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2009

July

Nevada Power Proposes Big Boost in 2010-2012 Energy Efficiency Programs
Nevada Power Company has filed its 2010-2012 demand-side management (DSM) program plan with the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada (PUCN). The plan calls for spending $95 million in 2010, $108 million in 2011, and $124 million on 19 different DSM programs. The proposed DSM budget represents over 4% of projected retail sales revenue during this period. For comparison, the utility expects to spend $49 million implementing 17 programs in 2009. Nevada Power estimates its 2010-2012 programs will have an average benefit-cost ratio of 2.17 and will save about 3.6% of retail electricity sales; i.e., each year the programs will save the equivalent of about 1.2% of sales. SWEEP assisted the utility as it developed its expanded DSM plan, which will now be reviewed and acted upon by the PUCN. Nevada Power Co. serves about 830,000 customers in southern Nevada. Nevada Power's DSM plan can be downloaded in three parts.

June

Obama Approves $1 Billion Rebate Program to Trade-in Guzzlers for Sippers
President Obama recently approved legislation that directs $1 billion toward rebates for US residents who trade in their cars or trucks for new, more fuel-efficient vehicles. Under the Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS), buyers stand to receive up to $4,500 toward the purchase or lease of a new car or truck that meets the necessary criteria. To achieve the objective of removing older, less efficient vehicles from the roads, vehicles traded under this program will have to be permanently disabled and/or scrapped. The act provides enough funding for roughly 250,000 trade-ins. The rebates will be in effect July 24 through the end of October, or until dealers provide $1 billion in rebates, whichever comes first.
For passenger automobiles, the car to be traded must be drivable, have a fuel economy rating of 18 miles-per-gallon or less, and be registered and insured for the full year prior to the trade in. To get a rebate, the new car must cost no more than $45,000. To receive the maximum rebate, the new car must have a fuel economy rating of at least 10 miles-per-gallon greater than the car to be traded. A smaller rebate is available if the new car gets just four miles-per-gallon better gas mileage. Comparable standards are in place for SUV’s and trucks. For more information visit www.cars.gov.

Wyoming Commission Approves Energy Efficiency Programs and Decoupling for Questar Gas Company
On June 17, Questar Gas Company received approval from the Wyoming Public Service Commission to implement four energy efficiency programs and also decouple its retail sales and fixed cost recovery on a three-year pilot basis. The decoupling policy, termed a conservation enabling tariff by Questar, is modeled on a policy adopted in Utah where Questar is implementing a robust and effective set of energy efficiency programs. Questar Gas Company serves about 26,000 customers in Wyoming. For a copy of the Commission order in this docket, [click here].

$10 Million in First EPA Grants to Develop Climate Change Showcase Communities
In a June 15 press release, EPA announced the availability of up to $10 million in first of its kind, “Climate Showcase Communities” grants to local and tribal governments to establish and implement climate change initiatives that will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

EPA requests proposals to create replicable models of sustainable community action, generate cost-effective greenhouse gas reductions, and improve the environmental, economic, public health, and social conditions in a community. The agency expects to award approximately 30 cooperative agreements, each one ranging from $100,000 to $500,000. Approximately 5 percent of the funds ($500,000) are set-asides for tribal governments and intertribal consortia.

For additional grant information, visit http://epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-programs/state-and-local/showcase.html

Rocky Mountain Power in Midst of a Major Expansion of DSM Programs in Utah
Rocky Mountain Power (RMP), the main electric utility in Utah, anticipates it will spend about $65 million on DSM programs in 2009, up from $36 million in 2008. The utility is experiencing much greater participation in its home energy savings program, air conditioning efficiency program, and irrigation load control program. RMP projects it will help its customers save about 260 million kWh per year through DSM programs implemented in 2009, equivalent to about 1.2% of the utility's retail electricity sales and about 45% more than savings achieved through programs implemented in 2008. The utility continues to view DSM as its lowest cost resource, with customers saving nearly $2.50 for each $1 that the utility spends on its DSM programs. RMP is requesting an increase in the utility bill surcharge that pays for DSM programs, both to pay for anticipated DSM program costs this coming year and to compensate the utility for unrecovered DSM costs in previous years. For a copy of RMP's request to the Utah Public Service Commission, [click here].

