HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 7718
City of Palo Alto (ID # 7718)
City Council Staff Report
Report Type: Consent Calendar Meeting Date: 3/6/2017
City of Palo Alto Page 1
Summary Title: Updated Ten-year Electric Energy Efficiency Goals
Title: Approval of an Update to the City's Ten-Year Electric Energy Efficiency
Goals (2018 to 2027)
From: City Manager
Lead Department: Utilities
Recommended Motion (Utilities Advisory Commission Recommendation)
I move to approve the proposed annual and cumulative Electric Energy Efficiency Goals for the
period 2018 to 2027 as shown in the following table.
Recommendation
Utilities Advisory Commission and Staff recommend that Council approve the proposed annual
and cumulative Electric Efficiency Goals for the period 2018 to 2027 as shown in the following
table.
Summary Table: Annual Electric Energy Efficiency Goals
(% of total City customer usage)
Electric
(%)
Electric
MWh
2018 0.75% 7,300
2019 0.75% 7,300
2020 0.80% 7,800
2021 0.80% 7,800
2022 0.85% 8,300
2023 0.85% 8,300
2024 0.90% 8,600
2025 0.90% 8,600
2026 0.95% 9,100
2027 0.95% 9,200
Cumulative1
10-year EE Goal
5.7% 54,900
1 Cumulative EE savings are not equal to the sum of the annual incremental goals due to the differences in how long
the electricity savings persist for different measures and different types of EE savings. For example, new hardware
City of Palo Alto Page 2
Executive Summary
Palo Alto has long recognized cost-effective energy efficiency (EE) as the highest priority energy
resource, given that EE typically displaces relatively expensive electricity generation, lowers
energy bills for customers, and contributes to economic development and job creation. As
required by state legislation, the City adopted its first set of 10-year energy efficiency goals in
April 2007, and updated these goals in 2010 and 2012.
For the electric EE savings targets the City is required to establish under state law (AB 2227), EE
savings that can be counted towards these goals are restricted to those savings directly
attributable to utility programs which are funded by a mandated public benefits charge (2.85%
of electric retail revenue). EE upgrades that customers undertake without participating in utility
programs as well as EE savings achieved through federal and state appliance and building
standards currently cannot be counted towards the City’s EE goals. Therefore the savings
reported here and targeted by these goals represent a narrow subset of the actual energy
efficiency upgrades taking place in Palo Alto. Over the past five years, building and appliance
efficiency standards have become increasingly stringent. As federal and state efficiency
standards increase, the energy savings attributable to utility programs decline.
For this current EE goals update, staff proposes annual electric EE savings targets of 0.75% in
2018, increasing to 0.95% in 2027, with a cumulative 10-year EE savings of 5.7% of the City’s
projected electric load. These are aggressive targets for Palo Alto, and are roughly 30% more
ambitious than the previous goals adopted in 2012. Staff will explore various program
strategies as well as innovative EE technologies to achieve these goals over the next decade.
Committee Review and Recommendation
The UAC considered staff’s recommendation at its February 1, 2017 meeting. After discussion,
the UAC voted 5-0, with two commissioners absent, to accept the staff recommendation and
recommended that Council adopt the proposed electric 10-year EE goals.
Staff described the history and context for these EE goals, including previous updates of the
electric 10-year EE goals in 2007, 2010, and 2012. Staff also described some of the modeling
that went into developing the proposed goals and a few of the new low-cost EE programs under
development. Utilities Advisory Commissioners inquired why CPAU would push for goals
greater than the minimum acceptable goals in the face of negative load growth. Staff explained
that a) the California Energy Commission is considering setting goals for mid-size POUs such as
CPAU, and b) that energy efficiency can make room for additional loads (such as electric vehicle
charging) on existing transmission and distribution infrastructure, and c) doing so with cost-
effective measures was beneficial to the community. Commissioners also inquired how
increased electric vehicle charging might affect CPAU’s ability to meet these EE goals in the
future. Staff explained that the adopted percentage goals are translated into absolute energy
upgrades contribute savings over their expected lifetimes, perhaps 15 years, whereas electricity savings from
changing thermostat set-points are assumed to contribute savings over a much shorter period of time.
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savings based on the current forecast, and therefore not affected by future load growth.
