Defining what is achievable in the U.S. Midwest, the Northeast and Canada

The Dunsky team recently completed a series of potential studies, and has recently launched a series of new ones, to define what can be achieved – in energy, demand and carbon savings – and at what cost.

In Iowa, where utilities have for years pursued significant savings opportunities, the Dunsky study is now public. In it, we found continued, cost-effective savings opportunities across all sectors, markets and end-uses. For electricity, we found 10-year cost-effective savings equivalent to 22% of total loads, roughly three-quarters of which could be achieved under the most aggressive program scenarios. For natural gas, 19% of sales could theoretically be reduced cost-effectively, with just over 3/4 of that considered achievable within a decade.

While most such studies focus on incentive programs, this study innovated by examining both incentive and financing mechanisms. We found that a combination of incentives and financing could be used to achieve savings at significantly lower cost than through incentives alone.

Dunsky’s user-friendly model will now be used by our clients – MidAmerican, Alliant and Black Hills Energy – to inform the program strategies they will use to continue to help lower their customers’ bills while cost-effectively contributing to the state’s energy and environmental goals.

We look forward to reporting on similar projects underway in Massachusetts, New York, Québec and beyond.

Download our Iowa study here. (The results were filed as part of the Utilities’ submission in Docket No. EEP-2017-0001)