2025 Energy Efficiency as a Resource Conference

Overview

The 13th biennial Energy Efficiency as a Resource conference will focus on policies and programs to reduce energy waste as we build the utility system of the future. This event will explore how efficiency efforts can expand and evolve to help utilities and policymakers overcome the challenge of rapid electric load growth while maintaining power reliability and customer affordability. The conference will provide a unique opportunity to interact with the key players in the utility energy efficiency arena.

In addition, ACEEE has collaborated with IEPEC to kickstart the week with its evaluation conference at the same venue as EER. These back-to-back events will provide the opportunity for broader networking and gathering of information from more experts in the field. IEPEC’s event will be held from Monday, October 6 through Wednesday, October 8, overlapping with the start of the EER conference on Tuesday, October 7. The EER conference will wrap up on Thursday, October 9.

Discount registrations will be offered to attendees who want to participate in both events. More information to come in summer 2025!

Program

Program at a Glance

Accommodations

Program Highlights

Plenary Panel – Regional Roundup: Highlighting Recent Utility Energy Efficiency Wins and Spotting Challenges on the Horizon | Wednesday, October 8 (10:00 – 11:30 am)

Gain perspective on how utility energy efficiency goals and challenges vary across the country in this fast-paced and engaging panel. Regional energy efficiency organizations from across the United States will each share their top recent accomplishments and wins, as well as upcoming challenges they face in the coming years.

Moderator: Mark Kresowik, Policy Director, ACEEE

Panelists:

Elise Jones, Executive Director, Southwest Energy Efficiency Project (SWEEP)
Paige Knutsen, Executive Director, Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (MEEA)
Todd McAlister, Chief Executive Officer, South-central Partnership for Energy Efficiency as a Resource (SPEER)
Ashley McBride, Policy Director, Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA)
Maggie Molina, Executive Director, Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP)
Becca Yates, Executive Director, Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA)

Lunch Keynote: Integrative Policy Strategies in Illinois to Deliver Efficient and Affordable Energy to Consumers | Wednesday, October 8 (11:30 – 12:45pm)

Doug Scott, chair of the Illinois Commerce Commission, will share lessons learned in Illinois, a state leading the way on future-looking energy policy, as the state has worked to braid together a range of regulatory, legislative, and administrative strategies to increase energy efficiency, move towards clean heating and transportation, and make sure the benefits of these policies reach low-income families.

Concurrent Session: Braiding State and Utility Resources to Deliver Effective Energy Efficiency Programming | Thursday, October 9 (8:30 – 10:00am)

This panel brings together state agency representatives and energy efficiency program implementers from across the country to discuss models for combining resources, funding, and expertise across organizations to enhance capacity to deliver effective programs, especially those that deliver comprehensive building efficiency and meet the needs of historically marginalized communities by lowering bills and improving health and comfort. Each panelist will share case studies that highlight the integrative and collaborative aspects of efficiency programs, followed by a moderated discussion to make connections across states, with time for audience Q &A. Attendees will walk away with impactful stories of how to address big challenges through comprehensive and well-coordinated programming.

Moderator: Tim Fagan, PSE&G

Panelists:

Lizzie Rubado, Director of Innovation and Development, Energy Trust of Oregon
Erin Soman, Managing Director, Focus on Energy
Invited – Colorado Energy Office

Concurrent Session: Innovative Approaches to Managing Data Center Demand | Thursday, October 9 (8:30 – 10:00am)

Many regions around the country are facing rapid load growth, driven in large part by an explosion of data centers. There are strategies, however, to meet substantial portions of this expanded demand quickly and cost-effectively through efficiency improvements and other demand side management strategies. This session will share perspectives from leading experts on how we can more effectively plan for and manage load growth from data centers and avoid locking in expensive new generation resources and putting pressure on the grid during times of peak demand. A moderated discussion will follow panelist presentations, followed by time for audience Q&A.

