Natural and Incentive-Induced Conservation in Voluntary Energy Management Programs

摘要: Energy conservation is a topic of worldwide importance. In addition to the prospect depleted nonrenewable supplies, increased concern over environmental issues, such as air pollution and global warming, have contributed interest in energy conservation. The U.S., largest per capita user energy, has taken lead promoting abatement, through incentive regulation. This climate led an important development utility industry last few years: growth "demand-side management" (DSM) programs. These voluntary programs are designed induce adoption efficient technology (new capital) by consumers (both residential commercial/industrial). DSM advocated regulators, who cite factors divergence private social short run costs (due to, e.g., existence externalities), fact that price not equal its long marginal cost. means cost implementing these may be below increasing capacity. addition, some flatten load curve (power demand time), since producing power at peak considerably greater than times normal system demands. For consumer, it argued there market imperfections which prevent measures. usually attributed consumer's lack knowledge concerning technology. Total revenue lost from program sum direct cost, returned value any sales. offset efficiency gains production, especially during periods demand. order preserve stockholders' rate return regulated companies, this loss recovered increase rates. To warrant this, utilities must present evidence due savings their regulatory commissions. becoming so large