How Simple Energy gamified energy efficiency

Can energy efficiency be all fun and games?

By Davide Savenije • Feb. 5, 2014

Efficiency is Northwest's second-largest supply resource

Energy efficiency is the Northwest second-biggest source of power supply behind hydro generation.  

By Ethan Howland • Feb. 5, 2014

Explore the Trendline➔

Energy Efficiency

With hostilities between the U.S., Israel and Iran driving up global energy prices and a surge in domestic electricity demand from large-load data centers, manufacturing and electrification, efficiency could play a key role in meeting that demand as economically as possible. 

By Utility Dive staff

Oklahoma regulators weigh increasing efficiency targets and incentives

The Oklahoma Corporation Commission considers utility incentives, increasing targets for efficiency savings.  

By Ethan Howland • Feb. 5, 2014

California county extends smart meter ban

Smart meters are a threat to public health, safety and welfare, the Marin County board says.

By Ethan Howland • Feb. 5, 2014

Demand response industry creates new advocacy group

Former FERC Chair John Wellinghoff is advising the new group, which includes major demand response providers and customers.

By Ethan Howland • Feb. 4, 2014

Xcel Energy wants energy efficiency goals cut in Colorado

Xcel Energy contends it has harvested the low-hanging efficiency fruit, making it impossible to meet its targets.

By Ethan Howland • Feb. 2, 2014

PJM to call on demand response year-round under new FERC order

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved PJM's year-round demand response proposal.

By Ethan Howland • Feb. 2, 2014

Demand response growing in Texas

The rise of demand response in Texas may be pushing out the need to build new power plants.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 31, 2014

Opower, Comverge unveil new offerings for residential market

Demand response and energy efficiency are converging in the residential market.  

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 31, 2014

Survey: Consumers' smart grid awareness hasn't changed since 2011

However, the survey points to utility opportunities for new customer programs.  

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 30, 2014

Illinois regulators tell ComEd to expand efficiency efforts

The Illinois Commerce Commission pushed ComEd to increase savings by 4% and to use its $2.6B smart grid investment to cut electric use.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 30, 2014

Demand response faces pivotal battle in Pennsylvania

Comverge, EnerNOC and Johnson Controls defend demand response as two utilities want programs ended.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 29, 2014

Behavioral efficiency startup lands $6M in funding

Simple Energy plans to use the funding to expand its business.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 28, 2014

What the smart home means for utilities

Google's Nest acquisition exposes the ongoing shift in how consumers interact with their home—and the power grid. 

By Gabriel Salkin • Jan. 28, 2014

Demand response enters Texas energy market debate

ERCOT called on demand response resources during polar vortex freeze, highlighting demand response's potential role in the state's power market.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 27, 2014

Oklahoma aims to cut energy use by 20% in state buildings

Oklahoma expects the efficiency effort to save $150 million by 2020.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 27, 2014

Indiana bill would let industrials opt out of efficiency programs

Ending industrial efficiency programs would hurt the overall effectiveness of energy savings programs in Indiana.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 27, 2014

Is Google becoming an energy company?

Google's $3.2 billion acquisition of Nest is far from its only energy play.

By Davide Savenije • Jan. 23, 2014

Opower expands behavioral efficiency for small, medium businesses

Efficiency company Opower is expanding its efforts beyond the residential customer class.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 23, 2014

Sierra Club seeks efficiency targets for New Jersey utilities

If approved by state regulators, New Jersey would join 25 other states with efficiency mandates.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 23, 2014

U.S. mayors plan to push energy efficiency

Efficient lighting is the top priority for mayors, according to a survey.  

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 23, 2014

Can family photos lower electric use? CEIVA Energy thinks so

Startup CEIVA Energy is using digital photo frames to get residential eyeballs on a trove of smart meter information.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 21, 2014

N.Y. PSC starts regulatory overhaul to support 'clean energy' goals

The New York PSC has started a process that could change utility regulation to support efficiency and other policy goals.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 21, 2014

Kentucky utilities seek to expand efficiency programs

Kentucky's largest utilities want to add a small-scale advanced metering program as part of their efficiency efforts.  

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 21, 2014

FERC: Polar vortex broke winter demand records across half of U.S.

Demand response programs helped grid operators deal with the freezing weather, according to FERC.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 17, 2014