Moderator: Steve Nadel, Executive Director, ACEEE

Panelists:

Roderick Jackson, Laboratory Program Manager, Buildings Research, National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Bill LeBlanc, President, LeBlanc Energy Innovation
Brendan Pierpont, Modeling Director, Energy Innovation

Closing Plenary: The Value of Demand Side Management for Economically and Cleanly Managing Load Growth | Thursday, October 9 (4:00 – 5:00pm)

Our closing plenary brings together a diverse panel of experts to discuss the shifting value of demand side management, in the context of load growth. How have legislative efforts or state agency programs engaged with this challenge? And how can strategic investment in energy efficiency and demand flexibility, as well as thoughtful and innovative rate design, support energy affordability? This moderated panel discussion will share perspectives on these kinds of questions, highlighting the value and role of demand side management tools for achieving a wide range of planning goals and delivering more efficient, more cost-effective, and more reliable energy to all communities.

Panelists:

Chris Duffrin, President, Center for Energy and Environment
Rachel Gold, Senior Principle, Carbon Free Electricity, RMI
Damali Harding, Executive Managing Director, Amendment Nine Strategic Consulting
Wil Mannes, Senior Program Manager, Strategic Initiatives & Finance, Colorado Energy Office

Program

To view the program-at-a-glance, click here.

To view the full program, click here.

Please note that the program is currently in draft form and subject to change.

Workshops

Residential Thermal Energy Storage for Load Shifting: A Collaborative Ideation Session on Utility Strategies to Deliver Value to Customers and the Grid | Tuesday, October 7 (3:00-5:00pm)

Thermal energy storage (TES) can enable load shifting of heating and cooling loads in buildings, helping utilities free up peak electricity for strategic priorities such as manufacturing or data centers, while helping customers save on their electric bills. We will summarize the latest research on the state of utility TES deployment, then bring together the expertise of the attendees to identify possible improvements to programs, rates, incentives, or other solutions that can help customers and utilities capture the benefits of residential TES.

*Available as an add-on to registration. Cost: $50

Closing the Equity Gap in Utility Energy Efficiency Programming | Tuesday, October 7 (3:00-5:00pm)

Research suggests that low- to moderate-income (LMI) customers are often underserved by most utility energy efficiency programs, despite having the greatest financial need. This workshop will convene utility program administrators and implementers to share best practices and case studies related to scaling low-income energy efficiency programs effectively. ACEEE moderators will present short introductions to a range of challenges in LMI programming, highlight utility successes, and facilitate breakout discussions. All workshop participants will receive a written summary of findings and key themes following the event.

*Available as an add-on to registration. Cost: $25

IEPEC & EER

For the first time, ACEEE and IEPEC are collaborating to bring you back-to-back conferences at the same venue—providing opportunities for broader networking, sharing insights with a wider audience, and gathering information from more experts in the field.

The International Energy Program Evaluation Conference (IEPEC) is a biennial professional conference for energy program implementers, evaluators of those programs, local, state, national and international representatives, and academic researchers involved in evaluation. The purpose of the conference is to provide a forum for the presentation, as well as a critique and discussion of objective evaluations of energy programs.

IEPEC will be held from Monday, October 6, through Wednesday, October 8, overlapping with the start of the EER conference on Tuesday, October 7.

★ Special Offer: Register for EER and receive $100 off your IEPEC registration!

Registration

Registration is now open! Click here to register for the conference.

Registration Type	Early Bird (by 8/4)	Regular (by 9/8)	Late (on/after 9/8)
General Attendee	$975	$1,075	$1,175
Speaker / Moderator	—	$875	—
Student	—	$475	—
General Attendee (1-Day)	—	$550	—
Speaker / Moderator (1-Day)	—	$550	—

Refund/Cancellation Policy: Cancellations made before September 23 will be given a full refund less a $100 processing fee. Refunds will not be made for cancellations after this date except on a case-by-case basis.