Governor Ritter Signs Tax Incentives Legislation for Advanced, Fuel Efficient Vehicles
On June 4, Colorado Governor Bill Ritter signed into law House Bill 09-1331, A Bill Concerning Incentives for Efficient Motor Vehicles. SWEEP helped to develop and support this legislation, which establishes minimum fuel economy requirements for hybrid electric vehicles eligible for state income tax credits, reduces the magnitude of the tax credits for hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles over time, and establishes new state income tax credits for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles purchased by Colorado residents during 2010-2015. For a copy of the bill, click here.

Settlement Reached in Rocky Mountain Power Rate Design Case
On June 3, a settlement was reached in the rate design phase of a rate case filed by Rocky Mountain Power in Utah. The settlement includes an increase in the spread of the inverted block rates for residential customers during the summer. If the settlement is approved by the Utah Public Service Commission, customers will pay 11.1 cents per kWh for consumption over 1,000 kWh during the months of May-September. At the present time customers pay about 10.4 cents per kWh for consumption in this block. The settlement also lowers the rate for consumption of the first 400 kWh per month in the summer from about 7.8 cents per kWh to 7.5 cents per kWh. SWEEP participated in the rate case and advocated for a higher spread in the block rates as this gives consumers greater incentive to limit electricity usage in summer months. Rocky Mountain Power, a subsidiary of PacifiCorp, is the main electric utility in Utah. For a copy of the rate design settlement, click here.

Public Service Company of New Mexico Receives Approval to Expand DSM Programs
On May 19, the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission approved a settlement agreement regarding demand-side management (DSM) programs to be implemented by Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM). The agreement calls for PNM to spend $14 million per year on nine DSM programs starting in July 2009. The programs are designed to save 59 million kWh of electricity per year, equivalent to about 0.63% of PNM's retail electricity sales. This is more than double the amount of electricity savings PNM was pursuing through its previous set of DSM programs. SWEEP urged PNM to expand its DSM programs and participated in the settlement agreement. For details regarding PNM's new DSM plan, click here.

May

EPA Proposes New Guidelines for ENERGY STAR Qualified New Homes
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is revising the guidelines for ENERGY STAR qualified new homes.  Significant changes in the proposed ENERGY STAR 2011 guidelines include the use of a unique HERS Index Target value for each home, rather than a fixed national or regional HERS Index threshold. The proposal establishes additional mandatory requirements such as thermal flow, air flow and moisture flow, and mandates inclusion of high efficiency equipment and products, with new requirements for energy-efficient lighting, appliances, water distribution systems, and low flow shower heads. Larger homes will be subject to a "esize" adjustment factor that will require additional energy efficiency measures. State energy codes will be incorporated by reference into the new ENERGY STAR guidelines and will replace relevant ENERGY STAR requirements whenever State code is more rigorous. EPA will accept comments on the proposed ENERGY STAR 2011 guidelines through July 10, 2009.

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Energy Efficiency Improvement Means More Jobs in Colorado
On April 30, SWEEP released a new report which indicates that aggressively pursuing energy efficiency is a winning strategy for Colorado’s workers. Energy Efficiency and Job Creation in Colorado examines the impacts that implementing the key energy efficiency initiatives in Governor Ritter’s Colorado Climate Action Plan would have on employment and income in the state. The report finds that increasing the efficiency of electricity, natural gas, and gasoline use would lead to a net increase of 4,660 jobs in Colorado by 2015 and 11,600 jobs by 2025. Download the complete report and the press release.

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Settlement Reached in APS Rate Case, Will Expand Energy Efficiency Programs
Arizona Public Service Company (APS), SWEEP, and other interveners have reached a settlement agreement in the docket opened by the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) to consider APS's application for a rate increase. The settlement includes establishing ambitious energy savings goals, defined as a percent of total energy resources to meet load, of 1% savings from efficiency programs implemented in 2010, 1.25% savings from programs in 2011, and 1.5% savings from programs in 2012. The settlement also includes new performance-based incentives that will reward APS for meeting and exceeding these energy savings goals. SWEEP estimates that the goals will lead APS to expand its funding for energy efficiency programs from about $25 million per year as of 2009 to approximately $70 million per year by 2012. APS supplies electricity to about 1.1 million customers in Phoenix and nearby areas. The settlement will now be reviewed and acted upon by the ACC. For a copy of the settlement agreement, click here.

