How Can We Maintain Energy Conservation Programs In the Brave New World of Electricity Deregulation?

Abstract

Deregulation of the electric industry poses environmental threats as well as opportunities. Energy engineers and professionals need to realize that saving dollars is not the same thing as conserving energy. They have a moral obligation to identify strategies to keep their energy conservation and efficiency programs alive and well in a deregulated electric market. They also need to joint the larger debate and insist on policies which will provide the proper incentives and conditions to encourage efficiency, as well as clean green power generation, in order to protect the environment and serve the public interest. The paper discusses the process of deregulation; questions whether the energy conservation programs are at risk; recommends strategies for energy users; and gives rules or principles that energy professionals should follow as they venture into the realm of energy policy-making.