2017 EERMC Annual Report

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Rhode Island Energy Efficiency and Resource Management Council (EERMC), since 2006, has been striving to secure and maximize the economic and environmental benefits of energy efficiency for Rhode Island’s energy consumers. With the continued support of the General Assembly and the Governor, Rhode Island has become a national leader in energy efficiency programs and policies. Specifically, Rhode Island’s energy efficiency investments since 2006 have:
  • Provided consumers with over $2.3 billion in economic benefits;
  • Created over 23,000 job-years of employment economy-wide;
  • Produced over 1.3 million MWh of electricity savings and over 2.4 million MMBtu of natural gas savings; and
  • Will avoid 7 million metric tones of greenhouse gas emissions.
In total, the effects of energy efficiency over the last decade account for approximately 20% of Rhode Island’s electricity needs. Without these cost-effective investments, which averaged less than 4 cents per kilowatt-hour saved, Rhode Islanders would be paying more than twice that amount to procure approximately 20% more electricity. To build upon this strong foundation in energy efficiency, and to continue steering Rhode Island towards a more secure, cost-effective and sustainable energy future, the EERMC recommends the following policies to the General Assembly and Governor.

Recommendations

  1. Build on the successful creation of the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank and facilitate new financing options for all sectors of the economy.
  2. Address the funding issues and support efficiency investments in unregulated fuels, such as oil and propane, for consumers and businesses.
  3. Continue to support Rhode Island’s Comprehensive Energy Conservation, Efficiency, and Affordability Act of 2006, by passing legislation that facilitates and enhances its implementation, and by resisting efforts to limit the amount of cost-effective efficiency that should be secured.
  4. Watch carefully what happens with federal appliance efficiency standards, and look for opportunities to secure savings by adopting and piggybacking on efficiency standards in other jurisdictions (such as California) if the federal standards efforts languish.
  5. Ensure that all customers and segments of the market have the opportunity to benefit from efficiency savings by encouraging and supporting efforts that benefit those who are economically vulnerable, and those who are currently above poverty guidelines bu need significant assistance to make efficiency investments.