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April

Settlement Reached in Black Hills Energy DSM Docket
SWEEP, Black Hills Energy, and all other interveners have reached a settlement agreement regarding the demand-side management (DSM) plan prepared by Black Hills. The utility has agreed to spend $10 million over three years implementing 12 different energy efficiency and load management programs for its residential and business customers. The utility also agreed to accept the same energy savings goals and the performance incentive mechanism that the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) adopted for Xcel Energy in 2008. Black Hills Energy supplies electricity to about 94,000 customers in Pueblo, CO and nearby areas. The settlement will now be reviewed and acted upon by the PUC. For a copy of the settlement agreement, click here.

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Arizona Utility Announces Plans for Expanding Energy Efficiency Programs
The Salt River Project (SRP) has announced it will ramp up its energy efficiency and load management programs from a total budget of about $11 million in fiscal year 2008 to $30 million in 2010 and nearly $55 million in 2012. Electricity savings from programs implemented annually are expected to reach nearly 1% of the utility's annual electricity sales by 2011. SRP is a publicly owned, non-regulated utility serving 935,000 customers in the metro Phoenix and surrounding areas. It is the second largest electric utility in Arizona in terms of number of customers and retail electricity sales. SWEEP has been urging SRP to expand its energy efficiency programs and helping the utility with program design.

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Southwest Utilities Report Strong Energy Savings Results in 2008
Two electric utilities, Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM) and Rocky Mountain Power (RMP), report that they exceeded their 2008 energy savings goals by wide margins. PNM indicates it saved 35.2 GWh per year from its 2008 demand-side management (DSM) programs, 27% more than the utility's savings target. The utility's residential lighting program was particularly effective with over 1 million compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) purchased. The utility also exceeded its peak demand reduction goal by a wide margin. For a copy of PNM's 2008 Electric Energy Efficiency Annual Report, In Utah, Rocky Mountain Power reports it saved 195 GWh per year from its 2008 DSM programs, 21% more than the goal. RMP had success with both its residential and business energy efficiency programs.

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Congratulations to 2009 ENERGY STAR Award Winners in the Southwest!
On March 31, EPA and DOE honored businesses and organizations for their outstanding contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency at the 2009 ENERGY STAR Awards ceremony. Seven award winners were in the Southwest region.

Nevada ENERGY STAR Partners received an ENERGY STAR Award for Sustained Excellence, recognizing their outstanding commitment to and success in promoting ENERGY STAR qualified new homes in the greater Las Vegas market. This is the fifth time this partner coalition has received ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence recognition.

Six organizations with operations in our region were honored as ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year for their exemplary efforts to promote and expand the market for energy-efficient homes. They are:

  • Arizona Public Service
  • Colorado Governor's Energy Office
  • Energy Inspectors Corporation (Las Vegas, NV)
  • EnergyLogic (Berthoud, CO)
  • Rocky Mountain Power, a Division of Pacificorp
  • Xcel Energy

The complete list of award winners, with details of their energy efficiency accomplishments, is available on the ENERGY STAR website.

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EPA releases the first portion of the Rapid Deployment Energy Efficiency (RDEE) Toolkit
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released the first portion of the Rapid Deployment Energy Efficiency (RDEE) Toolkit - The Planning Guide - to help states, local governments, and other program administrators to design and implement effective programs. The Planning Guide presents the information that the recipients of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding need to plan the early stages of the programs included in the RDEE Toolkit.

This information in the Guide includes program summary; target market; evaluation, monitoring, and verification requirements; infrastructure requirements; training requirements; staffing requirements; Implementation timeline; energy savings; participation rates; total budget; job creation estimates; cost-effectiveness; resources and assistance; and a brief overview of the energy efficiency-related funding opportunities set forth in the ARRA.

Visit www.epa.gov/solar/energy-resources/ee_toolkit.html for more information on the Toolkit.

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March

DOE Releases Guidance on Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program
The U.S. Department of Energy has released the guidance and the allocations to states, cities and counties for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants program funded in the Stimulus Bill. See the links below. Over $2.6 billion is available nationwide. Funds can be used for audit and retrofit programs, financial incentive and loan programs, building codes, retrofit of government buildings, combined heat and power systems, transportation programs to save energy, development of a local energy efficiency strategy, and more. Cities and counties need to apply for the funds by June 25, 2009; states by May 26, 2009.  For a copy of the funding notice, see http://www.eecbg.energy.gov/.  The allocations to cities and counties are also posted at: http://www.eecbg.energy.gov/GrantAlloc.html. 

