Jill Cliburn's blog

Interesting news item today from the Associated Press (AP). We spotted it on Energy Central. Under the headline, "Shocker," the story reports:

Utility executives have been aware that the rate of demand growth is slowing, but a more dramatic shift than they expected may be under way. Executives were particularly surprised by a dip (in electricity use) during the first three months of this year, the most recent national quarterly numbers available. Adjusted for the effects of weather, residential power demand fell 1.3 percent nationwide, an unusually sharp drop.

For decades, the rule of thumb in the utility business was that a stable utility would see demand growth of 2.5% per year. Since 2000, that's slowed to about 2%. Now the Electric Power Research Institute reports that over the next 10 years, with all else being equal, we could see a continuation of this slowdown in annual demand growth. The AP news writer puzzled over the reasons behind this, noting that the national economic slowdown is one likely culprit. If the more/bigger trend in conspicuous consumption ebbs, we could see lingering impacts. Will people leave their gigantic (foreclosed?) homes behind? Perhaps we are in for a time of a communal snugness, as kids return home after college (unfortunately jobless or under-employed) and as grandparents move in (unfortunately due, in part, to a lack of healthcare dollars).

But WAIT, it is entirely possible that an energy-smart lifestyle, equipped with just the high-tech, efficient appliances we need, could be something to aspire to, rather than the result of economic insecurity. The AP news writer allows that that also could be true. Laptops, cell phones, and other gizmos sip electricity as they charge longer lasting batteries today. Even big screen TVs are getting more efficient.

But here's the untold story: At a recent Solar Electric Power Association conference for utilities, a VP of San Diego Gas and Electric and Mark Gerken, CEO of the public power giant, AMP, agreed: It is entirely likely that the electric hybrid vehicle will be coming online soon. Suddenly, utility loads could start to increase again, as people charge their cars with homegrown electricity instead of foreign oil. For example, in San Diego, a hybrid electric vehicle represents a 75% increase in the average household electric use. Utilities will need energy efficiency and all the renewables they can get in order to meet this increased demand. Some people might say hybrid electric vehicles are still a dream. At the SEPA conference, utility execs considered that possibility. They also remembered their utility history... back to a time when new electric appliances like TVs and air conditioners seemed unnecessary.

By building clean, lean, strong utilities today and encouraging energy-smart living, utilities might be able to look back on this time as the dawn of a new and better era.

This blog first appeared on the Clean Energy Ambassadors website. Clean Energy Ambassadors provides resources, webinars, and training for consumer-owned utilities nationwide, with an emphasis on leveraging the power of public participation in utility energy efficiency and renewables programs.

Check out the Clean Energy Ambassadors website to find two recently produced, free public service announcements (PSAs) that you can use to promote energy efficiency to Spanish-speaking customers! You can see and download these videos directly from the site or request full-quality versions for your utility's use.

CEA recognizes that energy efficiency has no native tongue, so their goal in creating these two announcements is to enable you to reach your local customers, whether they be English- or Spanish-speaking, and get them valuable information on how they can take advantage of your utility's energy-efficiency programs. Many smaller utilities have no one on-staff who speaks Spanish, so sharing these PSAs with local media outlets will help you get the word out to the Spanish-speaking community.

CEA worked with the Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities to distribute the PSAs to their membership in this spring. However, this is a free resource that could be used by any utility! The PSAs have a high production value, and can incorporate your own utility logo and contact info.

Check out the English and Spanish versions of the PSA's on the CEA website.

Also on the CEA website, under the Forum tab, you will find resources from the EE for Non-English Speakers webinar, which will give you links to free hand-out materials.

I can’t wait for the Clean Energy Ambassadors next free Webinar, New Light Bulb Standards—Controversy or Opportunity?! It’s going to be June 21 at noon Central time; 11 am Mountain Time. (Click here to register.)

We decided to look into lighting after the mundane, 100-watt incandescent lamp found itself in the national spotlight this spring. Maybe you remember-- Congress was reconsidering the wisdom of phasing the old bulb out, in compliance with the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.

In fact, EISA was a broadly supported bipartisan bill signed into law by President George W. Bush. The new standards promote lighting technologies that have been in the works for some time, but have had a hard time capturing the public’s attention on store shelves, due to that powerful force—habit. According to most experts in the lighting industry, the legislation was a reasonable mark of progress. (One TV comedian suggested that the worst part of this news is the loss of the light-bulb-heated Easy Bake Oven).

Lighting experts are especially looking forward to promoting new products beyond CFL technology, which improve on the incandescent bulb. For example, some new halogen bulbs and LEDs meet EISA standards, and reportedly look great.

New Light Bulb Standards are Sparking Debate!

A lot of people, including some utility folks, have been feeling uneasy about next-generation lighting. Count me among them. I have a lot of CFL lamps in my house, but a few brands and models have disappointed me, and I reserve a few sockets for bright, hot, old standbys. As a utility program watcher, too, I wonder what will happen to all those light-bulb give-away programs? Does it make any sense to promote voluntary change-outs of old bulbs, when those bulbs are losing their shine by law?

The June Lighting Webinar will answer these questions—or at least spark a factual debate. Our Webinar will include Jeff Harris, a veteran in energy efficiency technology and research, representing a broad industry coalition called LUMEN (Lighting Understanding for a More Efficient Nation). Jeff comes to us through partnership with the Clean and Efficient Energy Program at the Alliance to Save Energy.

We will also have utility speaker. (Honestly, we've talked to a few with great case studies and can't decide--Would it be unfair to hold a vote?) According to LUMEN, the new standards could save lighting customers $10 billion a year on electricity. Join us, and you can find out how to help your customers share in that savings and enjoy the indoor view that they’re accustomed to.

CEA Webinars are held from 12-1 pm Central time (11 a.m. – noon Mountain) on the third Tuesday of each month. CEA also posts related reference materials and a taped version of the webinar on our website. If you haven’t check us out yet, take a look!