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Energy Efficiency Utility (EEU) Performance Evaluation

30 V.S.A. §209 requires that the Public Utility Commission provide for an independent evaluation of programs delivered by Energy Efficiency Utilities. Since the inception of the Energy Efficiency Utility (EEU) Structure in Vermont, the Department of Public Service has been identified as the entity that would carry out this role. The Department of Public Service's evaluation plans and reports associated with this responsibility can be found below. For access to appendices that may not be included with reports please contact Brian Cotterill.

Evaluation Activities Related to 2021-2023 Performance Cycle

The evaluation plan outlines the Department of Public Service's plans for evaluation of EEUs and Vermont's efficiency markets within 2021-2030 performance cycle.

Verification of EEU Savings and Total Resource Benefit (TRB) Claims

The Department of Public Service reviews EEU activities and verifies energy savings, coincident peak savings, and Total Resource Benefit ("TRB") amounts claimed.

The following reports summarize the results of that review for the years 2021 through 2023.

Verification of Efficiency Vermont Savings and Total Resource Benefit (TRB) Claim

Verification of Vermont Gas Savings and Total Resource Benefit (TRB) Claim

Evaluation of EEU Savings Claims for FCM Resource Delivery

In 2006, the Independent System Operator of the New England electric grid (ISO-NE) created a Forward Capacity Market (FCM) to ensure that the region has sufficient capacity to meet its peak demand needs.  The Department of Public Service was charged with conducting the independent evaluation required by the ISO-NE standards.

Evaluation Activities Related to 2018-2020 Performance Cycle

The evaluation plan outlines the Department of Public Service's plans for evaluation of EEUs and Vermont's efficiency markets within 2018-2020 performance cycle.

Verification of EEU Savings and Total Resource Benefit (TRB) Claims

The Department of Public Service reviews EEU activities and verifies energy savings, coincident peak savings, and Total Resource Benefit ("TRB") amounts claimed.

The following reports summarize the results of that review for the years 2018 through 2020.

Verification of Efficiency Vermont Savings and Total Resource Benefit (TRB) Claim

Verification of Vermont Gas Savings and Total Resource Benefit (TRB) Claim

Evaluation Activities Related to 2015-2017 Performance Cycle

Benchmarking Electric Energy Efficiency Program Performance

The Department’s benchmarking evaluation compares electric energy efficiency service delivery performance of Vermont’s Energy Efficiency Utilities (Efficiency Vermont and Burlington Electric Department) for program years 2014 and 2015, versus the service delivery of energy efficiency program administrators in other jurisdictions.

Research and Development - Behavioral Pilot Programs

The Public Utility Commission approved behavioral pilot program research and development funding for the 2015-2017 performance period.  The following reports and summaries are for Efficiency Vermont's 2015 Residential Customer Behavior pilot and the Commercial Continuous Energy Improvement pilot. 

Verification of Efficiency Vermont Savings and Total Resource Benefit (TRB) Claim

The Department of Public Service reviews EEU activities, and verifies energy savings, coincident peak savings and Total Resource Benefit ("TRB") amounts claimed.

The following reports summarize the results of that review for the years 2015 through 2017.

Verification of Vermont Gas Savings and Total Resource Benefit (TRB) Claim

Evaluation Activities Related to 2012-2014 Performance Cycle

The evaluation plan outlines the Department of Public Service's plans for evaluation of EEUs and Vermont's efficiency markets within 2012-2014 performance cycle.

The Department of Public Service commissioned a study on the economic impact of Energy Efficiency Utility investment in Vermont, finding significant positive impacts.

Verification of Efficiency Vermont Savings and Total Resource Benefit (TRB) Claim

The Department of Public Service reviews EEU activities, and verifies energy savings, coincident peak savings and Total Resource Benefit ("TRB") amounts claimed.

The following reports summarize the results of that review for the years 2012 through 2014.

Thermal Energy Efficiency Impact and Process Evaluation - Residential Market

The Department of Public Service evaluated the impact of Efficiency Vermont’s Home Performance with Energy Star program and Vermont Gas’s Home Energy Retrofit program. The evaluations cover program years 2014 to 2016. Impact evaluations were conducted on two distinct tracks yielding two separate final reports. Due to differences in program design, markets served, and fuel types, impact evaluation results from the two programs are not directly comparable. A process evaluation of the two programs was also conducted to assess customer awareness, participation motivations, barriers to participation, and overall participant satisfaction. Process evaluation results for both programs are reported in one final report. Impact and process evaluation final reports also include recommendations for the program administrators.

Supplemental Investigation of the Home Performance with Energy Star Program, 2014 - 2016

The PSD contracted West Hill Energy and Computing (WHEC) and subcontractor Center for EcoTechnology (CET) to do a follow-up study of ten homes to investigate the reasons for the unexpected performance of the program when reported energy savings were verified. While it is difficult to draw conclusions from such a small sample of homes, several factors were identified that could contribute to discrepancies between energy savings estimated by the program contractors and the verified savings from the impact evaluation.

