savings.
For 25 years, E Source has been providing unbiased, objective research and advisory services to over 300 utilities and large energy users. Our energy experts have answered more than 8,000 questions over the past 3 years. This guidance helps our customers advance their efficiency programs, enhance customer relationships, and use energy more efficiently.
Kym Wootton
Senior Manager of Marketing & Communications
E Source
303-345-9168