Strategies

The energy efficiency programs use education and financial incentives to help consumers save energy. Educational programs explain the benefits of energy efficiency to consumers, producers and service providers. These programs also provide consumers with the information necessary to pursue energy efficiency measures, and train service providers to increase their ability to provide efficiency services. Financial incentives are used to make efficient technologies more economically feasible (until they can be marketed competitively), and to encourage consumers to pursue energy efficiency measures. The utilities educate customers and market participants through a variety of methods including: bill inserts, fact sheets, videos, web sites, call centers, and TV and newspaper advertisements. Education is also carried out through demonstrations, training classes and seminars at regional Energy Centers, and through energy audits. This information is provided in multiple languages including English, Spanish, and Chinese. Financial incentives are provided to different market participants in a variety of forms. Rebates are provided directly to customers for purchasing energy efficient technologies. Upstream incentives are given to manufacturers and distributors to build, stock, and sell efficient technologies. Incentives are also given to commercial customers or their contractors for verified energy savings. Finally, financing is provided to customers doing energy efficient retrofits and incentives are given to builders of new energy efficient homes or buildings. This overall strategy of providing education and financial incentives is carried out by the utilities through the programs described on the next few pages.

Last Modified: 10/18/2007