Energy efficiency investments expected to keep climbing in 2011

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Utility executives expect to see significant budget increases for energy efficiency this year and are looking at solutions that support open standards, automation and measurement capabilities. That's one of the highlights from a recently released Comverge, Inc. survey of 100 utility executives. It underscores what the execs see as the increasing importance of proven energy efficiency technologies. Or put more bluntly, how to do more with less. Of those execs surveyed, 92% said they expect at least 10% increases in their energy efficiency investments this year – and 22% said they expect to see investments increase by more than 20%. 2010 was a very good year for energy efficiency, and it looks like there's more to come.

"It's not surprising to see budgets increasing for energy efficiency programs as they provide the industry's most proven approach to managing energy usage," said Comverge president and CEO R. Blake Young. "In fact, the increasing importance placed on energy efficiency is part of a broader shift in focus from supply to demand side technologies. While this survey shows there is still uncertainty around some aspects of the smart grid, I can say with confidence that 2011 will be another huge year for energy efficiency and related programs like demand response."

That "uncertainty" he referred to reflected increasing skepticism from the utility execs about the smart grid timeline. In a survey Comverge did at last year's DistribuTECH, 27% of respondents said measurable benefits from the smart grid were 1 to 3 years away. In this year's survey, that number withered to 1%.

Comverge provides intelligent energy management and efficiency programs to utility and commercial customers.

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