Council also asked about the “Willingness and Awareness values” in the model related to
customer behavior in Palo Alto. Staff responded that the statewide Willingness and Awareness
values will be updated by the state over the next two years.
After discussion, the Utilities Advisory Commission voted unanimously (5-0, with 2
Commissioners absent) to recommend that the Council approve the proposed electric 10-year
EE goals in this report as the updated electric EE goals for 2018 to 2027. The excerpted sense
minutes from the Commission’s discussion is provided as Attachment D.
Background
Council adopted the City’s first 10-year electric EE goals in April 2007, which were to reduce the
City’s electric usage cumulatively by 3.5% by FY 2017. These goals met the state legislative
requirements established by AB 2021 (2006) requiring publicly owned electric utilities to adopt
annual electric efficiency savings goals for the next 10-year period, with the first set of goals
due by June 1, 2007 and every three years thereafter. These EE goals were used for the City of
Palo Alto Utilities’ (CPAU’s) resource planning as well as for EE program budget planning. In
May 2010 City Council updated the 10-year EE goals to reduce cumulative electric load by 7.2%
between 2011 and 2020. The most recent set of 10-year EE goals was adopted by City Council in
December 2012, with cumulative 10-year electric savings of 4.8% between 2014 and 2023. AB
2227 (2012) changed the triennial energy efficiency target-setting schedule to a quadrennial
schedule, beginning March 15, 2013 and every fourth year thereafter. The next EE goals update
is due to be submitted to the California Energy Commission by March 15, 2017.
Figure 1 provides a summary of the annual electric EE goals and achievements since Fiscal Year
(FY) 2008. The figure shows that actual CPAU EE achievements have exceed goals for most
years.
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Figure 1. Electric Efficiency Goals and Achievements for 2011-2016.
0.0%
0.2%
0.4%
0.6%
0.8%
1.0%
1.2%
1.4%
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Actual Savings
2012 Goals
2010 Goals
2007 Goals
Percentages represent EE
savings relative to load
In 2015 California passed a landmark piece of energy legislation called Senate Bill 350 (SB-350)
the “Clean Energy and Pollution Reduction Act of 2015”. SB 350 reinforces California’s position
as a leader in clean energy and greenhouse gas reduction, and codifies Governor Brown’s
ambitious “50/50/50” plan to procure 50% of electricity from renewable resources, reduce
petroleum use by 50%, and double building efficiency in both electric and natural gas end uses
by 2030. The statute lists a variety of programs to achieve the doubling of efficiency savings,
including: 1) appliance and building standards; 2) utility programs that offer financial incentives,
rebates, technical assistance and support to customers to increase EE; 3) programs that achieve
EE savings through operational, behavioral and retrocommissioning activities; and 4) programs
that save energy in final end uses through reducing distribution feeder voltage (i.e.
conservation voltage reduction). In the spirit of SB 350’s goal to double building energy
efficiency, staff proposes an ambitious set of 10-year EE goals for 2018 to 2027. It should be
noted that since Palo Alto’s electric supply has been carbon-neutral since 2012 and that electric
efficiency does not contribute additional greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions.
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Discussion
Overview of Palo Alto’s Past Energy Efficiency Activities
CPAU has offered energy efficiency programs since the 1970s. Its Long-term Electric Acquisition
Plan (LEAP), approved by City Council in March 2007 and last updated in 2012, affirmed cost-
effective energy efficiency as the highest priority resource, with the goal of reducing average
customer bills. The portfolio of EE programs has evolved over time. Originally the programs
focused on rebates for customers administered by CPAU staff, but now include programs
administered by third parties that provide EE audit and turnkey EE services to customers. Some
of the notable programs in recent years include a turnkey lighting and refrigeration upgrade
program for small businesses (Right Lights+), a comprehensive home efficiency audit and
retrofit program that targets low income residences, a direct install program that implements
sensors to power down beverage and snack vending machines at no charge to businesses, a
new construction assistance program for commercial customers to increase building efficiency,
a program that offers building commissioning services to large businesses, and a Home Energy
Report program that provides individualized reports comparing residents’ home energy usage
with their neighbors in similarly sized homes.
Palo Alto was one of the first cities to pilot LED street light technology in 2009, in collaboration
with the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Since 2014, the City has converted 85% of its
streetlights to LED streetlights (the remaining are decorative streetlights.) CPAU also has an
ongoing Program for Emerging Technologies to evaluate, test and implement innovative
emerging technologies that could help customers manage or reduce energy and water use.
