In Minnesota the law requires natural gas and electric utilities to invest a portion of their revenues in conservation improvement programs (CIPs) that promote energy efficient technologies and practices to their customers. The state’s Department of Commerce, Division of Energy Resources reviews and approves utility CIPs to ensure that energy savings are calculated accurately, statutory requirements are met, and programs are cost-effective (i.e., the benefits of avoided of energy consumption and infrastructure costs outweigh the costs of delivering the programs). This is important, because energy conservation improvements defer costly investments in generation, transmission, and distribution infrastructure and are a critical part of Minnesota’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gases.
Utilities and their customers in Minnesota can give themselves a hearty pat on the back, because a lot has been done to save energy in Minnesota. In 2009 and 2010, Minnesota’s utilities invested over $391 million in CIPs, achieving 1.6 million megawatt-hours (MWh) of annual electricity savings and 4.5 million dekatherms (Dth) of natural gas savings, for a total of approximately 1.7 million tons of avoided carbon dioxide emissions. This was enough electrical energy saved to power approximately 140,000 homes for one year and enough natural gas energy saved to heat approximately 83,000 homes for one year. The carbon dioxide savings were equivalent to removing approximately 300,000 cars from the road for one year.
If you’re looking for the nitty gritty details, check out the Minnesota Conservation Improvement Program Energy and Carbon Dioxide Savings Report for 2009-2010 recently prepared by Minnesota Department of Commerce, Division of Energy Resources. 2010 is the latest year for which data exists, and the figures are updated each year.
Click here to learn more about Minnesota’s Conservation Improvement Programs >>
In the news: Speaking of effective conservation programs, check a recent article about Minnesota utilities using technology to change consumer behavior around energy use: Smart energy technology gains a toehold in Minnesota from David Shaffer at the Stat Tribune.