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Santa Fe Adopts Residential Green Building Code
The City of Santa Fe has adopted a new Residential Green Building Code, requiring all new single-family residential units to be tested and certified according to the Enhancements to the National Home Energy Rating Standards (HERS). The Code offers eight levels of certification, with progressive requirements based on the size of the home. New homes up to 3000 square feet must have a HERS Index of 70, performing 30% better than a standard home. Very large homes (over 8,000 square feet) must attain a HERS Index of 0, which means they must produce at least as much energy as they consume. In addition to the HERS rating, homes must earn points in five other green building categories. The Residential Green Building Code Checklist and Administrative Procedures manual are available on the City of Santa Fe website.

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Southwest Gas Submits DSM Plan in Nevada
On March 16, Southwest Gas submitted a demand-side management (DSM) plan in Nevada. Southwest provides natural gas service to 642,000 customers in 13 counties in the state. The plan proposes five residential and three commercial programs, including a residential energy-efficient consumer products program; an ENERGY STAR home program; a low-income energy conservation program; an energy education program; a solar thermal advantage rebate program; a commercial energy-efficient equipment program; a commercial energy audit program; and a technology information center program. Southwest proposes an initial annual budget of about $2.85 million, approximately one-half percent of its Nevada revenues. For a copy of the Southwest Gas DSM plan, click here.

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SWEEP Submits Testimony Concerning Black Hills Energy's DSM Programs
SWEEP's Executive Director, Howard Geller, submitted testimony to the Public Utilities Commission of Colorado concerning the 2009-2011 demand-side management (DSM) plan submitted by Black Hills Energy (BHE). BHE serves about 93,000 electric customers in Pueblo, CO and nearby areas. SWEEP is recommending higher energy savings goals and a more comprehensive set of DSM programs that those proposed by BHE. SWEEP recommends that Black Hills spend $11.6 million on DSM programs over a three-year period. The Colorado PUC is expected to rule on the matter by June. For a copy of SWEEP's testimony, click here.

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Utah Legislature Approves Resolution to Advance Utility Energy Efficiency Programs
In a unanimous vote on March 12, 2009, the Utah State Legislature ensured that Utah is on its way to becoming a leader in innovative utility energy efficiency by approving HJR 9, a joint resolution promoting cost-effective energy efficiency and utility Demand Side Management (DSM) programs. The resolution recognizes energy efficiency as a priority resource for Utah and encourages the removal of financial disincentives that utilities often face when offering efficiency programs that assist customers in saving energy. HJR 9 will help open the door for new and expanded energy efficiency programs through utility regulatory mechanisms, such as performance-based incentives, decoupling and innovative rate designs.

Colorado Passes FASTER Transportation Legislation with Dedicated Transit Funding
On March 2, Colorado Governor Bill Ritter signed SB 108, the FASTER transportation bill, which will save and create thousands of jobs, strengthen Colorado's economy and allow the state to repair unsafe bridges and roadways. Conservationists support the legislation for providing dedicated funding for transit and other energy-efficient transportation options.

SWEEP worked with the Colorado Environmental Coalition, Environment Colorado and other groups to win support for three programs aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector:

  • dedicated transit funding
  • a pilot program to investigate VMT- and CO2 emission-based fees as the primary revenue source for the state transportation system
  • authority to establish user fees on existing major highways.

The final bill dedicated $15 million annually to fund transit and bike/pedestrian safety programs. This is the first time Colorado has ever created a dedicated funding source for statewide transit programs. The bill also authorizes a newly created tolling authority to impose user fees on major corridors with the agreement of affected local governments. SWEEP's transportation director, Bob Yuhnke, testified to the House Transportation committee in support of user fees as an important tool for reducing CO2 emissions from transportation by giving drivers an incentive to choose alternatives to single occupant vehicle travel. The pilot program to investigate statewide VMT and CO2 emissions-based fees was dropped by the Senate before the bill was reported to the House.

SWEEP is currently developing a Colorado Blueprint for Reducing CO2 Emissions from Transportation for release later this spring. The Blueprint will identify a suite of strategies that can be implemented by the State, and will include proposals for future legislation.

February

Stimulus Act Increases Energy Efficiency Funding and Expands Tax Credits for Homes and Businesses
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, signed by President Obama on February 17, provides $16.8 billion for energy efficiency and renewable energy programs and initiatives. This nearly tenfold increase from 2008 funding levels includes $5 billion for the Weatherization Assistance Program, $3.1 billion for State Energy Programs, and $3.2 billion for Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants. In addition, $4.5 billion is allocated to converting federal buildings into high-performance green buildings, and $4.7 billion to retrofit HUD public housing.

