Dive Brief:
- On Tuesday, the Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC) approved $94.9 million in funding for five utilities' energy efficiency programs.
- For their commercial and industrial (C&I) energy efficiency programs, Baltimore Gas & Electric (BGE) received $20.4 million, Delmarva Power (DPL) got $10.2 million, Potomac Electric Power Company (PEPCO) got $12 million, Potomac Edison (PE) got $0 and South Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO) got $2.9 million.
- For their residential energy efficiency programs, BGE got $12.3 million, DPL got $2 million, PEPCO got $13.9 million, PE got $5.8 million and SMECO got $1.4 million.
- In total, BGE got $32.6 million, PEPCO got $25.9 million, DPL got $12.2 million, PE got $5.8 million and SMECO got $4.3 million.
Dive Insight:
These programs all part of Maryland's EmPOWER Energy Efficiency Act. Passed in 2008, the program sets a target for utilities to reduce per capita energy consumption and per capita peak demand by 15% by end of year 2015. Maryland utilities have so far reduced 2.7 million megawatt-hours of electricity along with 1,097 megawatts of peak demand. Despite the progress, utility programs are not yet meeting regulators' expectations and the PSC is "seeking a renewed commitment and focus by utilities in the coming program year" as they works towards the ambitious 15% efficiency targets.