FEI-FEVI 2010 EEC Report filed March 31, 2011 - FortisBC

FORTISBC ENERGY INC. AND FORTISBC ENERGY (VANCOUVER ISLAND) INC.
2010 ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND CONSERVATION ANNUAL REPORT
• Work to increase the Companies’ program participation by residents and
businesses in Prince George; and
• Explore and develop projects that result in more efficient use of natural gas in
the Prince George area.
Implementation
Administration Administered internally within the Companies’ EEC group.
Communications
Evaluation
Strategy
As a pilot initiative, the community energy manager program is not being actively
promoted at this time.
At the time of writing this report, the plan for this pilot program is to fund only this one
CEM position until the end of the initial one year term. Towards the end of this term,
the pilot program will be evaluated to determine its overall viability, the benefits of
extending this position to a second year, and the possibility of opening it up to
include funding for CEMs in other communities. This evaluation will be conducted
through an analysis of the CEM’s quarterly reports.
11.2.4.4.2 2010 Prince George Community Energy Manager
Results
The Prince George CEM was hired in November 2010. While the CEM position started in
November 2010, the first funding payment is not due until February 2011; therefore, no dollars
are shown to be committed to this pilot program in 2010. In November and December of 2010,
the CEM established priorities for the position, worked to become familiar with the Prince
George market, and began work on a strategic energy management plan.
11.2.5 SUMMARY
Enabling Activities provide important support for effective EEC program development, delivery,
and evaluation. Most EEC programs work on the principal of market transformation with
eventual mandate by regulation as the end goal.
Research and evaluation provides the information required to create a market development
plan. The Efficiency Partners program aids in efficient delivery of EEC programs and provides
the vital industry feedback for program adjustments. Regulation target levels and
implementation timeframes require guidance from industry stakeholders.
Given the aggressive provincial GHG emissions reduction targets, participation on the various
codes and standards committees is critical. Poorly constructed or timed regulations could result
in a void of products and services and disrupt market transformation processes. Unsuccessful
market area transformation could result in an unbalanced shift to one energy source, creating a
supply and demand problem that could in turn result in rate increases for customers.
Energy management funding enables customers, who might otherwise not enter into energy
efficiency and conservation projects due to lack of resources, to get involved in initiatives that
will decrease their energy consumption.
SECTION 11: ENABLING ACTIVITIES Page 241