MORE EFFICIENT ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS
The Problem: Utility-Run Energy Efficiency Programs Are Inefficient
How
it is now: All Californians pay a fee on our utility bills to fund
energy efficiency programs that are supposed to help us save both
energy and money. But in the hands of the utilities, the programs have
become top-heavy with SoCal Edison, So Cal Gas, PG&E and SDG&E
spending more on their own “costs” for administration, slick marketing
materials and processing rebates than they have on actual rebates and
real energy savings.
In fact, the utility companies failed to
reach required benchmarks for energy efficiency incentives, although
they still got paid — the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC)
allowed them to collect the incentives anyhow.
Why it needs to change:
With consumers facing the twin challenges of global warming and a
recession, saving energy and money is more crucial than ever before.
We can’t afford the utility double-dipping that unlimited spending,
flawed incentive mechanisms and lax standards have allowed.
The Solutions:
Cap Administrative Costs, Spend More On Direct Consumer Assistance
& Community-Based Solutions, Eliminate Shareholder “Incentives”
Regulatory Changes:
- Cap utility administrative costs.
- Eliminate flawed “incentive” mechanism
- End utility monopoly over energy efficiency programs and allow community-based organizations to administer energy efficiency programs and create green jobs on the local level.
Legislative Changes: SB 806 (Patricia Wiggins, D- Santa Rosa) would limit administrative expenses for payroll and overhead to 5% of the budget.
More Money Becomes Available For:
- Home Energy Audits
- Weatherization
- Community development
- Green jobs
