Dive Brief:
- Kansas utility Westar Energy has withdrawn three proposed energy efficiency programs before the Kansas Corporation Commission over concerns that the programs may not be cost-effective and certain customers would subsidize others, the Topeka Capital Journal reports.
- Under the agreement with regulators, the utility also moved its existing WattSaver program — an AC cycling initiative — into "maintenance" mode. The utility will no longer market the program but will continue to service enrolled customers.
- Westar said it may come back with new proposals for energy efficiency programs in the future.
Dive Insight:
The withdrawal of Westar's proposals show how difficult it can be for utilities to get programs approved if they are not adequately designed in the eyes of regulators, even as many policymakers want to promote cleaner resources such as energy efficiency.
The programs under question were a lighting retrofit program for small business customers, a home energy audit program for residential customers, and a program to make energy assessment and weatherization improvements for low-income customers.
The WattSaver program — which provided customers with thermostats that allowed the utility to communicate with customers during peak load periods and cycle their air conditioners — was put to pasture because it had reached the point of seeing diminishing returns. Enrolling more customers beyond the 53,000 already participating would likely have cost more than it was worth. The program can reach a total of 50 MW in peak load reduction if every enrolled customers' AC is cycled off simultaneously.