After what feels like several years of campaigns, it’s almost here. Election day is coming up on November 5th. Early voting starts for Texas on October 21st and for Oklahoma on October 30th. Exercise your right to vote and get your voting sticker. | |
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In this newsletter:
- PUCT EEIP Updates
- Regional & Local Legislative Activities
- SPEER’s Industry & Policy Workshop: Photo/Video Recap
- Member Highlight: APTIM
- $1.5 Billion to Bolster the Nation's Electricity Grid
- Upcoming Events and Webinars
- What We’re Reading/Hearing
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A mid-October 100 degree day in Austin, Texas just days before the fall Energy Efficiency Implementation Project (EEIP) meeting seemed almost inevitable in a way. Load in Texas can be unpredictable at times, with this string of unseasonably hot days so late in the year underscoring that fact. Thankfully, we have potential solutions that could help the grid operator keep load under control and save Texans money on energy bills. That solution, you likely guessed, is energy efficiency!
Opening Remarks and Smart Thermostat Pilot:
The Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) held their fall EEIP meeting on October 15th. Commissioner Kathleen Jackson kicked off the meeting with encouraging remarks around the importance of energy efficiency in Texas and how it can be utilized in any number of current or future initiatives. Oncor and participating REPs began the presentations with an overview and discussion on their Smart Thermostat Pilot program. There was a clear emphasis by Oncor and the REPs to ensure this program was a learning opportunity for IOUs, REPS, the PUCT, and other stakeholders to better understand how to develop a residential demand response program so that future implementation of SB 1699 goes smoothly in the coming months into next year.
IOU Energy Efficiency Report PY 2023:
Next on the agenda was a review of the now titled Investor-Owned Utilities Energy Efficiency Report Program Year 2023 (Formerly the Statewide Energy Efficiency Report). Of the highlights, Tetra Tech noted that IOU efficiency programs remain highly cost beneficial, with a benefit cost ratio of 3.2! This is the fourth consecutive year that the B/C ratio is over 3. Putting these benefits into some example numbers from the report, participants in the Retrofit Residential Standard Offer Program saw annual electricity bill savings of $264 dollars! Likewise, low-income program participants saw savings of $240 dollars last year (See Figure below).
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Figure: AMI-Measured Average Annual Energy Savings for Residential Retrofit Programs
SPEER is proud of the work our members AEP Texas, CenterPoint, Oncor, TNMP and Entergy have achieved, as well as the other IOU’s for their efforts. Still, more can be done and we are excited to work with them to achieve their goals. To review the IOU Energy Efficiency Report PY 2023 please click here.
Texas A&M DR and Efficiency Report:
To this end of achieving more, the next presentation was a review of a recently published study by Texas A&M University (TAMU) with support from ERCOT. The Demand Response and Energy Efficiency in ERCOT report explored demand response (DR) and energy efficiency in the ERCOT region and considered ways to reduce peak power demand through these technologies. The primary focus for energy efficiency was to consider replacement of electric resistant heating with high efficiency heat pumps and insulation. The findings show a staggering 23GWs of potential energy savings thanks to these possible retrofits. On the DR side, TAMU recommended expanding market size through effective communication to customers, increasing available programs, and establishing a reward system. The report noted SB 1699 is crucial in this expansion. Additional recommendations were made around energy market reformations, possible legislative activity on efficiency, and greater education and communications efforts to customers. It is important to note, these were recommendations from the research team made for policy leaders to review and consider for potential future changes as needed.
TRM Update Process:
The final agenda item for the day was an overview of the Texas Technical Reference Manual (TRM) annual update process. The TRM is where deemed savings for all efficiency measures is housed. This allows for program planning, design, and delivery to be streamlined for IOUs. The TRM is updated annually, with a call for update items requested in the spring. SPEER, in conjunction with the SPEER Heat Pump Work Group, is proud to have submitted a request for update relating to the creation of a variable speed heat pump measure to be included. The PUCT and its EM&V contractor Tetra Tech accepted the premise of the request and developed their own heat pump work group which manufacturers, utilities, implementers, and SPEER served on through the summer of 2024. This group worked diligently to develop a dedicated measure for variable speed heat pumps to be included in this update cycle. Other measures that were updated in this cycle include updated air conditioner and heat pump tune-ups, updated baselines for residential new construction, and smart home energy management system in-service rates, among many others. To view the entire TRM v12.0 please go to the PUCT Docket 56768.
