Energy Utilities Key to Achieving Goals of Lt. Gov's. Energy Task Force

ALBANY, NY (02/26/2008)(readMedia)-- A full working partnership with the State’s energy utilities will be essential to achieving the goals of the Lieutenant Governor’s Task Force on Renewable Energy and Efficiency spelled out in the report released by the Task Force yesterday.

“The Energy Association commends the goals of the Lieutenant Governor’s Task Force. The details involved in achieving those goals are vast and complex. New York State utilities are uniquely positioned to continue, create and administer customized energy efficiency plans to meet the individual needs of their customers and service territories both because of their expertise and because the ongoing relationship and communications they have with each customer facilitates marketing and delivery of energy efficiency programs as nothing else can," said Patrick J. Curran, Executive Director of the Association. “The efforts and full involvement of the utilities will be essential if the goal of ’15 x 15’ is to be achieved”.

New York’s energy delivery utilities leadership role in turning the State’s climate change goals into realities are outlined in the Energy Associations Whitepaper "A VISION FOR NEW YORK STATE’S ENERGY FUTURE". The paper states utilities are crucial to success because:

  • They have a direct ongoing relationship and communication with virtually every energy consumer in their service territories.
  • They possess vast knowledge and experience in the use and conservation of energy, in energy customer relations, and in retail sales.
  • They have in-the-field a large trained and experienced workforce capable of implementing the State’s energy policies at the “ground level”.
  • With their core public service responsibility to maintain, enhance, and construct new infrastructure the energy utilities have the potential opportunity to integrate new “smart grid” technologies and make system efficiency improvements as part of their ongoing asset management processes.
  • Under the oversight of the Public Service Commission, utilities can continue to review and revise their programs to enhance efficiency activities and opportunities in accountable, cost effective and flexible ways.
  • Utilities have the capability of making investments in clean new and repowered generation and resource procurement in ways that could be closely coordinated with the State’s goals and needs.
  • They have the potential, through voluntary partnerships or individual investments to bring investment in and market penetration of renewable generation including customer-sited renewable to levels currently unobtainable.
  • Utilities are singularly positioned to complement and support the roles of NYSERDA, the PSC, ESCOs and others in a coordinated effort.

“The people of New York have a compelling need to become more efficient in the use of electricity. The State has set highly ambitious goals to try and meet that need. The energy delivery utilities possess the resources and talents, and are uniquely positioned, to help make those goals a reality. These utilities also have the compelling need, and obligation, to remain financially viable in order to continue to perform their core mission of maintaining and enhancing the delivery infrastructure. Now we are presented with the opportunity to address these two compelling needs at one time by evolving that core utility mission and making efficiency part of their business. The Energy Association remains committed to work in close partnership with the State to seek fresh and innovative approaches to achieve the ‘15 x 15’, to create and sustain economic growth, and to continue to bring clean, reliable, reasonably priced electricity and natural gas to all New Yorkers.” said Mr. Curran.

The Whitepaper is available on the Association’s website at: www.energyny.org.

The member companies of the Energy Association are the owners and operators of much the state’s electric and natural gas infrastructure, comprised of many hundreds of thousands of individual shareholders including a great many New Yorkers and retirees, employing over 28,000 New Yorkers, serving over 7 million New York customers and their families and businesses, annually paying over $2.5 billion in state and local taxes and contributing tens of millions of dollars annually to community and charitable purposes.

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