Besides utility programs, Palo Alto is also pursuing energy savings through its local green
building code. In June 2015, City Council adopted an energy reach code within the Green
Building Ordinance that requires 15% energy efficiency savings beyond California’s 2013 Title 24
building energy standards for single family, multifamily and non-residential new construction
projects. This energy reach code was effective for the period from September 2015 to
December 2016. Beginning January 2017 through December 2019, the energy reach code
requires 10% energy efficiency savings beyond the state’s 2016 Title 24 building energy
standards for single family, multifamily and non-residential new construction projects. As a
reach code specific to only the City of Palo Alto, energy savings from this code are savings which
may be counted towards these EE goals.
From a supply resource planning perspective, CPAU has incorporated both historic EE savings as
well as forecast EE savings (from Council-approved EE goals) when forecasting the aggregate
customer loads for a 10-year planning period. Energy efficiency related savings impacted
directly by utility programs over the past 10 years is estimated at 6.8% of 2016 loads, i.e.
without such programs, Palo Alto’s electrical loads would have been 6.8% (60,300 MWh) higher
in 2016.
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Proposed Electric Efficiency Goals
Staff proposes new annual electric EE targets at 0.75% of forecast electric load beginning in FY
2018, increasing 0.05% every two years, and eventually reaching 0.95% in FY 2026 and FY 2027.
These proposed goals are approximately 30% more ambitious than the annual electric EE
targets adopted in 2012 (see Figure 2).
Figure 3 shows the actual historical EE savings and the proposed 2018 to 2027 EE goals.
While the proposed EE goals may not initially appear aggressive relative to past goals and the
historical savings, the proposed goals are quite ambitious considering that a) the computational
model built by Navigant Consulting for Palo Alto2 suggests a market potential lower than the
adopted 2012 goals for a business-as-usual approach, and b) the diminishing market potential
due to more stringent codes and standards3. Staff believes these goals are ambitious but
achievable given Palo Alto has consistently exceeded predicted EE market potential and that
Staff has a number of new program strategies in preliminary stages. These proposed goals are
also projected to be cost-effective based on both the model projections and past EE program
costs. Lastly, they are also consistent with the principles expressed in Palo Alto’s Sustainability
and Climate Action Plan (S/CAP). If adopted, these EE goals will be included in the Efficiency
implementation plan currently being developed for the S/CAP.
Savings from EE can be reported on a net basis, meaning they exclude energy impacts from
free-riders (program participants who would have installed EE even without incentives), or on a
gross basis, meaning they include impacts from program participants that are free-riders. The
goals in Figure 4 are based on “net” EE savings rather than “gross” EE savings4. This means they
do not include the energy savings that would have occurred in the absence of utility incentives,
and therefore most accurately reflect the EE savings attributable to CPAU’s programs. CPAU
also excludes savings attributable to building and appliance codes and standards. In order to
allow comparison with other utilities which set goals on a gross basis, the proposed annual
goals in Figure 2 are shown as proposed (on a net basis without including codes and standards),
as well as on a gross basis. In addition, if energy savings from codes and standards were
included, CPAU’s goals would be approximately 1.1% per year as illustrated in Figure 2.
These distinctions are important, as California IOUs and a few large POUs actively participate in
the development of these codes and standards and subsequently claim savings attributed to
these codes and standards. For context, in 2015 nearly 45% of PG&E’s claimed savings came
2 Navigant Consulting was contracted by the Northern California Power Agency (NCPA) to build specific
computational models for each of the NCPA member utilities. This model incorporates CPAU’s avoided costs,
retail rates, and building stock data. Additional explanation of the Navigant Consulting EE potential model and
Staff goal development is in Attachment A. 3 EE savings attributed to state mandated codes & standards are excluded from the EE potential for CPAU, and
therefore also cannot count toward meeting its EE goals. 4 The 2016 EE Potential model assumes free-ridership at the measure level using a net-to-gross (NTG) ratio. The
NTG ratios are based on California statewide evaluation studies and are documented in Database of Energy
Efficiency Results (DEER). Generally, mature, low-cost technologies tend to have higher free-ridership.
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from these codes and standards so one would expect California IOUs to have substantially
higher EE goals than CPAU for claimed savings.
