Dive Brief:
- Tucson Electric Power has filed its 2016 Energy Efficiency Implementation Plan with Arizona regulators, calling for a $23 million budget, or about $4 million more than the utility is spending this year.
- Utility officials say they expect higher surcharges to raise average residential rates about 50 cents per month, assuming average use of 800 kWh.
- The program is expected to save more than 150,000 MWh, but Tucson Electric warned regulators that it still cannot economically meet state efficiency standards.
Dive Insight:
Tucson Electric wants to implement several new energy efficiency measures into its offerings, but the utility will still be falling short of state standards it warned regulators in an implementation plan filed June 1.
TEP said it is “coming closer to meeting the cumulative EE Standard,” but warned regulators “it does not expect to cost effectively meet the standard in 2016.” Regulators previously approved waivers for the utility in 2014 and 2014.
According to the Arizona Corportation Commission, public utilities in the state will be required to achieve annual energy savings of at least 22% by 2020, with goals to increase incrementally after that.
TEP told regulators its lifetime efficiency savings had reached 1,409,212 Mwh and peak demand savings are expect to reach almost 35 MW this year. The utility's new offerings including ENERGY STAR appliances, home heating and cooling system audits, and LED lighting for commercial and industrial customers.