Consumers need transparent information about energy costs and efficiency in order to make informed decisions about consumption and efficiency investments.  The Commonwealth has already begun taking some steps to implement this recommendation. For example, the Green Communities Act requires each electric utility to propose smart grid pilot programs, with the objective to reduce peak and average loads by a minimum of 5%.  The Smart Grid program requires energy distribution companies to file a plan establishing a “smart grid” program that would send automated information to customers showing how much energy they use and when, including the installation of “smart meters,” allowing them to make more informed consumer decisions.  The State should ensure that this program is implemented and expanded based on initial findings from the pilot study.  

The “smart grid” and “smart meter” programs are designed to help customers adjust their behavior to reduce energy consumption.  Audit programs can provide information about efficiency improvement (generally capital improvements) that will increase efficiency over the long-term.  Energy companies currently offer relatively simple audit programs to customers that yield considerable savings; an expansion of these programs, funded through an increase to the Systems Benefit Charge, would yield even greater benefits.  

Consumers should also have access to information about energy consumption for properties they are looking to purchase, so that potential homeowners could factor energy costs into their budget and purchase price.  To the extent that such information affects value of less-efficient homes, it could also allow purchasers to invest the ‘saved’ money into energy conservation measures.  The state should promote such audits on a voluntary basis, with the ultimate goal of making then a mandatory part of the home inspection process. 

6.a    The Legislature should expand energy audit and rebate programs by increasing the Systems Benefit Charge and extending it to oil customers.

6.b    The Department of Energy Resources should establish a program to encourage voluntary home energy audits at time of time of purchase.

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