Sponsored and organized by the IOUs in collaboration with staff of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), the workshop seeks to advance a definition of behavioral programs, discuss the most promising behavioral program designs, and address evaluation techniques.

Steve Jones, Pulse Energy’s VP of Product Management, will be speaking during the Vendor Roundtable session on June 26th.

For more information please contact Cathy Fogel (cf1@cpuc.ca.gov) at the CPUC.

For more information about the conference please visit the IEPEC website.

If you’re planning on attending, we’d love to make a connection. Please contact us to arrange a meet up.

If you’re planning on attending, we’d love to connect with you there. Please contact us to arrange a meet up.

Chris Porter finished fifth overall, in a time of 17:56, and Samuel Wind cruised into the top 70 with 22:07. Congratulations to them and all participants, including Brent Bowker; Jamie, Megan and Alexander King; and Bryan, Cindy and Chloe Anderson from the Pulse Energy team.

The Science Fair Foundation of British Columbia is a not-for-profit charitable society committed to the promotion and development of Science Fair Programs in the province. Science Fairs give students from grades four to twelve a unique opportunity to explore their interest in science and technology.

Each year, over 30,000 students from 800 schools in British Columbia participate in Science Fairs, more than 1,500 educators and professionals in the fields of science and technology volunteer as judges and mentors for BC students. All proceeds from the event will go to The Dr. Michael Smith Science Fair Endowment to support the promotion and development of Science Fair Programs throughout the province.

Clockwise from left: Samuel Wind, Brent Bowker, Bryan Anderson and Chloe Anderson.

The competition, won by L.A. Matheson Secondary last year, grew to 19 participating schools over two rounds. Panorama Ridge saved 3,000 kWh over a single week (April 15-19) to take the victory, with a peak daily saving of 37%. Semiahmoo Secondary and Guildford Park rounded out the top three with savings of 15% and 13% respectively.

Panorama Ridge’s performance meant that their power usage was nearly as low as the spring break week – when the school was closed. It’s especially encouraging to see that the school is still using 18% less electricity than expected in the two weeks since the competition ended, with the other participants seeing average reductions around 5%.

“Every school did well and student engagement was high,” Alasdair MacKinnon, the district’s director of energy management and sustainability, told the Peace Arch News.

The secondary school challenge is among energy-saving initiatives aimed at reducing energy use in the Surrey district by 10 million kWh over five years. The district partnered with Pulse Energy two years ago for assistance, getting real-time data on energy consumption for each school.
 

Photos and additional copy courtesy of Corry Anderson-Fennell, Surrey Schools

The team averaged 56:48 over the 10km distance, led by Tom Owen, Greg Dennis and Jeremy Goldstrom. Congratulations also go to High Tech leader HootSuite, with four members under 40 minutes.

From left: Sarah Laird, Tom Owen, Laura Cornish, Abrelyn Malapad, Dave Hadgkiss, Greg Dennis, Maerielle Lapastora, Fritz J. Lapastora and Jeremy Goldstrom.

Internal

Surrey’s Peace Arch News covered the Pulse-powered Energy Conservation Cup, held over April 15-19. The winning school, Panorama Ridge Secondary, saved 30% over the period, equaling power use during spring break.
Source: Peach Arch News

Backbone, a Canadian business technology publication, listed Pulse Energy as one of the top eight cleantech firms in Canada. The listing was part of the Backbone200, a guide to the best technology companies in Canada.
Source: Backbone

Utilities

Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) and Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) have teamed up to invest $440 million in energy saving programs to residential and business customers in their joint service territory. SoCalGas and LADWP offer Retrocommissioning Express (RCx), a no-cost and low-cost energy optimization program that can reduce electricity and gas bills in qualifying commercial buildings.
Source: PR Newswire

Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) has completed its Department of Energy supported grid modernization projects and the installation of 4.5 million smart meters in its 35 county service area. FPL was one of only six utilities in the U.S. to receive a $200 million grant from the DOE to help fund one of the largest, most comprehensive grid modernization projects.
Source: Florida Power & Light

Customer satisfaction improves for a seventh straight year for energy utilities, according to a report released today by the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI). The ACSI benchmark for the energy utility sector improves 0.9% to 77.4 on a scale of 0 to 100, the highest level seen since inaugural measurement in 1994.
Source: ASCI

