The $20 Billion Bonanza
Best Practice Electric Utility
Energy Efficiency Programs
and Their Benefits for the Southwest
![[SW infographic]](images/SWEEP-SW-RegionInfographic%20480x306.jpg)
This SWEEP report shows
that every dollar invested in utility energy efficiency
programs returns more than two dollars in savings on
business and household utility bills, with potential to
create an economic windfall of $20 billion for six
southwestern states.
The report finds that it is feasible
to achieve a 21% reduction in electricity by the year
2020 from energy efficiency programs implemented
2010-2020.
Reaching this target would save the equivalent of
electricity used by 4.6 million typical households in
the Southwest and require an investment of $17 billion.
The investment would be split between utilities
and their customers and yield a resulting savings on
energy purchases along with public health benefits of
$37 billion—or a net savings of $20 billion.
Other benefits of fully implementing Best Practice
efficiency programs include:
-
Avoid or
close 32 large power plants in the
region
-
Reduce
CO2 emissions from power plants
equivalent to taking 6.2 million
passenger vehicles off the road by 2020
-
Save
18.5 billion gallons of water per year
by 2020 through less power plant
operation
The
report identifies the most effective utility energy
efficiency programs across the country and analyzes the
costs and benefits of implementing these programs in the
southwestern states of Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New
Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.
It includes descriptions of the programs,
state-by-state analysis, and a roadmap that policymakers
can
follow to achieve the 21% energy savings goal and
benefits by 2020.
Utilities in the Southwest have made considerable
progress in helping their customers save electricity.
But the report also urges further policy action — from
adopting energy savings goals or requirements to
allowing utilities to earn a profit when they implement
effective energy efficiency programs for their
customers.
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