Look Who it Was Random video

Getting Customers to Respond to Californias Energy Policies

760 views · Published 16 October 2009 · 58:38 · Indexed 20 September 2026

Channel: CITRIS and the Banatao Institute · 2009 · Science & Technology

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Mark Martinez [Manager, Demand Response Program Development, SCE] 
Abstract:
This presentation will explore the strategies and tactics that are under consideration by Southern California Edison (SCE), a retail investor-owned utility in California, to enable effective and sustainable customer participation its demand side management (DSM) programs. The current DSM energy policy mandates for SCE, which include energy efficiency, demand response, and renewable energy, can be found in the California Long Term Energy Efficiency Strategic Plan, along with rulemaking from the California Public Utilities Commission and codes and standards from the California Energy Commission. 

These new long term strategies are designed to attain the program savings goals in the long term, with a vision to enable market transformation and make energy efficiency and demand response a way of life for all of Californians by 2020. But how will SCE engage its customers to participate in the short term? Will it be through the traditional hardware changes of enabling technology, codes and standards, and rebate incentives (nature) or through new feedback information, lifestyle changes, and behavior modification initiatives (nurture)? Which will be the most effective, sustainable, and cost effective means by which customers can achieve their savings? 

For 2010 through 2012, California policy makers have authorized over $3B of ratepayer funding for renewable, energy efficiency and demand response programs and incentives. During this time, the states three IOUs are poised to jointly deliver the mother of all DSM programs, removing the future need for three 500MW power plants, reducing energy usage by almost 7 billion kW-hours (10 million refrigerators), and creating over 15,000 new jobs related to the energy industry. It is also during this time that SCE will be deploying its smart metering program (SmartConnect) and new dynamic rates and pricing that will be sensitive to the time of use.

While technology upgrades and building codes have historically been the preferred delivery channel for energy efficiency, behavior modification and price response also have been shown to be effective tactics for demand response. This presentation will examine how SCE envisions an integrated combination of both approaches will drive customers to achieve the energy savings that SCE has envisioned for its customers between 2009 and 2020, and beyond.

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