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Policy Priorities and Cost of Electric Power Figure (2 pages)
Power of Efficiency
April 2009

GEORGIA

  • A national energy efficiency resource standard (EERS) could save Georgia $6.3 billion and create nearly 9,000 new jobs (Table 1).
  • Georgia can reduce electricity consumption 13% by 2015—meeting approximately 53% of the expected increase in demand.
  • Energy efficiency represents the cheapest option for meeting new energy needs (Figure 1).
Source: ACEEE’s March 2009 EERS analysis for a 15% target for electricity savings, 10% target for natural gas savings by 2020 (see: www.aceee.org/pubs/e091.htm)
POLICY PRIORITIES Click to Change
  • Develop alternative regulatory business models — through stakeholder engagement processes — to align utility and customer incentives for reducing electricity use.
  • Adopt updated building energy codes, training programs, enforcement mechanisms, and verification tools to improve the energy performance of buildings.
  • Develop energy labeling programs for homes and support commissioning and re-commissioning programs to enhance the energy performance of commercial buildings.
  • Demonstrate federal, state, and local leadership with energy efficiency requirements for public buildings.
  • Support regulatory efforts to encourage investment in industrial energy efficiency, including combined heat and power (CHP) and other energy recycling technologies. Expand funding for technical assistance, such as Industrial Assessment Centers (IACs).
  • Create financial incentives such as tax credits, low-interest loans, on-bill financing, or rebates to encourage home and building owners to invest in efficiency upgrades.
  • Establish energy efficiency targets for electric utilities, using Energy Efficiency Resource Standards (EERS) or similar programs, to advance investments in efficiency. A national EERS for 15 percent savings by 2020 would have a significant positive impact for Southeast states.