Residential Energy Efficiency News
Fall 2002

States Mandate Energy Efficiency Programs

Utility-funded energy efficiency programs for consumers vary from company to company, state to state. Some utilities fund such programs voluntarily, others do so only because of state requirements, and many utilities offer no energy efficiency programs. Thus, consumers in one energy company's territory may be able to get free home energy audits or rebates for energy-efficient lighting and appliances, while consumers in a neighboring territory in the same state may not have access to any energy efficiency measure from their utility.

A few states have largely eliminated this discrepancy by requiring large investor-owned utilities to offer the same consumer energy efficiency programs. New Hampshire and New Jersey are two of the most comprehensive.

New Hampshire's "Core" energy efficiency programs require the state's six electric utilities to offer the same package of energy efficiency measures. Under the new statewide program for residential consumers, these customers can receive up to $2,500 in rebates and services. Primarily designed for customers with permanently installed electric heat and/or high electric use, the program includes weatherization measures, such as insulation, air sealing and new thermostats, and rebates for energy-efficient refrigerators and lighting.

Funded by the state's system benefits charge, part of all customers' electric bills, the Core programs also provide up to $3,600 in energy efficiency measures for low-income households -- those at or below 160 percent of the federal poverty level.

The utilities were also required to develop a group website that describes all of the Core programs in detail. The utilities must monitor implementation of the programs, so that the New Hampshire Public Utility Commission can evaluate them.

The PUC is also exploring the possibility of implementing similar energy efficiency programs for natural gas customers.

In New Jersey, the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) required the state's six electric and gas utilities to prepare an array of consistent statewide energy efficiency programs. Residential consumers can participate in the WARMAdvantage and COOLAdvantage programs, which provide rebates for furnaces, boilers, water heaters, central air conditioners and heat pumps.

The statewide program includes New Jersey Comfort Partners, aimed at low-income households. Program participants can receive water heater insulation, replacement of inefficient refrigerators and thermostats, insulation upgrades, duct sealing and repair and maintenance of heating/cooling equipment.

Detailed information on the New Jersey programs is available at www.njcleanenergy.com

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