Figure 2. Comparison of Proposed 2017 Electric EE goals and 2012 Electric EE Goals.
Figure 3 shows the reported EE savings as well as the proposed annual electric EE goals
expressed in MWh. The big jump in 2012’s reported savings was due to the completion of a
significant EE project at a large commercial site, which is unlikely to be replicable.
Figure 3. Historic EE Savings and Proposed Annual Electric EE Goals on an Energy Basis.
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On a cumulative basis, the total EE savings from the proposed 2018 to 2027 targets represent
5.7% of the forecasted electric load in 2027, a 19% increase over the goals adopted in 2012. If
the EE savings from codes and standards are included, the cumulative EE savings in 2027 is 8.5%
of the forecasted electric load. The cumulative impact of the annual targets for this 10-year
period is shown in
Figure 4. It is important to note that some EE savings have a longer-lasting effect than others, as
different EE measures have different useful lifetimes. Measure life for Light Emitting Diode
(LED) bulbs can be up to 12 years, whereas behavioral savings last only last a few years. Due to
the differences in EE savings persistence, the cumulative EE impact over the 10-year period is
not equal to the sum of the annual EE goals for the 10 years.
Figure 4. Proposed 2018-2027 Cumulative Electric EE Goals.
Strategies for Achieving the Proposed EE Goals
Achieving these ambitious EE goals will require the deployment of new innovative programs
structures, increasing awareness of existing programs, and developing other program
approaches to reach previously stranded sections of the energy efficiency market potential.
One example of an innovative program structure that research suggests is highly effective is the
idea of gamification5 for behavioral residential energy savings. The Energy Lottery pilot
program currently being developed by staff could provide extremely cost-effective residential
behavioral savings through gamification.
5 Gamification is the concept of applying of game-design elements and game principles to other areas in order to
improve user engagement and other metrics.
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Another example of a new pilot program currently underway is a training seminar for facilities
managers called Building Operator Certification. This training could help tap into potential
energy efficiency savings for large commercial and industrial customers. Also, as discussed in
an earlier section, Palo Alto has adopted Green Building Ordinance that requires additional
energy savings beyond the state’s building energy standards. Staff is currently investigating how
to track and verify the energy savings attributed to the Green Building Ordinance.
In addition, if the City chooses to implement an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI)
backbone of a smart-grid system staff will investigate a conservation voltage reduction program
using the AMI infrastructure on its 68 primary feeders. Potential savings from this program are
estimated to be up to 1% of the City’s annual electricity load, and could be realized by 2025 or
2026. All these plans are subject to Council consideration and approval. Staff is also
investigating a distributed energy resources pilot, which could potentially contribute EE savings
from smart thermostats and other emerging technologies. There are also potentially large EE
savings from many City facilities, particularly if EE measures do not impact other operating
constraints.
This evolution of our EE portfolio is consistent with the general consensus among utilities that
new approaches are needed to reach increasingly aggressive EE targets as traditional EE
programs approach market saturation limitations.
Projected Electric EE Program Costs
Funding for EE programs comes from a mandated Public Benefit (PB)6 surcharge of 2.85% of the
electric utility bill for all customers. Since all EE portfolios must be cost-effective, they can also
be funded by supply resource funds.
To meet the proposed EE goals, staff estimates that the annual EE budget will grow from about
$3.4 million in FY 2018 to about $4.2 million in FY 2027. This projected EE program budget is
anticipated to be roughly 85% of the annual PB collections.
Figure 5 shows the actual electric EE program expenditures for FY 2008 through FY 2016 and
the estimated annual EE budget between 2018 and 2027.
6 Public Benefits funds are required to be collected by legislative statute and can only be used on cost-effective
energy efficiency, low income programs, renewable electricity, and research and development.
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Figure 5. Actual and Projected Electric EE Program Costs.
Retail Rate & Average Customer Bill Impact of the Proposed Electric EE Goals:
EE programs impact retail rates in two ways. First, a lower electric load means that fixed costs
(capital investments and fixed operating costs to run the electric utility) must be distributed
over a lower electric sales volume, thereby increasing the average electric retail rate. Second,
the use of funds to support EE programs increases the revenue requirements for the electric
utility.
