$92M for Energy Efficiency Program with Est. 1% Annual Energy Savings Includes Hazardous “behavioral demand response” Smart Meters

By B.N. Frank

When American utility companies promote “energy efficiency programs”, they often ask that the cost of these programs be passed onto customers. That happens A LOT especially with costly, privacy invasive, and unsafe utility “Smart” Meters (electric, gas, and water) and sometimes with equally controversial “Smart” thermostats (see 1, 2, 3). More recently “energy efficiency programs” are also including infrastructure for Electric Vehicles (EVs). Unfortunately various economic, environmental, health, and safety issues – including fires and fire-related recalls (see 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) – have been and continue to be associated with EVs (see 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9) and their charging stations (see 1, 2). Nevertheless, all of the above and more are included in the recently approved $92M program for low- and moderate-income D.C. residents.

From Smart Cities Dive:

District of Columbia regulators approve $92M energy efficiency program with focus on low- and moderate-income residents

The three-year program is expected to result in almost 1% annual energy savings.

Utility regulators in the District of Columbia have approved a three-year slate of energy efficiency and demand response programs for Potomac Electric Power Co., or Pepco, designed to cut greenhouse gas emissions and in particular assist low- and moderate-income residents.

Launch of the new programs in January “will create significant energy savings,” Public Service Commission Chairman Emile Thompson said in a statement.

The total budget for the portfolio of nine programs is approximately $92.4 million, the PSC said, with a third of the costs allocated to programs benefiting low- and moderate-income customers. Among the programs are:

efforts to increase the market share of Energy Star certified appliances through rebates offered via a Pepco marketplace;
a program to help customers manage their energy use and identify energy efficiency opportunities in their homes;
incentives for pre-wiring new homes for electric vehicle charging and installing high-efficiency electric equipment in homes;
a residential behavioral demand response program utilizing advanced metering infrastructure and modeling techniques;
rebates and home energy assessments for low- and moderate-income customers;
retrofit opportunities for small businesses with peak demand below 100 kW;
and an existing buildings program offering businesses incentives for energy efficiency, including retrofit lighting, network lighting controls and daylight controls.

By the third year of the program, Pepco’s efficiency and demand response efforts are forecasted to achieve 226,831 MWh, or nearly 1%, in energy savings, and cut carbon dioxide emissions by roughly 181,000 metric tons.

The D.C. Department of Energy and Environment in filed comments said Pepco’s “offerings are well-aligned with the District’s energy and climate targets.” The city is targeting 100% renewable energy by 2032 and wants to cut per capita energy use in the city by 50% at the same time.

Additionally, over the years, “energy efficient programs” have often and continue to include “energy efficient” light bulbs despite the numerous studies that have determined they are biologically and environmentally harmful (see 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13). In fact, earlier this year the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced it will provide funding for LED lightbulbs to be installed in low income homes and the Biden Administration took further steps to end the production of safer bulbs.

Activist Post reports regularly about “Smart” Meters and other privacy invasive and unsafe technology. For more information, visit our archives and the following websites: