The Northwest Power and Conservation Council (Council) published its Seventh Northwest Conservation and Electric Power Plan (Seventh Plan) in February 2016. The Seventh Plan provides the Northwest with a regional electric power demand forecast and a resource strategy for meeting this demand through the deployment of energy efficiency and other generation resources. Along with the resource strategy, the Seventh Plan includes a variety of action items for the region to carry out in meeting the Plan objectives, including a significant number related to achieving energy efficiency goals.
This report summarizes the results of the initial phase of action item “MCS-1 - Ensure All Cost Effective Measures Are Acquired” (MCS-1).[1] The essence of MCS-1 is to improve the region’s ability to provide all cost-effective energy efficiency by ensuring programs reach all segments of the population in a proportional manner.
MCS-1 is composed of two parts: 1) conducting data analysis to identify any proportionally underserved markets or populations, and 2) create or improve utility programs to increase participation in those identified underserved segments. This report summarizes data analysis conducted by a working group of Northwest utilities in support of the first part of this action item (including the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance and the Energy Trust of Oregon). [2] The report also provides a template for conducting these analyses, including both methods and data sources that could be used by other entities.
Questions about the report? Contact Kevin Smit at the Council.
[1] MCS is an abbreviation for Model Conservation Standard. The full text of MCS-1 is in Appendix B.
[2] Working group members included: Bonneville Power Administration, Idaho Power, Energy Trust of Oregon, Ravalli Electric, Puget Sound Energy, Seattle City Light, Snohomish County PUD, and Tacoma Power