Overall, these proposed goals are estimated to amount to a cumulative increase in the retail
rate of approximately 5% by the year 2027. The majority of this retail rate increase is due to
the cumulative load reduction from the proposed 10-year EE goals. Increased charging of
electric vehicles, electrification of natural gas appliances, and other electric load growth could
mitigate the retail rate impact of the EE programs. The total bill impact of the proposed goals is
estimated to be neutral over the lifetime of the EE savings.
Resource Impact
As discussed above, staff estimates that the annual EE budget will grow from about $3.4 million
in FY 2018 to about $4.2 million in FY 2027, and these goals will have other rate and bill
impacts. Although this report contains preliminary estimates of the costs of achieving the
proposed electric and gas EE goals, the detailed budget plan and staffing needs to meet the
annual EE goals will be part of the annual City budgeting process. The annual budget will
present the costs for both internally administered, as well as contractor supported, efficiency
programs.
Policy Implications
Adoption of the proposed electric 10-year EE goals will replace the 2012 10-year electric EE
City of Palo Alto Page 11
goals and will inform the EE program planning and load forecasting for the next four years.
These goals will also be included in the LEAP, the Electric Utility Integrated Resource Plan, and
the City’s Sustainability Implementation Plan. The proposed 2017 electric EE goals are
consistent with the Utilities Strategic Plan and the City’s S/CAP.
Environmental Review
Council approval of the 2017 10-year electric EE goals does not require California
Environmental Quality Act review, because the plan does not meet the definition of a project
under Public Resources Code Section 21065 and CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(5), as an
administrative governmental activity which will not cause a direct or indirect physical change in
the environment.
Attachments:
Attachment A: Energy Efficiency Potential Modeling
Attachment B: Cost-Effectiveness Tests For Energy Efficiency Programs
Attachment C: Top 20 Electric Efficiency Measures in 2018
Attachment D: Excerpted Draft UAC Minutes of February 1, 2017
Page A-1
ATTACHMENT A: ENERGY EFFICIENCY POTENTIAL MODELING
Energy Efficiency Potential Model Overview
The first step in establishing EE goals is to model the potential for energy savings within the
City. This step was completed using an EE potential model developed by Navigant Consulting.
The 2016 EE potential model is similar to the one used by CPAU and other California publicly
owned utilities (POUs) in 2012 as well as the model most recently used by the California Public
Utilities Commission to determine the EE potential for investor-owned utilities (IOUs). The
model estimates the technical, economic and market potential for energy efficiency measures
for residential and non-residential customers, defined as follows:
• Technical potential is the energy savings that would result from installation of the most
energy efficient measures that are commercially available, regardless of cost-
effectiveness.
• Economic potential includes only savings from the installation of cost-effective EE
measures.
• Maximum Market potential is a subset of the economic potential which is scaled by
customers’ awareness and willingness to adopt energy efficient equipment.
• Market potential is the achievable portion of the maximum market potential calculated
by the model, given: 1) the calibration of the model based on actual EE savings for a
specific utility, and 2) the programs the utility chooses to include.
The model is calibrated based on the achieved EE savings by end use, and uses a 3-year average
from 2013 to 2015 is used as the base year. The model also takes into account past EE program
achievements as well as user-specified input such as projected avoided energy costs, retail
rates of electricity, discount rate, building stock, and assumptions regarding appliance and
equipment penetration. Efficiency measures included in the analysis cover over 170 current
and emerging electric efficiency measures. For each year starting in 2015, the model steps
through the calculation of the technical potential, then filters out the uneconomic measures to
determine the economic potential, then estimates the maximum market potential based on
customers’ awareness and willingness to adopt and, finally, computes the market potential by
applying a diffusion curve function to the maximum market potential for the portfolio of EE
programs. The calculated market potential forms the basis of the proposed EE goals for 2018 to
2027. Figure A-1 shows the model’s sequential narrowing from technical potential to market
potential.
Page A-2
Figure A-1. 2016 Navigant EE Potential Model Steps for Modeling CPAU Market Potential.
Limitations of the EE Potential Model
The 2016 EE Potential model has some intrinsic limitations. One source of uncertainty is the
values for “willingness and awareness” used within the model, which attempt to approximate
customer awareness of energy efficiency measures and their willingness to install the
measures. The projected market potential is extremely sensitive to these values, as the
maximum market potential is essentially the product of the economic potential and the
willingness and awareness values. The 2016 EE potential model applies generic values adopted
from the IOUs’ EE potential model. Given the unique demographics of Palo Alto, the
“willingness and awareness” numbers for Palo Alto will likely be different from the IOUs’.