The act also dramatically expands tax credits for clean energy projects at homes and businesses. For homeowners, the act increases a 10% tax credit for energy efficiency improvements to a 30% tax credit, eliminates caps for specific improvements (such as windows and furnaces), and instead establishes an aggregate cap of $1,500 for all improvements placed in service in 2009 and 2010. The act also tightens the energy efficiency requirements to meet current standards.

For businesses and individuals buying electric vehicles, the act simplifies and expands the available tax credits  For electric low-speed vehicles, motorcycles, and three-wheeled vehicles, a 10% tax credit (up to $2500) is available through 2011. A 10% tax credit (up to $4000) is also available for vehicles converted into qualified plug-in electric vehicles. Starting in 2010, full-scale commercial plug-in electric vehicles can earn a maximum tax credit of $7,500.

For more details on these and other energy efficiency provisions of the act, see the news releases from the USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy on the Stimulus Act and Clean Energy Tax Credits. Also, a summary table of specific tax credits for homes and businesses is available on the ENERGY STAR website.

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Arizona Public Service Company Proposes Additional Investment in Energy Efficiency Resources
In its newly released 2009-2025 resource plan, Arizona Public Service Company (APS) has called for expanding investment in energy efficiency programs from about $23 million per year in 2009 to $90 million per year by 2016 and thereafter. APS is proposing to save 3,261 GWh per year by 2025 as result of efficiency programs implemented during 2009-2025. In the plan APS notes that "Energy efficiency is the only resource option available at this time that can provide economic benefits as compared to conventional or renewable resource options while also providing environmental benefits and other risk reduction benefits." The resource plan is now being reviewed by the Arizona Corporation Commission. As part of this review, SWEEP is advocating for higher energy savings goals and a faster ramp-up in energy efficiency program funding. For a copy of APS's resource plan, click here.

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Tri-State Generation and Transmission Agrees to Study Energy Efficiency Potential
Tri-State Generation and Transmission, a cooperative utility that provides power to 44 rural electric cooperatives in Colorado and nearby states, has agreed to analyze the energy efficiency potential in the service area of its members. The agreement was part of a settlement between Tri-State and Environment Colorado in a water court case. SWEEP will assist Tri-State and Environment Colorado in designing and reviewing the study. The study should help Tri-State and its members recognize that energy efficiency is a large and very cost-effective resource. For a copy of the agreement, click here.

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Testimony on Utility DSM Programs in New Mexico
SWEEP's Executive Director, Howard Geller, prepared testimony on the 2009 demand-side management (DSM) program plans submitted by Public Service Company of New Mexico and Southwestern Public Service Company. The testimony was sponsored by the Coalition for Clean Affordable Energy, a public interest coalition that SWEEP belongs to. Both utilities proposed substantial expansion of their DSM programs in 2009, but Geller argues that additional investment in energy efficiency measures and programs is warranted. The utility DSM plans are under review by the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission. For copies of Geller's testimony in each docket, click on Public Service Company of New Mexico and Southwestern Public Service Company.

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January

New Mexico Energy Efficiency Strategy Released
Joanna Prukop, Secretary of the New Mexico Energy, Mineral and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD), announced the release of a new report titled New Mexico Energy Efficiency Strategy: Policy Options. The report was prepared by SWEEP at the request of EMNRD. It examines 25 policy options that taken together can cut energy use per capita in New Mexico 20 percent by 2020. The study estimates that implementing all 25 options would result in $7.2 billion in net economic savings for New Mexico's citizens and businesses. The study is helping to guide new and expanded energy efficiency initiatives in the state. For a copy of the study, click here. For a copy of the press release issued by EMNRD, click here.

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Fort Collins Adopts New Energy Policy with Ambitious Energy Efficiency Goals
The City of Fort Collins, CO has adopted a revised energy policy that commits the city to achieve annual energy efficiency and conservation program savings of at least 1.5% of annual electricity use; i.e. realizing 15% savings after ten years. Achieving the goal will require significant expansion of the city's already substantial efficiency and conservation programs. The new policy also commits the city to reduce carbon dioxide emissions 20% below 2005 levels by 2020 and 80% below 2005 levels by 2050.  For a copy of the Fort Collins 2009 Energy Policy, click here.

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Last Updated: 07/03/2009