BPA and utility customers return to in-person Energy Efficiency regional roundtable meetings

Following three years of virtual meetings, Energy Efficiency representatives hosted its annual regional roundtables in person, with an option for remote attendance. The roundtables give local utilities a chance to gather to learn about BPA’s new energy conservation programs, discuss difficulties and strategize for the future. It’s an opportunity for collaboration and direct access. BPA held five hybrid events across the region between September and early November, with anywhere between five to 25 utilities represented at each event. BPA’s Energy Efficiency team appreciates the utility co-hosts: United Electric, Central Electric Co-op, Midstate Electric Co-op, Inland Power and Light, Grays Harbor PUD and Snohomish PUD.

Facilitators packed each day and a half event with a full agenda, including topics such as cost-effectiveness and the BPA Action Plan, BPA marketing products, distribution system upgrade, an overview of the new reporting software BEETS, low-income program updates, news from the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, the Washington Clean Energy Transformation Act changes, and discussions about why utilities should promote energy efficiency.  

“Due to the COVID pandemic, it had been three years since we last held the utility roundtables in person,” said Brice Lang, Energy Efficiency representative. “Last year, more and more customers voiced their desire to return to an in-person meeting or at least some kind of hybrid. We landed on the latter. There were certainly logistical challenges, but I think we landed in a good place. You really can’t overestimate the power of that face-to-face interaction.”

Universally, utilities are experiencing consistent problems with their supply chains, labor shortages of full-time employees and contractors, and inflation, which makes implementing their conservation programs very challenging. Due to this, BPA has seen a recent decline in utility customers’ reported energy efficiency activity. 

Overall, the roundtables were a positive experience, according to attendees, and BPA’s customers appreciated the opportunity to meet in person. 

About Energy Efficiency
BPA’s Energy Efficiency program advances innovative energy solutions to save electricity and enrich life in the Pacific Northwest. Through energy conservation, BPA meets its obligation to acquire and encourage energy savings to maximize the value of the Federal Columbia River Power System, reducing BPA’s need to acquire other resources to supply firm power to its customers. Energy efficiency plays a critical role in helping the region meet increased demand for energy, manage more frequent extreme heat waves and winter storms events, and adapt to evolving federal and state clean energy requirements. Since 1982, BPA has saved more than 2,500 average megawatts of energy through energy efficiency, the equivalent annual power production of the Grand Coulee Dam. Saving energy means saving money for BPA customers and their ratepayers. www.bpa.gov/ee.