Concluding Remarks:
PUCT staff concluded the meeting with a few key remarks. Primarily, that staff is looking into opening an energy efficiency rulemaking process by the end of the year. They hope to sit down with utilities to review the programs in depth, and could begin the process soon after those discussions are completed. SPEER is truly appreciative of the PUCT establishing an Energy Efficiency Division and bringing on Director Ramaswamy and her staff, as well as the legislature for appropriating the funds to stand up this critically important division. There is positive momentum for many of the demand-side energy measures in Texas that will only help make the state more reliable and resilient at a lower cost to Texans.
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Regional Legislative Activities | |
What’s next at the Texas Lege?
October was a busy month for the Texas legislature, with meetings by the Senate Business and Commerce Committee and the newly formed Texas Energy Fund Advisory Committee. To view recordings of these meetings you can go to the MyTLO website.
A few key dates to look forward to: As noted to start this newsletter, November 5th is the general election, and on November 11th Texas legislators are able to begin filing new bills for the 89th session. The 89th session officially begins on January 14th, 2025.
If you are interested in attending or viewing any of the interim legislative activities, you can find more information posted on the Texas Legislature website here. SPEER will be monitoring and will provide updates through social media and this newsletter. Be on the lookout for the SPEER Texas Legislative Priorities to be released soon!
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What’s next at the Oklahoma Lege?
The Oklahoma 60th Legislative session will be kicking up in early 2025. Organizational Day is scheduled for January 7, 2025, with the official start of session beginning on February 3, 2025. With session not too far away, both the Oklahoma House and Senate have released their interim study assignments for the respective committees to investigate prior to the next legislative session. Both chambers have several items relating to energy, climate, and affordability for Oklahomans. Some materials are available already on the Oklahoma Legislature website. Committees will be holding meetings in the coming weeks to review progress. For more information you can visit the Oklahoma House site or the Oklahoma Senate site.
SPEER will be monitoring and will provide updates through social media and this newsletter. Be on the lookout for the SPEER Oklahoma Legislative Priorities to be released soon!
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Austin: The Austin City Council will hold its regular meeting on October 24th . On the agenda is an item for Austin Energy which would approve an amendment to the FY 2024-2025 Austin Energy Operating Budget Special Revenue Fund to accept and appropriate $31,593,683 in grant funds for the US EPA for additional FTEs and implementation of the Solar for All residential-serving community and residential rooftop solar program. For more information, please see the Austin City Council Agenda here. | |
If you are aware of upcoming policy discussions or actions in your area and would like to share them in this newsletter, please send information to noaks@eepartnership.org. | |
SPEER Industry & Policy Workshop: Photo/Video Recap is live! | |
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SPEER’s Industry + Policy Workshop 2024 was held 9/19-20 at the Archer Hotel in Austin. We had a fantastic agenda of sessions and panelists, and a huge turnout of energy leaders continuing the conversation around energy efficiency, resiliency, and sustainability. Check out the recap page for this year’s event.
Dive in here for a Google Drive folder with an entire library of Workshop photos. Feel free to peruse and download as you please!
Feel like posting one on social? We’d appreciate a tag!
– Twitter/X
– LinkedIn
Let us know how we did! We’re always striving to make each year’s Workshop better than the last. Head here for an attendee survey and give us your feedback. See you in 2025!
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Louisiana moved one step closer to launching new energy efficiency programs overseen by a statewide administrator, which will be a first in the Southeast. The Public Service Commission voted unanimously to approve SPEER member, APTIM, to set up and run the programs, slated to launch in 2026. This step follows the Commission’s vote last January to expand efficiency programs to the entire state and shift implementation responsibilities from individual utilities to a single statewide administrator. | |
$1.5 Billion to Bolster the Nation's Electricity Grid | |
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DOE announced an investment of $1.5 billion in four transmission projects that will improve grid reliability and resilience, relieve costly transmission congestion, and open access to affordable energy to millions of Americans across the country. Supported by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and administered through DOE’s Grid Deployment Office (GDO), the projects selected for the Transmission Facilitation Program will enable nearly 1,000 miles of new transmission development and 7,100 MW of new capacity throughout Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas, while creating nearly 9,000 good-paying jobs.