Cost projections from the model should also be treated as estimates, as the model’s measure
costs are based on Navigant’s measure database, rather than actual CPAU measure costs. Also,
the model does not readily accommodate analysis using different avoided costs.
More broadly, this model cannot predict future disruptive technologies, or calculate savings
from programs with completely new and different structures. One such example is the energy
savings attributed to Palo Alto’s Green Building Code.
Model Results
For Palo Alto, this 2016 EE potential model estimates an annual incremental market potential of
0.6% of the forecasted load for 2018-2027 if Palo relies solely on a business as usual approach.
This 10% decline in market potential from the 2012 EE goals is due to both the model
limitations as well the effects of market saturation for mature EE programs like Palo Alto’s.
However, given Palo Alto’s reputation as a leader in energy efficiency and the statewide vision
for doubling energy efficiency, Staff has used the model to estimate the types of programs
needed and funds required to achieve ambitious but still cost-effective EE savings goals.
Page A-3
The 2016 EE Potential model also breaks down future market potential by end use. Figure A-2
shows that the majority of the 2018 energy savings are expected from the non-residential
sector (74%) while only 26% of the savings are from the residential sector. Of the residential
savings, over 80% is projected to come from behavioral programs, such as the Home Energy
Reports. Savings from lighting make up another 27% of the total energy savings in 2018.
However, it is important to note that with increasing lighting efficiency standards, lighting
savings are predicted to only account for 12% of the incremental market potential by 2027.
Non-residential comprehensive savings (14% of the incremental market share in 2018) are
primarily energy savings from retrocommissioning activities such as resetting temperature and
schedule of the building HVAC control system, recalibrating sensors and variable frequency
drives. A list of the top twenty electric efficiency measures in 2018 is provided in Appendix B.
Figure A-2. Composition of Electric EE Market Potential in 2018.
Page B-1
ATTACHMENT B: COST-EFFECTIVENESS TESTS FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS
The primary aim of cost-effective energy efficiency programs is to reduce utility cost and hence
customer bills while improving the environment. Cost-effectiveness can be measured in many
ways. The four perspectives most commonly used in efficiency program cost-effectiveness
testing are:
1. Participant: An energy efficiency measure that provides net savings to a customer is
cost-effective for them as a “participant.” If a customer’s initial
investment, after accounting for utility rebates and tax incentives, can be
recouped with lower operating cost over the life of the measure, the
measure is considered cost-effective from a participant’s perspective.
2. Utility: A measure that lowers overall cost for the utility is cost-effective for the
utility (also referred to as “Program Administrator”). For CPAU, this could
also be considered the “all ratepayers test” or “average utility bill test,”
as it reflects the change in the utility bill to the average customer. To be
cost-effective from the utility perspective, the cost of the program
(administrative and rebate costs) must be less than the savings from not
purchasing the energy supply.
3. Total Resource: If the combination of the utility and all customers together save money, it
is cost-effective from a “Total Resource Cost (TRC)” or societal viewpoint.
4. Non-Participant: Even if the bill for the average customer shrinks significantly, retail rates
could increase slightly, so that customers who do not reduce
consumption could see a slight increase in rates and therefore bills. This
effect is due to the portion of retail revenue that must be collected to pay
for fixed costs. For this reason it is important to design diverse programs
to be widely available in order to facilitate efficiency implementation in
as broad a manner as possible. The Non-Participant perspective is also
called the Rate Impact perspective.
The Total Resource Cost reflects the financial perspective of the Palo Alto community as a
whole. The Utility Cost, Participant and Rate Impact perspectives should also be considered to
ensure lower average bills and sufficient incentives to achieve participation
The costs and benefits that are used to calculate the benefit-cost ratios for each of these
different perspectives are illustrated below:
Page B-2
Table B-1: Cost-Effectiveness Perspectives and Associated Costs and Benefits
Cost Effectiveness Test Costs Benefits
Participant Cost Test (PCT)
Does the participant save money? Measure Cost
Incentive to
customer
Bill Savings
Tax Savings
Program Administrator Cost (PAC)-
Average Bill
Are utility revenue requirements
lowered?
