Plug Load Programs- Success, Attribution and Where We Go From Here

Business and Consumer electronics is a significant and growing electrical end-use category. In order to reduce this growing plug load, seven utility partners representing over 20% of the national electronics market implemented a Midstream electronics incentive program. In the first two years of the program, the average on-mode power of 40” TVs has decreased by 43%. In 2010 alone, the national market penetration of ENERGY STAR ® 4 qualifying TVs increased by 70%. This paper will examine successful Midstream program design elements, including online application processing, a two-tiered incentive structure, retailer relationships, and collaboration among a large group of utility partners. We will also address program challenges, including qualifying equipment identification and evolving evaluation needs. Evaluation of this new program type is complicated; the evaluators’ findings are very sensitive to EMV close working relationships with retailers, manufacturers, and distributors selling directly to end-users; communication with government agencies and trade organizations, including ENERGY STAR; and collaboration between multiple utility partners representing a considerable portion of the national market.