Background on Energy Efficiency
Since the Council’s first Northwest Power Plan, in January 1983, the Northwest has acquired 3,100 average megawatts of conservation at an average cost of less than 3 cents per kilowatt-hour. Expressed as electricity generation, 3,100 average megawatts (3,100 megawatts delivered continuously for a year) would power all of Idaho plus Western Montana today.
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Background on Energy Efficiency Marketing
The Northwest is outperforming the rest of the country in our efforts to reduce per capita energy demand. However, there remains significant room for improvement in how we encourage consumers and businesses to increase their commitment to efficiency measures.
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Overview of the Regional Technical Forum (RTF)
In 1996 Congress directed Bonneville and the Northwest Power Planning Council (Council) to convene a Regional Technical Forum (RTF) to develop standardized protocols for verifying and evaluating conservation savings. Congress further recommended that the RTF's membership include individuals with technical expertise in conservation program planning, implementation, and evaluation and that its services be made available to all utilities in the Northwest.
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Financial Effects on Conservation
Although improved efficiency of electricity use is the preferred resource under the Northwest Power Act, it has different effects on utility rates and revenue requirements than generating resources. This paper shows a simple example of these effects.
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