Reaching the inflection point for electricity consumption: the effect of a local utility led DSM programme

Panel: 2. Energy efficiency policies – how do we get it right?

This is a peer-reviewed paper.

Authors:
Cédric Jeanneret, Services Industriels de Genève - SIG, Switzerland
Martin K. Patel, University of Geneva - Institute of environmental sciences, Switzerland

Abstract

Since the utility of Geneva (the largest multi-utility in Switzerland) started its DSM programme in 2009, the electricity consumption of the Geneva region has been levelling off, while the trend for Switzerland as a whole is still increasing (albeit at a somewhat lower pace).

In absolute terms, during the last five years, Geneva was able to slightly diminish its electricity consumption while maintaining high economic and population growth; in other words: being on track of the goals of the 2050 Swiss Energy Strategy several years before the adoption of the 2050 Swiss Energy Strategy by Swiss authorities !

This paper discusses this finding by analysing the various factors influencing electricity consumption, i.e. population, GDP, local temperature and legislation.

In addition, using the example of the Geneva DSM programme, we test a simple bonus-malus mechanism and discuss the possibility to use such mechanism to incentivate utilities to develop DSM programme across the country in a harmonized way.

We conclude that a bonus-malus mechanism based on the comparison of local electricity consumption with the national average combined with a charge levied on the final consumer’s electricity bills may be part of a policy package allowing to achieve the Swiss nuclear phase out.