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
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% |