Washington DC

Regional Roundup Ranking

Energy efficiency programs are operated under contract by the Sustainable Energy Utility (SEU), which is focused on lowering energy use and peak demand, increasing renewable energy generation, and promoting green jobs among District residents and businesses. In 2018, the SEU released its 2017 Annual Report, blowing passed benchmark goals— with enough electricity savings to power 9,300 homes for an entire year. DCSEU initiatives in 2017 savings 2,117,166 therms in natural gas consumption and 93,958 MWh of electricity consumption.

The District’s Department of Energy and Environment has been a leading force for innovation in the buildings sector, working closely with the DC Sustainable Energy Utility. Energy efficiency is a core part of the District’s Sustainable DC Task Force Report

In 2016, the District released its Climate and Energy Plan. The plan includes an extensive commitment to energy efficiency and provies concrete recommendations for increasing savings attributable to the Sustainable Energy Utility. 

D.C. has also entered the grid modernization arena, with its Investigation into Modernizing the Energy Delivery System for Increased Sustainability (MEDSIS)(Case No. 1130). Most recently, the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) has been selected as the technical consultant to advise the commission on MEDSIS. SEPA has announced phase 1 of MEDSIS, a technical conference at the end of June 2018. The goals of the technical conference are to (1) determine the scope and appropriateness of a system assessment of D.C.’s energy delivery system and (2) identify the working groups needed to proceed with Phase 2. In Phase 2, these working groups will create a framework and guidelines for implementing MEDSIS Pilot Projects, which will be financed through the $21.5 million fund established as a condition of the Pepco-Exelon merger. Potential working groups include Pilot Projects, Non-Wire Alternatives (NWAs), Utility Distribution Integration Resource Planning (DIRP), Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) and Consumer Protections.

Complementary Policies

The District has earned praise for its Green Construction Code for large commercial construction projects and multifamily buildings. The Department of the Environment developed a strategic compliance plan to deliver code training to contractors and code officials. 
 

Policy & Program Information

Jurisdictional Office

District Department of Environment, Energy Administration

Program Administrator

Sustainable Energy Utility (SEU)

Additional Resources

The Clean and Affordable Energy Act of 2008
Energy Smart DC
Energy Smart DC Plan Overview
SEU Advisory Board
State Documents and Key Info- District of Columbia
U.S. Department of Energy
SEE Action

 

Washington D.C. at a Glance

Direct Jobs in Energy Efficiency 14,681
Electric Program Expenditures $13.4 million
Gas Program Expenditures $4.97 million
Per Capita Expenditures $26.97
Electric Savings 74,983MWh
Electric Savings as Percent of Retail Sales 0.65%
Gas Savings   1,034,229 therms
Gas Savings as Percent of Retail Sales 0.33%
2016 program year data as reported to the NEEP EM&V Forum for the Regional Energy Efficiency Database (REED) amd E2's Energy Efficiency Jobs in America report. Savings are expressed in net annual terms.

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