Utility Energy Efficiency Scorecard shows increased energy savings

The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) released on Feb. 20, its 2020 Utility Energy Efficiency Scorecard, which showed a significant increase in energy savings by the 52 largest U.S. electric utilities.

The report found that, as a group, utilities have increased their annual energy savings by 20 percent since 2015 and saved approximately 20 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity in 2018 from programs administered that year.

Overall, the utilities included in the scorecard offered more than 900 efficiency programs in 2018, about 300 more than in 2015.

Two trends identified by the report are increased efficiency investments in low-income communities and adoption of electric vehicles.

The scorecard assesses and ranks utilities according to various energy efficient metrics related to energy efficiency program performance, program offerings and portfolio comprehensiveness, and enabling mechanisms for efficiency.

Eversource Massachusetts and National Grid Massachusetts tied for first place, followed by San Diego Gas & Electric; Commonwealth Edison in Illinois; Baltimore Gas and Electric; and Pacific Gas & Electric.

“I am proud that National Grid’s energy efficiency programs have been recognized as #1 in the nation by prioritizing low-income communities, electric vehicle infrastructure, and aggressive programs for high energy use commercial and industrial customers,” Marcy Reed, president of National Grid Massachusetts, said. “We are committed to supporting the Commonwealth and our customers in our shared goals of meaningful deep emissions reductions and a clean energy future.”

The most improved utilities were Consumers Energy in Michigan, which more than doubled its energy savings since 2015, and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), which increased its energy savings by more than half.

“We are proud to be recognized as both a ‘top ten’ and ‘most-improved’ utility,” David Jacot, director of efficiency solutions at LADWP, said. “LADWP sees energy efficiency as foundational to achieving our larger objectives of decarbonizing our energy supply and our economy while keeping customer rates as low as possible by optimizing the system’s usage and reducing the need for costly infrastructure upgrades.”