Incentive to customer
Program Delivery Cost
Avoided Supply
Costs
Total Resource Cost Test (TRC)
Sum of Participant + Non-participant
Are total community expenditures
lowered?
Measure Cost
Program Delivery Cost
Avoided Supply
Costs
Tax Savings
Rate Impact Measure (RIM)
Also known as non-participant test
Are utility rates lowered?
Incentives to customer
Lost Revenues (=Bill
Savings)
Program Delivery Cost
Avoided Supply
Costs
The Electric EE potential analysis assumes the cost of renewable energy as the avoided supply
cost.
Page C-1
ATTACHMENT C: TOP 20 ELECTRIC EFFICIENCY MEASURES IN 2018
The following table lists the top twenty electric efficiency measures in 2018. This list does not
included behavioral programs. The combined energy savings from these 20 measures
represents around 50% of the total market potential.
Rank Top Fifty Measures – 2018 2018 - Energy Savings (MWh) Energy % of Total
1 Com-Office - Retro-commissioning (a) 565 12.3%
2 Com-ALL - Pump and Fan Variable Frequency Drive Controls (VFDs) 262 5.7%
3 Com-Office - Thermostat Replacement 172 3.7%
4 Res-SF New - T24 15% Stretch Goal Compliant Home 114 2.5%
5 Com-Office - Comprehensive Rooftop Unit Quality Maintenance (AC Tune-up) 112 2.4%
6 Electronics - Efficient Lighting Equipment 106 2.3%
7 Com-Retail - LED fixture: 33W, 3500 lumens 91 2.0%
8 Com-Retail - LED downlight, screw-in lamp, 1-3W, interior Average 2 Watts (a) 91 2.0%
9 Com-Office - Retro-commissioning (b) 86 1.9%
10 Com-Retail - LED downlight, screw-in lamp, 1-3W, interior Average 2 Watts (b) 74 1.6%
11 Other Industrial - Efficient Lighting Equipment 73 1.6%
12 Com-Office - Centrifugal Chiller - Average kW/Ton = 0.56 67 1.5%
13 Com-Office - Demand Controlled Ventilation 67 1.4%
14 Com-Lodging - LED fixture: 33W, 3500 lumens 59 1.3%
15 Com-Office - Bi-Level Lighting Fixture – Stairwells, Hallways, and Garages 58 1.3%
16 Com-Retail - Electronically Commutated (EC) Motor w/Fan Cycling Controls for Cold Storage Evaporator Fans 58 1.3%
17 Com-Office - Reciprocating Chiller - Average kW/Ton = 0.84 56 1.2%
18 Com-Office - Electronically Commutated (EC) Motor w/Fan Cycling Controls for Cold Storage Evaporator Fans 55 1.2%
19 Com-Office - Screw Chiller - Average kW/Ton = 0.68 52 1.1%
20 Com-Retail - LED fixture: 33W, 3500 lumens 49 1.1%
Top 20 Total 2,267 49.2%
EXCERPTED DRAFT MINUTES OF THE FEBRUARY 1, 2017
UTILITIES ADVISORY COMMISSION
ITEM 3. ACTION: Utilities Advisory Commission Recommendation That Council Approve the
Update on the City of Palo Alto’s Ten-Year Electric Energy Efficiency Goals (2018 to 2027)
Resource Planner Lena Perkins presented on the electric energy efficiency goals. She mentioned
one important context for this goal-setting exercise was the adoption of SB 350 in 2015. The
legislation required doubling of energy efficiency in the State of California. Utility energy
efficiency is only one component of that doubling, and utilities with aggressive goals like the
City had less room to increase their energy efficiency goals. A computational model was used to
assess market potential. The 2015 model, as compared to the 2012 model, included high
impact, low cost behavioral programs. These new types of programs included training of facility
managers and green building code adoption. Most savings were expected from commercial and
industrial customers as compared to residential customers. Most residential savings were likely
to come from behavioral programs. She showed the proposed goals compared to the previous
goals. The proposed goals were ambitious, a 20-30% increase over existing goals. There were a
number of new programs staff planned to use to achieve the goals. However, they were even
more aggressive considering the energy efficiency measures that could not be counted because
they were incorporated into Building Codes and Standards. She showed historical savings,
noting that 2012 savings were particularly high due to a large data center project that was
unlikely to be replicated. She noted that the long term rate impact of the efficiency measures
was roughly 5%, but that the loss of revenue could be offset by increases in load due to electric
vehicle adoption or other load growth.
