Tapping Our Hidden Reserves: America’s Exemplary Natural Gas Energy Efficiency Programs

Dan York and Martin Kushler, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy

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Abstract

Interest in energy efficiency has been growing rapidly as one strategy to help consumers manage soaring natural gas costs and provide relief to constrained supply and delivery systems. Utilities and states that had allowed energy efficiency efforts to languish during the 1990s are showing renewed interest. In response to these developments, ACEEE initiated a research project in 2003 to identify and profile exemplary natural gas energy efficiency programs.

We present key results from that project in this paper, including highlights and data from the case studies. We also summarize our observations on common attributes and key elements of over 30 successful programs profiled in this project, which cover all customer classes.

Another aspect of the research project was to examine the extent of regulatory and policy support for natural gas efficiency programs across the United States. We surveyed all 50 states on this issue and we present the summary highlights in this paper.

We found that while there are many good models of natural gas efficiency programs worthy of emulation by others, such programs tend to be concentrated in a relatively small number of states. Natural gas customers in most states, unfortunately, do not have access to such programs, thereby limiting their ability to reduce their energy costs through improved efficiency. There clearly is a lot of room for expanding natural gas programs to reach more customers, especially in light of continuing high natural gas prices and possible supply constraints.