Small and medium-sized businesses in Ohio, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Illinois have the opportunity to customize their own fixed-price electricity plans through FirstEnergy Solutions’ new online tool. Companies can review various small and medium-sized business-fixed price electricity plans by changing the term length – 12, 24 or 36 months – and start months to find the best plan for their needs.
Source: Marketwire

E Source, in partnership with The Nielsen Company, released its 2013 Utility Brand Strength Rankings, based on a broad survey of US residential customers of electric and combined gas and electric utilities. Public utilities led the rankings, with Omaha PPD, Snohomish County PUD and Sacramento MUD joined by MidAmerican and Salt River Project in the top five.
Source: Marketwire

Responding to frequently changing regulations and managing the effect on business and stakeholders are now the biggest concerns for power and utilities executives around the world, according to a new Ernst & Young survey. The research finds that, while governments and regulators around the globe continue to pursue low-carbon generation and energy efficiency, consumers are becoming increasingly price sensitive.
Source: The Wall Street Journal

Institutions, Cities & States

Supporters of a statewide energy efficiency program have sued the Louisiana Public Service Commission over its handling of a decision to shelve the program. The Alliance for Affordable Energy, the Sierra Club and the Louisiana Environmental Action Network say the utility regulatory agency broke the state’s open meetings law by refusing to allow public testimony before voting.
Source: Businessweek

The Green Bay School District said it has saved $10 million by using energy-efficient light bulbs, turning off or dimming lights, maintaining heating and cooling systems in good condition and avoiding heavy energy use during peak times. Green Bay spends about 60 cents per square foot on energy in its high school buildings while many other districts in the state spend more than $1 per square foot.
Source: Sheyboygan Press

The Los Angeles City Council approved a plan to begin moving away from coal-fired energy, despite warnings from a Department of Water and Power watchdog that the shift could cost more than $650 million. The council took the first step in that direction with a 12-0 vote that will clear the way for a coal-fired plant in Utah to be converted to run on natural gas.
Source: Los Angeles Times

New York State officials are considering turning over operation of Long Island’s troubled electric authority — harshly criticized for its response to superstorm Sandy — to Public Service Enterprise Group, parent company of New Jersey’s largest utility. It’s among several options being discussed concerning the Long Island Power Authority.
Source: North Jersey

North America

According to a Department of Energy Report, the $2.9 billion spent on smart grid investment has yielded economic output of $6.8 billion. The report, Economic Impact of Recovery Act Investments in the Smart Grid, assesses the economic effects of immediate spending, not long-term impacts, and includes employment, total labor income and economic output.
Source: SmartGridNews

International

BT Group, BAE Systems and Vodafone Group are poised to submit final bids in a £12.1 billion (~$18.5 billion) U.K. program to install smart meters in every home. The SmartReach group, which comprises BT, BAE Systems Detica, Arqiva and Sensus, is vying with a proposal from Vodafone and Silver Spring Networks to build the communications systems that will connect every smart meter to U.K. energy suppliers, executives at the companies said.
Source: Businessweek

New smart energy meters being installed in Welsh homes could save customers about £64 (~$97.6) a year each by ending estimated bills , British Gas says. The company says the meters – which the UK government requires to be installed in all homes by 2019 – will save Wales’ 1.3 million households £83M (~$127M) a year. British Gas and analysts Oxford Economics say the average household in Wales will save £63.7 (~$97) a year, based on a 5% reduction in the average dual fuel bill for gas and electricity in Wales.
Source: BBC News

Electricity sales by Japan’s 10 regional utilities in fiscal 2012 sagged 1.0 percent from the previous year to 851.6 billion kilowatt-hours for the second straight year amid anemic manufacturing activity and greater power-saving efforts, an industry body said Friday. Sales to the commercial sector including operators of commercial facilities rose 1.4 percent to 190.7 billion kilowatt-hours.
Source: NETC

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has instructed Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr Vilkul to draw up a comprehensive program for energy efficiency in the utilities and manufacturing sectors. He said the Energy and Coal Industry Ministry, the Ministry for Regional Development, Construction, Housing and Utilities and the Agricultural Policy and Food Ministry should work on the creation of the program.

