LAPSE:2023.34346
Published Article
LAPSE:2023.34346
The Cost of Saving Electricity: A Multi-Program Cost Curve for Programs Funded by U.S. Utility Customers
Charles A. Goldman, Ian Hoffman, Sean Murphy, Natalie Mims Frick, Greg Leventis, Lisa Schwartz
April 25, 2023
This study analyzed the cost performance of electricity efficiency programs implemented by 116 investor-owned utilities between 2009 and 2015 in 41 states, representing about three-quarters of the total spending on U.S. efficiency programs. We applied our typology to characterize efficiency programs along several dimensions (market sector, technology, delivery approach, and intervention strategy) and report the costs incurred by utilities and other program administrators to achieve electricity savings as a result of the programs. Such cost performance data can be used to compare relative costs of different types of efficiency programs, evaluate efficiency options alongside other electricity resources, benchmark local efficiency programs against regional and national cost estimates, and assess the costs of meeting state efficiency policies. The savings-weighted average cost of saved electricity for the period was $0.025/kilowatt-hour (kWh). The cost of saved electricity for programs that targeted residential customers was $0.021/kWh, compared to $0.025/kWh for programs for commercial and industrial customers. Ultimately, we developed an aggregate program savings “cost curve” for the actual electricity efficiency resource during the period that provides insights into the relative costs of various types of efficiency programs and the savings contribution of each program type to the efficiency resource at a national level.
Keywords
cost of saved electricity, demand-side management, efficiency supply curves, electricity savings, energy efficiency programs, program costs, utility planning
Suggested Citation
Goldman CA, Hoffman I, Murphy S, Mims Frick N, Leventis G, Schwartz L. The Cost of Saving Electricity: A Multi-Program Cost Curve for Programs Funded by U.S. Utility Customers. (2023). LAPSE:2023.34346
Author Affiliations
Goldman CA: Electricity Markets and Policy Department, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
Hoffman I: Electricity Markets and Policy Department, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
Murphy S: Electricity Markets and Policy Department, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
Mims Frick N: Electricity Markets and Policy Department, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
Leventis G: Electricity Markets and Policy Department, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
Schwartz L: Electricity Markets and Policy Department, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
Journal Name
Energies
Volume
13
Issue
9
Article Number
E2369
Year
2020
Publication Date
2020-05-09
Published Version
ISSN
1996-1073
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Original Submission
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PII: en13092369, Publication Type: Journal Article
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LAPSE:2023.34346
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doi:10.3390/en13092369
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Apr 25, 2023
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