Utility DSM programs could cut electricity use 20% during the next two decades.

摘要

Between now and the year 2010, electric utilities are likely to face major changes. These changes will affect the mix of resources that utilities use to produce energy services and the ways that utilities deliver services to their customers. A key element of these changes will be a large increase in the importance of utility demand-site management (DSM) programs. This paper examines the trends that will likely affect DSM programs and develops a scenario of future electricity use. A projection developed by the Energy Information Administration (EIA) was used as the starting point. In contrast to this projection, the scenario developed here assumes that more utilities conduct DSM programs and that these programs become steadily more aggressive and effective. Relative to the EIA projection, these utility programs would reduce electricity use in the year 2010 by one-fifth. Moreover, these new programs would cut electric bills by $61 billion a year and eliminate the need for 430 new power plants.