Please send story suggestions or comments about This Week in Energy Efficiency to Peter J. Cavan

Internal

The CBC has released the video of Pulse Energy CEO David Helliwell kicking off the Canada 150 series, leading up to the country’s 150th anniversary in 2017. Singing may be involved.
Source: Youtube

Utilities

Xcel Energy has exceeded the energy savings goals set for it by the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) by 22 percent, according to the utility’s annual DSM report. The savings were achieved as part of the utility’s 2012 energy-efficiency programs, resulting in a record 401 million kilowatt-hours saved by customers.
Source: FierceEnergy

San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) has recently earned two national recognitions that demonstrate the utility’s momentum in developing a smart grid for the benefit of the region. SDG&E was named one of the nation’s top smart grid utilities by Greentech Media, and recognized for customer engagement success by the Smart Grid Consumer Collaborative.
Source: The Business Journals

FirstEnergy announced a raft of leadership changes across its operations, following the retirement of Don Lynch, president of Jersey Central Power & Light. Lynch will be succeeded by James V. Fakult, formerly president of Maryland Operations.
Source: FirstEnergy

Institutions, Cities & States

The Ohio Senate Public Utilities Committee is taking input on the state’s energy efficiency rules, with a view to possibly revising the 2008 goal of 22% reduction by 2025. Local advocates will discuss whether the goal is still optimal given economic changes over the past five years.
Source: The Columbus Dispatch

North America

The Energy Information Administration is predicting residential electricity sales over June-August to be 5% below the same period last year, largely due to milder weather. Sales to the commercial and industrial sectors should largely hold steady.
Source: ECT.coop

President Obama’s budget request last week announced a “review of options for addressing the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)’s financial situation, including the possible divestiture of TVA, in part or as whole.” TVA’s $24bn debt is only paid for by ratepayers but is factored into the federal deficit.
Source: WRCBTV

Please send story suggestions or comments about This Week in Energy Efficiency to Peter J. Cavan

Utilities

PPL Electric Utilities will offer a portfolio of energy conservation programs over the next three years under a plan approved this month by the state Public Utility Commission. The new elements will target farms, schools and low income multi-family residential with energy audits, rebates and recommendations.
Source: The Morning Call

National Grid US has named John J. Donleavy to the position of Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Donleavy was President and CEO of Vermont Electric Power Company (VELCO), where he spearheaded the largest capital infrastructure construction program in the company’s and Vermont’s history.
Source: Power Engineering

Public Service Electric and Gas is seeking support for its $3.9 billion Energy Strong infrastructure upgrade from the customers who would pay for it. Energy Strong was proposed in response to superstorm Sandy, which knocked out power to 2 million of PSE&G’s 2.2 million customers, some for nearly two weeks.
Source: Energy Central

Institutions, Cities & States

The City of Boston has released a proposed energy disclosure and reporting ordinance, recommended by the Mayor’s Climate Action Leadership Committee. Energy efficiency in existing buildings is the single most important component of the City’s plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 25 percent by 2020.
Source: City of Boston

The California Energy Commission (CEC) is considering establishing improve energy efficiency measures for 15 products in four categories: consumer electronics, lighting, water appliances, and other appliances. The CEC issued an Invitation to Participate to gather market data from manufacturers, consumer rights groups, utility companies, energy efficiency advocates, industry associations, and other interested parties.
Source: Marketwire

The Energy Trust of Oregon’s 4th quarter report reveals that annual results exceeded even the stretch goals for electric and natural gas efficiency savings. Existing Buildings, which helps commercial properties upgrade to energy-efficiency features, reports its pipeline for 2013 is the strongest it has been in the program’s 10-year history.
Source: Energy Trust of Oregon

Louisiana Public Service Commission chairman Eric Skrmetta has argued that he supports energy efficiency as long as it doesn’t involve “a government mandate”. He was responding to a Forbes article criticizing Louisiana for dropping its efficiency mandates.
Source: Zachary Today

North America

ACEEE recognized the nation’s best energy efficiency initiatives, including small business programs from Xcel Energy, National Grid and two Connecticut utilities. The National Review of Exemplary Energy Efficiency Programs is the third of its kind, following previous versions in 2003 and 2008.
Source: ACEEE

International

The UK’s largest smart grid project has completed the first stage of its research, part of ongoing trials with 14,000 customers. Dr Liz Sidebotham, Communications Manager for the Customer-Led Network Revolution (CLNR) project, told Solar Novus Today that there is “a great demand from domestic users for time-of-use tariffs.”
Source: SmartGridNews

Please send story suggestions or comments about This Week in Energy Efficiency to Peter J. Cavan