If the six New England states succeed in capturing the economically achievable potential of energy efficiency, together they can reduce the region’s electricity consumption be about 20 percent of forecasted load by 2018. This can be done by adopting current best-practices in building and industrial energy use and by aggressively pursuing all cost-effective energy efficiency. By cost-effective, this report means energy efficiency resources that can be achieved below the cost of electricity supply. While this study focuses on electric efficiency programs, NEEP acknowledges the importance of strategies to save all fuels and works actively to advance whole-building solutions.
From Potential to Action is intended to guide policymakers, program administrators (PAs, such as utility companies and third-party administrators like Efficiency Vermont and Cape Light Compact), advocates and stakeholders in the New England states as they shape energy policy over the coming decade and beyond. By compiling efficiency studies from the six states, this report identifies an existing regional potential to save about 31,800 gigaWatt-hours (GWh) of electricity by 2018. That’s equivalent to the energy output of about four large coal-fired power plants, and enough electricity to power 4 million households for a year. While the commercial sector contains the largest prospects for savings, potential exists in all customer sectors and across all end-uses.