Best Practices in Energy Efficiency Program Screening - Synapse ...

Appendix A – Illustrative Example and Avoided Costs
Introduction
Throughout this paper we have referenced an actual New England utility's energy
efficiency programs and screening results, in order to demonstrate the implications of
the different screening practices. We have relied on the same utility in each of the
examples discussed in the body of the report, and have based each example on the
utility’s actual efficiency programs, including its projected (or actual where pertinent)
budget, savings, benefits, and other assumptions.
This Appendix provides a more complete background on that utility’s efficiency
programs, as well as the avoided cost assumptions included in its cost-effectiveness
analysis. Each of these topics is discussed in more detail below.
Program Descriptions
The report focuses on nine of the utility’s programs that are common to efficiency
programs in many states. This New England utility actually administers more programs
than those discussed in the report, such as a behavioral-based program. By restricting
the analysis to these nine programs, our intention is to focus on a core set of programs
that are typically offered in states, rather than provide a comprehensive analysis of
program portfolios. The identified programs and a brief description of each program’s
purpose are provided below.
Residential Retrofit: the purpose of this program is to provide residential
customers with energy efficiency recommendations that enable them to identify
and initiate the process of installing cost-effective energy efficiency upgrades.
The program provides information through outreach mechanisms, incentives, and
multiple financing options.
Residential New Construction: the purpose of this program is to capture lost
opportunities, encourage the construction of energy-efficient homes, and drive
the market to one in which new home are moving towards net-zero energy.
Residential Appliances: the purpose of this program is to raise consumer
awareness of the benefits of energy-efficient ENERGY STAR-qualified consumer
products, encourage consumers to purchase qualified appliances and consumer
electronics, promote higher efficiency standards for products, and to help
customers reduce energy bills by replacing or recycling inefficient products.
Residential Lighting: the purpose of this program is to increase consumer
awareness of the importance and benefits of purchasing ENERGY STARqualified
lighting products and expand the availability, consumer acceptance, and
use of high-quality energy-efficient lighting technologies and controls.
Low-Income Retrofit: the purpose of this program is to deliver energy efficient
products and services directly to the homes of income eligible customers to help
them lower their energy bills to achieve deeper and broader energy savings.
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