U.S. Utilities Increase Energy Efficiency Programs 43% to $5.3B
U.S. utilities spent 43 percent more on energy-efficiency programs in 2009, according to a new report from the nonprofit Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE), which represents energy efficiency program administrators in the United States and Canada.
U.S. businesses took a share of the $5.3 billion in utility energy efficiency programs, which included $4.4 billion for electric energy efficiency programs, up 38 percent from the previous year, and $930 million for natural gas programs, up by 79 percent. Electric energy-efficiency programs focus on commercial and industrial facilities, while natural gas programs more often target residential customers.
Utility energy efficiency programs also expanded geographically with programs now offered in 46 states, compared to only 37 states in 2008.
Check out rebates incentives for commercial / industrial / warehouse facilities:
- New York energy rebates
- Pennsylvania energy rebates
Implementing energy efficiency programs are cheaper for utilities and their customers rather than adding new sources of electricity, according to an ACEEE report released last year. The report found that the average cost per kilowatt hour (kWh) of energy efficiency is about 2.5 cents, compared to 7 to 15 cents per kWh for adding new energy generation.
Another report from ACEEE last year estimates that the federal energy-efficiency target for reducing electricity and gas usage could result in utility bill savings of $168.6 billion for consumers and businesses.
