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Colorado utilities come together to discuss energy efficiency

CUEexchange sponsors received a stretch fabric "billboard" display that did not require special shipping or set-up, and freed them to mingle with conference attendees. (Photo by The Hughes Group)

Gas or electric, investor or public, all utilities share concerns about energy costs, growing demand, and increasingly, about sustainability. It makes sense that the power providers in one region might benefit from coordinating efforts to address those issues.

That is the idea behind the first Colorado Utility Efficiency Exchange, held in Aspen, Colo., Oct. 24-27. The City of Aspen Utilities and Holy Cross Energy cosponsored the event at the Aspen Meadows Resort. Dave Munk, a program manager for Resource Action Programs and a member of the meeting advisory committee, came up with the name for the CUEexchange. "CUE is the content," he said. "The focus is not on energy alone—the emphasis is on efficiency—and exchange is the process."

Consumers looking for energy-efficiency programs

"The great thing about the CUEexchange is that no single organization is running it," Western Energy Services Manager Ron Horstman. "Usually, natural gas providers and electric utilities go to their own separate meetings. Both sides wind up duplicating efforts and miss the chance to create stronger programs by teaming up."

Western and several Western customers were among the 20 industry organizations that made up the CUEexchange advisory committee. Fort Collins Utilities, La Plata Electric Cooperative, Longmont City Utilities, Platte River Power Authority and TriState Generation and Transmission Association all contributed to the agenda.

The three-day meeting brought together mid-level staff from utilities, equipment and service vendors and state and local government to discuss ways to integrate carbon footprint management and demand response into energy efficiency and renewable energy programs. "It's time for Colorado utilities to get on the same page when it comes to energy efficiency and demand-side management," said Jeff Rice, Aspen Utilities efficiency manager and another member of the advisory committee.

Rice got the idea for some kind of exchange forum when he launched the city utility's first energy efficiency programs for consumers. "Right away, people outside our service territory started calling and asking what kinds of efficiency programs were available to them," he recalled.

That's when Rice realized that state utilities were all doing something different, and some had no energy-efficiency programs at all. "I thought it would be great if we could coordinate our efforts so that consumers all across the state had the energy-efficiency programs they were looking for," he said.

Format invites sharing

The agenda reflected the spirit of exchange, with almost half of the more than 90 attendees serving as presenters. "The goal of the structure was to turn attendees into participants," said Munk. "The one-way meeting is all too common. We wanted this to be more interactive."

Each session started with "utility snapshots," during which co-chairs invited a few attendees to talk briefly about experiences their utilities had with the session theme. Those who didn't make presentations had the chance to select topics for breakfast discussions by posting suggestions on a message board. At breakfast the following morning, each table had a tent card on it with one of the chosen topics. People picked the topic that interested them the most and joined other attendees for a discussion.

Attendees were able to ask questions at the end of each presentation, and to mingle with speakers and sponsors during breaks and receptions. The environmentally-friendly displays, developed by The Hughes Group, freed sponsors from manning large booths and passing out brochures that often wind up in the dumpster. Each sponsor had a fabric billboard set up around the conference center. Brochures and handouts, as well as presentations, were posted online where attendees could read them and print them only if necessary. Attendees had no doubt who helped to make the CUEexchange happen, sponsors had the chance to circulate and a minimum amount of energy was used to create the "virtual exhibit hall."

Western customers participate

The CUEexchange opened with two pre-conference workshops, Improving Your Utility's Web site and Colorado Statewide CFL Program Initiative. About 20 people attended the latter, a discussion about proposals to create a seamless, coordinated effort for the popular compact fluorescent lighting programs. Adam Perry, Energy Services manager for Platte River, presented the workshop. Like Rice, he observed that utility programs ranged from just an idea to very successful. "Coordinating the message and program management would simplify things for the consumer," he said.

Energy efficiency was the theme for the opening session of the CUEexchange. Perry represented for both Platter River and Fort Collins Utilities, talking about each power provider's outreach efforts and incentives. Stephen Casey of Holy Cross summarized the mountain utility's programs to address renewable generation, energy conservation and efficiency and green pricing programs. Promoting Energy Efficiency Without Rebates was a session highlight showing attendees how Eastern Illini Electric Cooperative built a successful energy efficiency program on the philosophy, "Educate, don't rebate."

Western customers jumped into the interactive fray on Day Two when carbon reduction was the morning's theme and demand response was covered in the afternoon. Calla Ostrander talked about the Aspen Canary Initiative, the city's strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions during Utility Snapshots. Rice moderated a panel discussion on Colorado green building initiatives. 

Calling upon his utility and consulting experience, Horstman filled in for a cancelled moderator and co-chaired the load control discussion in the afternoon. "The attendees who participated in Utility Snapshots and gave last-minute presentations really made the most of the free-form format," said conference organizer Ed Thomas of Market Development Group. 

East River Electric Cooperative gave attendees the benefit of Two Decades of Load Control Experience. Tom Holt explained how the power wholesaler worked with its members to implement system-wide load control, stabilizing bulk power costs during a downturn in the economy. Successful load management leads to further challenges, Holt noted, such as balancing customer acceptance with utility cost savings.
 
Collaboration continues after meeting

The CUEexchange closed on a high note, starting with what Horstman described as a free-for-all breakfast discussion. "'Integrating Renewables into Your Supply Portfolio' turned into more of a 'friend-raising.' The real meaningful exchange that initiates programs and projects will happen after the conference," he pointed out.

Georg Shultz of USDA Rural Development gave the final keynote presentation on Promoting Renewable Energy Generation in Rural Communities. He urged attendees to use the program to help rural customers implement efficiency measures.

Rocky Mountain Regional Energy Services Representative Linda Swails believes that the attendees, many of whom operate in her region, will take Shultz's advice, and more, away from the CUEexchange. "It was great to see people so excited about energy efficiency," she said. "Utilities in all parts of the country can benefit from meeting and sharing ideas in an interactive format like this."

Horstman added that one utility's experience can become another's successful program. Contact your Energy Services Representative for more information about peer matching resources.