Energy Efficiency Successes Detailed

2nd Quarter Results Show Strong Gains Being Made to Reduce Energy Consumption

ALBANY, NY (08/19/2010)(readMedia)-- The New York State Public Service Commission (Commission) today received a report from Department of Public Service staff detailing the latest successes of the Commission's landmark Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard (EEPS) proceeding.

"Substantial progress continues to be made in terms of meeting the goals set by the Commission's energy efficiency efforts," said Commission Chairman Garry Brown. "We are seeing steady month-over-month gains in the annualized energy savings as a result of the installation of new electric and gas efficiency measures. These steady gains we are making move us that much closer to realizing our overall goal of reducing New York's electricity consumption by 2015. Additionally, reports indicate that most of the programs will meet energy savings goals established by the Commission for 2011, which is encouraging."

The fundamental objective of EEPS is to put in place new energy efficiency programs that will help reduce New York's electricity usage by 15 percent from forecast levels by 2015, with comparable results in natural gas efficiency, and to provide a variety of other environmental and economic benefits to New Yorkers. Programs under EEPS are available from the State's electric and gas utilities as well as the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).

Through June, approximately $82.5 million has been expended for EEPS program implementation and another $27.8 million has been committed. A large share of the Commission's electric and gas energy efficiency programs are already reporting monthly energy savings from installed measures with more programs expected to be reporting savings in the coming months.

The annualized energy savings for electric efficiency measure installations through June were about 396,000 MWh, up from about 160,000 MWh at the end of March, enough to meet the electricity needs of approximately 61,000 homes. The annualized gas energy savings for efficiency measures installed through June were about 750,000 Dekatherms, up from about 490,000 Dekatherms at the end of March, which would meet the energy annual gas usage of approximately 8,900 homes each year.

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