Texas Project Southern Spirit will construct a new 320-mile HVDC line connecting the ERCOT grid with electric grids in the southeastern U.S. power markets, including Midcontinent Independent System Operator South (MISO-S) and Southern Company (SOCO), to enhance reliability and prevent outages during extreme weather events, like Winter Storm Uri that hit Texas in 2022. This line across Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi will provide 3,000 MW of bidirectional capacity and create 850 construction jobs and 305 permanent operations jobs. Learn more.
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Upcoming Events + Webinars | |
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SPEER Webinar - An Energy Code Roadmap to Success for Your Building Department: Join us for an engaging and informative webinar designed to equip your building department officials, inspectors, plan reviewers and code enforcement staff with the tools and strategies needed to successfully implement and enforce the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). This session will provide a comprehensive “roadmap to success” tailored specifically to the challenges faced by building departments as they work to ensure compliance with the energy code while balancing the demands of busy workloads and limited resources.
Areas of Focus:
- Navigate the key changes in the IECC and their impact on building departments.
- Overcome common challenges such as staffing limitations, inconsistent training, and builder pushback.
- Streamline the compliance process using innovative tools and technology.
- Foster positive relationships with builders and developers through outreach and education.
- Develop effective procedures for enforcement that ensure long-term energy savings and sustainability.
Who Should Attend:
- Building code officials
- Inspectors
- Permit and plan review staff
When: Tuesday, October 22nd @ 10:30 AM CST
Register here.
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AEEOK/OREC EnVision the Future: On October 23rd AEEOK is hosting its annual energy conference at Oklahoma State University's Wes Watkins Center in Stillwater, OK. This is a great opportunity to learn about energy issues in Oklahoma, as well as network with industry stakeholders. For more information please see the AEEOK website. | |
GridNEXT Seminar: On October 25th CleanTX DFW Chapter’s third annual one-day seminar GridNEXT – Meeting The Demand, hosted at the University of Texas at Arlington, will highlight thought leadership coming from the north Texas region. GridNEXT envisions the integrated infrastructure of our future by engaging industry partners, leaders, government, and private stakeholders across the vast Texas energy space to provide networking and discussion about the ERCOT Grid. | |
Energy Star HPWH 2-Part Webinar: On October 30 at 2:00PM ET - "Don’t Mail It In: Best Practices for Program Design to Supercharge HPWH Adoption." Uncover program design pitfalls to avoid, implementing a midstream approach, creating effective incentive structures, and more. And on November 14 at 2:00PM ET - "Building Consumer Demand and Engaging with Installers, Distributors and Builders." Unlock the path for driving true market engagement with those spec’ing, selling, installing, and ultimately purchasing this technology. To register one or both of these events, please click the registration link here. | |
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SPEER Webinar - Commercial Building Codes and Commissioning: Join us for a comprehensive webinar that delves into the commissioning process for commercial projects, covering key requirements outlined in various national model building codes and standards. This course will guide participants through the necessary steps for ensuring code compliance, highlighting enforcement activities critical to successful commissioning.
What You’ll Learn:
- National Codes and Standards: Identify national model building codes that mandate commercial commissioning.
- Commissioning Process Overview: Review the steps and documentation necessary for successful commissioning.
- Code-Specific Requirements: Explore commissioning requirements embedded within different model codes.
- Code Enforcement: Understand how code enforcement intersects with commissioning to ensure project compliance.
- Role of the Commissioning Provider: Discover the essential qualifications and responsibilities of a commissioning provider.
This webinar is ideal for building professionals, inspectors, and enforcement officers involved in commercial project development and compliance.
Speaker: Jerry Kettler from AET / Air Engineering and Testing
When: Thursday, October 31st @ 10:30 AM CST
Register here.
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SPEER's State and Local Policy webpage features state-specific policy information, including links to key state agency webpages, our previous public comments, and additional information about our work in both Texas and Oklahoma. You will also find our released reports, templates and materials for engaging with policy leaders, and additional materials on how our Policy Program interacts with the ongoing Heat Pump Working Group, SPEER Codes Program, and SPEER Local Governments Program.
Missed our recent newsletters focused on energy codes, local government updates, powering efficiency forward in Oklahoma, and other regional energy news? Head over to our archive page to catch up.
Did you know SPEER's YouTube page has over 180+ recorded webinars? Topics include: Energy Code Basics, Building Thermal Envelope 101 & HVAC Energy Savings, Heat Pump Rooftop Units, Understanding Table R402.1.1 and air barriers, and much more. Subscribe now!
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