Commissioner Johnston asked about the rate impact why we were setting such aggressive
targets when we might be seeing negative load growth in the future.
Perkins replied that the state was considering setting EE goals for mid-sized POUs. Perkins also
stated that we were required to both collect funds to spend on EE and show that our EE
programs delivered real, cost-effective savings. She noted that any EE savings in City facilities
would allow the City to save money.
Abendschein added that EE savings could make room on the existing distribution system for
load growth such as increased EV charging. Abendschein also made the distinction between
retail rates and bills, as bills are projected to remain nearly flat while the retail rates may go up.
ATTACHMENT D
ATTACHMENT D
Commissioner Schwartz asked why we were setting such aggressive targets.
Perkins stated that the State was considering setting utility specific EE targets, and that these
goals might not be aggressive compared to those targets.
Commissioner Schwartz asked about the cost effectiveness of the City’s portfolio.
Perkins stated that staff was focused on creative, cost-effective programs. The portfolio as a
whole is projected to be cost-effective.
Commissioner Schwartz asked about the home energy reports, since many residents were
unhappy with the comparison to their neighbors.
Perkins replied that the Home Energy Reports had been discontinued two years ago, but that
Staff was working on a Behavioral Program centered around “carrots” and gamification in the
form of the potential residential Energy Lottery.
Commissioner Schwartz asked about the Program for Emerging Technologies.
Perkins responded that the Program for Emerging Technologies was housed within the Utilities
Department, and offered to send more information about the program.
Commissioner Forssell asked about the Navigant energy efficiency model discussed in
Attachment A of the staff report. She referenced that the model was highly sensitive to the
“Willingness and Awareness value” used. She asked what value was used for Palo Alto.
Perkins said the values used were a bit stale but were in the process of being updated by the
State.
There is also a question of how people actually behave around conservation, whether there is a
rebound effect or whether perhaps once people conserve in one area they view themselves as
conservation type people.
Commissioner Schwartz stated that she has seen people where they define themselves as
“green” and they want to do more and more conservation and environmental programs.
Commissioner Ballantine asked how EVs factored into these programs
Perkins stated EVs were not factored in. The CEC had recommended that these not be included.
Commissioner Ballantine asked how EVs were factored in to the behavioral programs. He noted
that his EV had made him get a bad score on his Home Energy Report.
ATTACHMENT D
Perkins stated the savings were based on actual measures installed according to a reporting
methodology. The City was only able to make savings claims based on rebates actually provided
and assumptions about the savings from that specific measure.
Commissioner Schwartz said this was a regular problem for measurement and verification,
particularly for education and marketing programs. She disclosed she was starting a
measurement and verification project with Navigant to do a project in Colorado, and asked the
City Attorney to let her know if she needed to recuse herself.
Commissioner Ballantine asked whether load increase from EVs would negatively affect the
savings the City could claim.
Perkins said that load increase from EVs or others would not affect those savings as the EE
savings will be reported in absolute energy savings numbers to the CEC.
Commissioner Schwartz recommended approval of the staff recommendation since any model
is inherently limited.
Perkins responded that a great deal of work and sensitivity analysis went into these
recommended goals, but that any model was limited by the quality of the data and the
structure of the model.
Trumbull moved to approve the staff recommendation, Ballantine seconded staff
recommendation.
Passed 5-0
ACTION: Commissioner Trumbull moved, seconded by Commissioner Ballantine to recommend
Council approve the proposed annual and cumulative Electric Energy Efficiency Goals for the
period 2018 to 2027 as shown in the following table:
Summary Table: Annual Electric Energy Efficiency Goals
(% of total City customer usage)
Electric
(%)
Electric
MWh
2018 0.75% 7,300
2019 0.75% 7,300
2020 0.80% 7,800
2021 0.80% 7,800
2022 0.85% 8,300
2023 0.85% 8,300
2024 0.90% 8,600
2025 0.90% 8,600
ATTACHMENT D
2026 0.95% 9,100
2027 0.95% 9,200
Cumulative
10-year EE Goal
5.7% 54,900
The motion carried unanimously (5-0, with Commissioners Ballantine, Forssell, Johnston,
Schwartz, and Trumbull voting yes and Chair Cook and Vice Chair Danaher absent).