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Demand Side Management

A technology pioneered by electric utilities could help American drivers use 13% less energy. Here’s how.

Transportation accounts for nearly one-third of America’s total energy use. But, as Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory estimates, an enormous fraction of...

Transportation accounts for nearly one-third of America’s total energy use. But, as Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory estimates, an enormous fraction of that energy use — more than half — is currently wasted due to technological and behavioral inefficiencies. That’s a huge chunk of the nation’s energy picture. So, how can the U.S. reduce its energy waste and create a more efficient transportation system? The same behavioral approaches that help consumers save energy at...

Kentucky has saved $120 million through energy efficiency. Here’s how it can save even more.

Dozens of states across the country — from Washington, to Michigan, to Massachusetts — have earned acclaim for their tremendous success in advancing energy...

Dozens of states across the country — from Washington, to Michigan, to Massachusetts — have earned acclaim for their tremendous success in advancing energy efficiency. A state that has received less attention, but also can boast impressive efficiency gains, is Kentucky. That may seem surprising, since coal plays such a prominent role in powering the Bluegrass State. Despite its low-cost fossil fuel resources, Kentucky has made a concerted, decades-long effort to boost energy...

Oil prices are plunging. 3 charts explain why it won’t impact power companies or the value of energy efficiency.

The price of crude oil has plummeted in recent weeks, hitting its lowest point since 2009. Driven by a perfect storm of increased oil supply and weakened oil...

The price of crude oil has plummeted in recent weeks, hitting its lowest point since 2009. Driven by a perfect storm of increased oil supply and weakened oil demand, the price drop has rattled financial markets and provoked uncertainty about where oil prices are headed in 2015. When oil prices tumble, there are winners and losers. Among the winners are car drivers and airlines, who find it cheaper to fill their fuel tanks. Among the losers are oil-producing companies, who get...

Canada could save $220 billion by investing in energy efficiency

We’ve recently highlighted how energy efficiency investments are paying big dividends across the United States. In states as disparate as Michigan and Georgia,...

We’ve recently highlighted how energy efficiency investments are paying big dividends across the United States. In states as disparate as Michigan and Georgia, a dollar spent on efficiency programs is delivering four dollars in benefits. So, what can energy efficiency do for our neighbor to the north, Canada? A new study by the Acadia Center answers that question with a treasure-trove of remarkable findings. For every dollar it invests in energy efficiency, Canada could get...

This innovative technology can help California drastically cut peak power demand — without using prices or devices

This past summer, something remarkable happened in Southern California. Consumers proactively reduced their electricity usage on days when system-wide demand...

This past summer, something remarkable happened in Southern California. Consumers proactively reduced their electricity usage on days when system-wide demand was high — without receiving any financial incentive. In fact, on one of the hottest days of the summer, regional power demand dropped by a whopping 5 percent in the late afternoon. So, how did Southern Californians save energy at a time when usage was expected to peak? Through Behavioral Demand Response. Behavioral...

The Opower 2014 Holiday Gift Guide: it's time to unwrap energy savings

With Black Friday and Cyber Monday behind us, the holiday shopping season is in full swing. Searching for the perfect presents for your nearest and dearest...

With Black Friday and Cyber Monday behind us, the holiday shopping season is in full swing. Searching for the perfect presents for your nearest and dearest can be stressful — so this winter, let us lend a hand with the Opower holiday gift guide. All of these products are designed to help your loved ones save energy and be happy. There’s a little something for everyone. And best of all, these are the gifts that keep on giving — with lower energy bills all year round. Many...

Michigan earns $4 for every $1 it spends on energy efficiency. These striking economics explain why.

When we spoke with DTE Energy’s Director of Energy Efficiency earlier this week, she told us that her utility is doing everything it can to “make sure...

When we spoke with DTE Energy’s Director of Energy Efficiency earlier this week, she told us that her utility is doing everything it can to “make sure [efficiency investments] deliver the highest possible return” for consumers. In particular, she noted that Michigan’s energy efficiency programs are delivering $3 to $4 dollars in savings for every $1 spent — a remarkable rate of return. That good news just got even better. New data from the Michigan Public Service Commission...

Her utility went all-in on energy efficiency. Her customers are still thanking her for it.

In case you missed it, we recently launched a new series on the Opower blog — profiling some of America’s most inventive utility leaders, behavioral scientists,...

In case you missed it, we recently launched a new series on the Opower blog — profiling some of America’s most inventive utility leaders, behavioral scientists, and messaging experts. It’s all building toward PowerUp, where these innovators will take the stage at our annual utility summit in Miami. Glenn Steiger at Alameda Municipal Power was our first feature. Today, we’re publishing our interview with Vicki Campbell, DTE Energy’s Director of Energy Efficiency. Keep reading...

We talked shop with 50 small business owners. Here's what they told us about their utilities.

We wrote recently that the old business model for European utilities is coming to an end. What replaces it will be dramatically more customer-centric — a model...

We wrote recently that the old business model for European utilities is coming to an end. What replaces it will be dramatically more customer-centric — a model where utilities position themselves as trusted energy advisers to the people they serve. That change will be a big boon for European households, who want their utilities to help them keep rising energy bills in check. But it might be even more beneficial to Europe’s small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which spend an...