Previous Evaluations

Benchmarking Electric Energy Efficiency Program Performance

The Department’s benchmarking evaluation compares electric energy efficiency service delivery performance of Vermont’s Energy Efficiency Utilities (Efficiency Vermont and Burlington Electric Department) for program years 2011 and 2012, versus the service delivery of energy efficiency program administrators in other jurisdictions.

Administrative Efficiency Evaluation

The Department evaluated the Administrative Efficiency of Efficiency Vermont's and Burlington Electric Department's key business processes. As part of this evaluation, the Department reviewed the EEUs' methodology for developing, maintaining and updating changes to key business processes, including assessment of two initial key business processes, and recommended improvements.

The Department reviewed additional key business processes in order to recommend areas for improvement, and to benchmark performance with comparable companies.

Activities Related to Evaluation of Resources Bidded into ISO-New England Forward Capacity Market

In 2006, the Independent System Operator of the New England electric grid (ISO-NE) created a Forward Capacity Market (FCM) to ensure that the region has sufficient capacity to meet its peak demand needs. This market-based initiative allows for demand resources, including energy efficiency, to compete directly with generation resources to provide capacity. In order to participate in the market, providers of energy efficiency resources must demonstrate that their efficiency savings are verified in compliance with the ISO-NE standards established for this purpose. The Department of Public Service was charged with conducting the independent evaluation required by the ISO-NE standards.

Evaluation of Efficiency Vermont Savings Claims for FCM Resource Delivery in: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2016

The Department of Public Service has combined the annual verification of Burlington Electric Department’s (BED) savings claims with the Forward Capacity Market (FCM) evaluation. Thus, the FCM reports regarding BED serve to meet both obligations.

Evaluation of Burlington Electric Department Savings Claims for FCM resource Delivery in: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2016

 

Evaluation Activities Related to 2009-2011 Performance Cycle

The evaluation plan outlined the Department’s plans to evaluate the Energy Efficiency Utility and Vermont’s efficiency markets for the 2009-2011 three-year performance cycle.

Pursuant to an approved evaluation plan (see below), the Department of Public Service commissioned a process and impact evaluation of geographically targeted energy efficiency services.

In 2006, the Public Utility Commission directed a portion of the state’s energy efficiency investments to areas of the state where load reductions could defer or avoid transmission and distribution upgrades. This Evaluation Plan defined the scope and timeframe for the above evaluation of geotargeting (GT) process, programs and results.

Verification of Efficiency Vermont Savings and Total Resource Benefit (TRB) Claim

The Department of Public Service reviews EEU activities, and verifies energy savings, coincident peak savings and Total Resource Benefit ("TRB") amounts claimed. The following reports summarize the results of that review for the years 2009 through 2011.

Residential Market Assessments

These reports characterize the saturation of energy efficient equipment and building envelope features by EEU service territory in Vermont's residential existing buildings and new construction markets. Results include comparison to past residential market assessments and an assessment of Vermont Residential Building Energy Standards (RBES) compliance.

Commercial and Industrial Market Assessments

These reports characterize the saturation of energy efficient equipment and building envelope features by EEU service territory in Vermont's commercial and industrial existing buildings and new construction markets. Results include an assessment of Vermont Commercial Building Energy Standards (CBES) compliance. Supplemental market actor report and appendicies are available upon request.

Evaluation Activities Related to 2006-2008 Performance Cycle

The results of this benchmarking study profile the comparative Demand Side Management savings and costs of both Burlington Electric Department and Efficiency Vermont to a group of approximately 25 other organizations across the Northeast, Midwest, and Western states.

This report summarized the Department's Energy Efficiency Utility Evaluation activities and results for 2006 through 2008.

Residential Market Assessments

The overall objective of the combined studies covered in this report provided residential new construction market assessments and baselines to help identify opportunities for increased energy efficiency in Vermont.

A total of 156 on-site audits were conducted at existing single-family homes in Vermont, with 123 conducted at owner occupied single-family homes and 33 at single-family rental homes. This report provided an overview of the key findings of the on-site audits.

Commercial and Industrial Market Assessments

The Department of Public Service commissioned a set of three reports that characterized the energy-related features and opportunities for cost-effective energy efficiency improvements in Vermont’s existing and new construction business facilities.

The Department of Public Service characterized the level of compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL) purchases in Vermont, and the impact of EEU programs on those purchases.

The evaluation plan outlined the Department’s plans for continuing to evaluate the Energy Efficiency Utility programs for the three-year, 2006-2008 contract cycle.

Verification of EEU Savings and Total Resource Benefit (TRB) Claim

The Department of Public Service reviews EEU activities, and verifies energy savings, coincident peak savings and Total Resource Benefit ("TRB") amounts claimed. The following reports summarize the results of that review for the years 2006 through 2008.