Mckinsey Report: Efficiency could save $700 Billion

When surveyed, the average American estimates that "plug loads" represent 13 percent of energy consumption, but the number is more like 35 percent and growing, Ostrowski said.

Standby power alone, sometimes referred to a home's parasitic or vampire load, is 6 percent to 8 percent of the total. Putting in place efficiency standards to cut standby power could result in energy savings equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of the Netherlands, Ostrowski said.

Read more here.

Switching to EZ-3 Easier Said Than Done

I spoke with a woman at SRP on Friday who assured me my rate structure would be changed the same day - one of the benefits of having a Smart Meter, she said.

On Monday I could tell nothing had changed, because I can read the meter, and it was showing peak kwh outside of the 3-6 peak period that gives EZ-3 its name.  I called SRP, immediately got through and was just as quickly put on hold.  After about 5 minuts on hold(which feels like 10), I was disconnected.  OK, maybe that was my cell phone's fault.  I called back, got a person after a minute or 2, and she told me a completely different story: she said a field tech had to come out and reprogram my meter, and that such a visit was scheduled to happen that same day, Monday.  This was at 6:30 pm, so I wondered why my online account status still showed I was on Time-of-Use.  She said the account wouldn't update until the techs returned and synced with the mothership, or whatever. This morning nothing had changed, so I called again from work.  This time I was told the second girl was misinformed, the first one should have been correct, but we don't know why the account didn't update on Friday.  The I.T. dept. has been informed and all should be well in a day or so.  When I got home, my online account has indeed been updated to show the EZ-3 rate plan, but I now have very little faith in SRP's ability to remotely read my meter, measure my peak hours, or train their customer service reps.

End Rant.

I'm trying SRP's EZ-3 Rate Structure

I mentioned it in the previous post and thought I would try it once I looked into it. SRP installed a smart meter in May, which is required. I don't use more than 2000kwh per month, so apparently that was more of a suggestion than a requirement. The Rep was very nice and was able to activate the plan instantly. I'll turn my thermostat to 84 from 3 to 6(peak) and keep an eye on my usage to see if I'm coming out ahead. We were already avoiding appliance use from 1 to 8 pm, so this should be way easier. Here's the SRP explanation of the plan

SRP Proposes 8.8% Rate Increase

Electricity rate increases seem to be a part of modern life, and a good reason to invest in energy efficiency. This Biz journal article also mentions 2 proposals to help reduce demand:

One is its EZ-3 program, which offers a way to curb demand between 3 and 6 p.m. in the summer and 6 and 9 a.m. in the winter. It’s meant to make SRP’s time-of-use plans easier to understand. The catch is it will not be available to all customers, because it will require that homes and businesses have a smart meter installed. SRP hopes to have the backbone for those meters installed by the beginning of 2010.

The company also is courting businesses for its demand reduction program, in which companies are paid for dropping their consumption when SRP needs extra power. That program had its first test last month, Bonsall said.

SRPs web site explains that the EZ-3 rate is for customers who use more than 2,000 kwh during the summer months.

This AZ Republic article highlights SRPs explanation that it needs to raise rates in order to begin switching to a cleaner energy generation portfolio:

Right now, the utility buys extra power from Tucson Electric Power coal plants in the summer to meet peak demand.

Its contracts will soon expire, and it plans not to renew them, instead seeking out cleaner energy, like solar and wind.

SRP plans to buy power from Arizona's first wind farm, scheduled to begin making electricity this year.

The company also is buying geothermal and wind power from out of state.

Rate hikes, though painful, are a great way to encourage consumers to use less of something, in this case, electricity.  If SRP is able to accomplish this goal in addition to switching to cleaner renewable sources of power, I'm all for it.  Let's not jump on the "cap and tax" bandwagon without giving the feds low income weatherization programs a chance to offset these rate hikes(by improving household efficiency).  If you make too much to qualify for the program, you really shouldn't be too badly affected by an extra $12 on your electric bill.

Forbes article on Household Efficiency

This article essentially recommends sealing airleaks in your home and installing CFLs. Check it out here.