"A relatively small number of states continue to account for most of the investment in energy efficiency through utility and related programs," according to Dr. Marty Kushler, co-author of the study and Utilities Program Director at ACEEE. "These leading states rightly recognize that energy efficiency can save energy at half the cost of new energy supply. As a result, they are increasing their commitment to energy efficiency and are saving their citizens and businesses a lot of money on their energy bills."
The top ten states in spending as a percentage of utility revenues are:
1. Vermont
2. Massachusetts
3. Washington
4. Rhode Island
5. New Hampshire
6. Oregon
7. Wisconsin
8. New Jersey
9. Montana
10. California
The 10 lowest ranked states-with little or no program spending on energy efficiency programs-are: Alabama, Oklahoma, Missouri, Maryland, Nebraska, North Carolina, Kansas, Delaware, Virginia and Wyoming.
Total spending on programs nationwide represents about 0.5 percent of utility revenues. The leading states spend from 1 percent to 3 percent of utility revenues on efficiency.
Another indicator reported in the study is energy efficiency spending per capita. The nationwide average for electric energy efficiency program spending is $4.65 per capita. Eighteen states are above this national average; the highest (Vermont) is $28.26 per capita. However, twenty-four states spend less than $1 per capita. The top twenty states account for 90 percent of nationwide spending.
A downloadable copy is available here.
