REGION – The cheapest energy is the energy we don’t use. This simple fact has guided Efficiency Vermont for more than two decades. It remains critical for Vermont’s energy future.
As Efficiency Vermont plans for the years ahead, we’re listening to feedback from Vermonters. Our latest three-year proposal to the Vermont Public Utility Commission is informed by surveys of nearly 900 residents and hundreds of businesses. That proposal sharpens our focus on affordability, and removes $3.75 million from our proposed budget.
Half of the Vermonters surveyed told us they believe the state is unaffordable. At the same time, more than 70% said energy-efficiency programs make Vermont more affordable. Nearly nine out of 10 agreed that an independent organization like Efficiency Vermont is essential to reducing energy costs.
Vermonters know efficiency is a solution to high costs. Since our work began in 2000, Vermonters will save more than $3.5 billion over the lifetime of the efficiency investments our state has made. Without these investments, our homes and businesses would be buying 15% more electricity than they do now.
Understanding efficiency reveals why it’s one of the most powerful tools we have to keep energy bills affordable.
Almost every home or business in Vermont connects to our shared electric grid. The grid sends the electricity we need to run a refrigerator, control our thermostats, and connect us to the internet.
Making electricity costs money. Power plants burn fuel to generate electricity, or they rely on sophisticated equipment like hydroelectric dams, wind turbines, or solar panels. Skilled workers ensure there’s safe, reliable power at all hours of the day. Moving that electricity through transmission lines, poles, and wires also costs money. This network requires constant maintenance and investment. As electricity demand rises, expanding this system costs money, too.
When we pay our electric bill each month, our bills cover the costs of running the entire electricity system. Efficiency is key to keeping those costs low, because it’s cheaper to use less electricity than it is to make and distribute more of it. Efficiency allows us to get more out of the system we’ve already paid for.
Efficiency isn’t just about lower costs. It’s about living better with lower costs. It means a more comfortable home with more affordable bills through weatherization and efficient appliances. At work, it means lower costs and a stronger bottom line thanks to optimized equipment.
More efficient homes and buildings cost less to keep running. They’re more resilient to extreme weather, like winter storms or floods. They’re better prepared to switch from fossil fuels to cleaner technologies like EVs and heat pumps. Efficiency lowers Vermont’s greenhouse gas emissions, and reduces power use when the grid needs it most. That makes electricity cheaper, and expands capacity for things we want, like more homes, new business opportunities, and economic development.
Weatherization makes homes and businesses more comfortable while reducing energy costs. That’s why weatherization is a major focus in our new proposal. Federal funding has supported this work in recent years – but no longer. Vermont policymakers wisely devote our state’s Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) revenues to weatherization. This provides critical, dedicated funding for this work. As other states look to redirect RGGI revenues for short-term initiatives, Vermont’s approach ensures we’ll continue to support the long-term affordability that weatherization provides. In our proposal, we’ll bring the comfort, savings, and climate benefits of a weatherized home to more Vermonters with our rebates and programs. We’ll also strengthen our partnerships with Vermont’s weatherization assistance programs by directing an additional $1.5 million each year to support projects for the low-income households and apartments they serve.
The next three years also demand deeper investments in energy efficiency across Vermont’s economy. We’re updating our heat pump programs to deliver more comprehensive heating solutions. We’ll also prioritize business projects with big impacts on our shared energy system, like improved industrial processes; refrigeration systems; and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning upgrades. This will help businesses invest in improvements, while strengthening our shared energy system.
We’ll achieve these goals without increasing costs for Vermonters. In fact, we’ve removed $3.75 million in spending from our proposal. Streamlining our budget helps us focus on impactful projects, while supporting affordability for all Vermonters.
By focusing on these goals in the years ahead, we’ll continue to help Vermonters reduce their household energy costs. We’ll weatherize more homes and businesses, support more cost-saving projects, and strengthen the investments Vermonters have made in our shared grid over the last 25 years.
But you don’t have to wait; efficiency is a solution available today. Call 888-921-5990 to speak with our energy advisors about your home or business. Everyone can share the benefits of efficiency now – and, with this new proposal, for years to come.
Written by Peter Walke, managing director, Efficiency Vermont.