ACEEE'S GRAPEVINE ONLINE

January 8, 2007

NEW ACEEE REPORT ON PEAK DEMAND IMPACTS OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY CLOSE TO RELEASE

There has been a marked increase over the past few years in efforts to rely on energy efficiency as a viable utility system resource. With this increased reliance comes a corresponding need to draw upon accurate data on the energy and peak demand impacts associated with these resources. Evaluations of energy efficiency programs have tended to focus on energy (kWh) savings of programs for a variety of reasons. Corresponding peak demand savings (kW) generally have been less well analyzed and documented.

ACEEE's Utilities Program staff initiated a research project in early 2006 to examine the relationship between energy efficiency programs and their peak demand impacts. A key objective of this work is to provide a practical information resource for policymakers, program planners, and the public. The findings will be published in an upcoming report, Examining the Peak Demand Impacts Of Energy Efficiency: A Review of Program Experience and Industry Practices.

The report explores past experience and current practice with the data and approaches used to quantify energy and demand impacts for utility system planning and operations. A related work-product provides a practical sample of data for common end-use energy efficiency measures.

Watch for this report's release in January 2007.

Back to ACEEE's Grapevine Online