Case Study: Maryland Office of the People’s Counsel boosts equity and energy savings with VEIC

How can you optimize your energy efficiency program to create more equitable outcomes for your customers

The Maryland Office of the People’s Council (OPC), an advocate for residential utility ratepayers, needed a comprehensive way to review and analyze the energy efficiency programs offered by utilities under the EmPOWER Maryland initiative. Lacking in-house specialized expertise, the OPC engaged VEIC to act as a third-party energy efficiency expert to provide analysis and advise on program proposals.

VEIC conducted regular, in-depth reviews of the state's energy efficiency activities, provided expert testimony, and offered strategic recommendations. A key suggestion was to shift a program to performance-based incentives, which improved savings. Their advisory role helped the state set and achieve an ambitious 2% annual energy savings goal, which utilities have consistently met or exceeded, more than doubling the savings rates achieved prior to the goal being set.

Maryland Office of the People’s Council