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Topic/Matter Intersection

Topic:"Program Evaluation" in M03669

Matter: E-ENSC-R-10 - Efficiency Nova Scotia Corporation - Electricity Demand Side Management Plan for 2012A request by Efficiency Nova Scotia for approval of a $43.7 million Demand Side Management plan for the 2012 operating year.  (Also see Matter Nos. M04538 and M04539)
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E-1Evidence - 2012 DSM Plan 2/28/2011 15 passages
Figure 5.1 2012 DSM Plan Savings and Investment p. pp. 15-16
Figure 5.1 2012 DSM Plan Savings and Investment 2012 Investment ($ million) Lifetime Benefits ($ million) a Incremental Annual Net Energy Savings at Generator (GWh) Incremental Annual Net Demand Savings at Generator (MW) Total Resource Cos...

AI summary Figure 5.1 presents the 2012 DSM Plan Savings and Investment, showing investments and benefits across various programs, including residential, commercial, and industrial initiatives. The table details investment amounts, lifetime benefits, energy savings, and cost tests for different DSM programs in Nova Scotia.

5.3 Evaluation and Verification p. pp. 19-20
5.3 Evaluation and Verification It is anticipated that the Evaluation and Verification process for the 2011 DSM programs will continue as developed for the 2008-2009 and 2010 DSM programs. DSM program Evaluation (Process and Impact) will b...

AI summary The 2011 DSM program evaluation and verification process will follow established methods used for previous DSM programs. An independent firm will conduct the evaluation, and the UARB may also commission annual savings verification. A session in 2010 discussed free ridership and spillover effects, leading to an approach for evaluating these factors, which was shared with stakeholders and used to guide evaluations starting in 2010.

1 · qualitative performance assessment focusing on positive reinforcement as p. pp. 51-54
1 · qualitative performance assessment focusing on positive reinforcement as 2 energy-efficiency behaviours are implemented and consumption 3 decreases 4 · recommendations for improving energy efficiency through no-cost, low 5 cost and lar...

AI summary The text discusses a 2012 energy-efficiency program strategy that includes qualitative performance assessments, customer feedback mechanisms, and the use of third-party providers to deliver reports. The strategy aims to improve energy efficiency through no-cost, low-cost, and larger-scale measures, with plans to expand the program based on participant feedback and experiences.

REGULATORY ISSUES & RISKS p. pp. 88-95
whether and to what extent non-program savings can be counted toward the goals. Note: Alternative curves are for illustrative purposes only. C. Program Costs. The IRP forecast includes annual DSM budgets, which to date have been mirrored i...

AI summary The text discusses challenges in meeting provincial DSM targets, including the need for clarity on the roles of program and non-program activities, potential higher unit costs for voluntary programs, and the need to revisit the IRP's ramp-up forecast. It also suggests the importance of low-cost policy tools and performance-based contracts.

& lt;sup>3 Evaluation, measurement and verification. p. p. 95
& lt;sup>3 Evaluation, measurement and verification. ANNUAL PLANS REVIEW ex: NSPI (past) PERFORMANCE-BASED APPROACH ADMINISTRATOR • Proposes plan to achieve cost-effective savings • Requests approval of budget and plan for set period (e.g....

AI summary The document discusses a shift from an annual plan review model to a performance-based approach for Demand Side Management (DSM) programs. This change would provide ENSC with greater flexibility to adjust plans based on feedback and outcomes, while the regulator would focus on evaluating ex-post results and verifying claimed savings.

MEASURE-LEVEL CONSTRAINTS p. p. 95
MEASURE-LEVEL CONSTRAINTS Despite the valuable information a TRC analysis may provide, this requirement would unduly restrain ENSC's ability to forge an optimal path forward. Indeed, as with any diversified business, different products can...

AI summary The text argues against requiring a measure-level Total Resource Cost (TRC) analysis for energy efficiency programs, emphasizing the need for flexibility in program design. It highlights that some programs may have a TRC ratio below one but are still valuable for broader strategic reasons, such as brand building or equity considerations. The text references a UARB decision from 2009 that allows certain low TRC activities if critical to the overall program.

UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES FROM RELIANCE ON THE TRC p. p. 95
sometimes the primary motivating factors in consumers' decisions to pay for energy savings measures. A recent paper on this subject 8 presents several interesting examples of this problem: - Program managers know that many consumers attrib...

AI summary The text discusses the limitations of the Total Resource Cost (TRC) methodology in capturing non-energy benefits (NEBs) such as comfort, productivity, and image, which consumers value highly. These benefits are not accounted for in the TRC, despite contributing significantly to the cost customers are willing to pay for energy-saving measures. Studies highlight the importance of NEBs, often exceeding energy savings in value.

HARMONIZING ELECTRIC AND NON-ELECTRIC INITIATIVES p. pp. 107-108
HARMONIZING ELECTRIC AND NON-ELECTRIC INITIATIVES Throughout Canada and the U.S., efficient and effective DSM program delivery is often challenged by the existence of a patchwork of DSM administrators. In some regions, for example, a varie...

AI summary The text discusses the challenges of managing multiple demand-side management (DSM) programs across different utilities and agencies, and how the creation of ENSC offers an opportunity to streamline these efforts. Coordination between the UARB and government is suggested to reduce duplication and improve efficiency.

Preamble p. p. 114
On the other hand, the cost of savings related to non-program initiatives like codes and standards will be significantly lower. Furthermore, it is worth recalling that a part of the reason for increased voluntary program unit costs is that...

AI summary The text discusses how non-program initiatives, such as energy codes and standards, can lead to lower costs and may reduce the need for program-related savings. It suggests that combining ENSC programs with non-program savings could achieve long-term savings targets within the current budget. Additionally, non-program strategies like mandatory building energy labeling and property-assessed financing may help reduce unit costs.

RECOMMENDATIONS p. pp. 114-116
RECOMMENDATIONS Based on the issues analyses above, we find a number of significant risks inherent in the determination, interpretation and reasonableness of the savings targets and expected costs thereof, and recommend these be most urgen...

AI summary The document highlights risks related to the clarity and achievability of savings targets in energy efficiency programs. It emphasizes the need to clarify whether targets are incremental or cumulative and to adjust for previous excess savings and long-term degradation.

ENSC Electricity DSM Review p. p. 138
ENSC Electricity DSM Review Similarly, in Ireland, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland has had considerable success with a program that is achieving substantial business sector savings from structured peer exchange and commitment t...

AI summary The document discusses free-ridership screening in ENSC's Custom program, noting that while excluding potential free riders is intended to improve program effectiveness, it may lead to unintended consequences. It also compares ENSC's DSM goals with those of other jurisdictions, highlighting challenges in meeting ambitious targets and potential for long-term scaling.

MARKET ACTORS p. p. 138
MARKET ACTORS • Advantages: market actors – retailers, manufacturers, trades and general contractors, architects and engineers – should provide the vast majority of customer services and measures. Relying on the open market for measure ins...

AI summary The text discusses the advantages and disadvantages of relying on market actors versus in-house staff for energy efficiency programs. It emphasizes the importance of a competitive market and the need for ENSC to actively develop the local market, particularly in the early stages, through training and certification. It also highlights the potential for conflicts of interest with trade allies and the need for strong internal controls.

2. Testing Program Strategies p. p. 179
2. Testing Program Strategies - o Discover free ridership levels by measure - o Test the impact of incentive levels on consumer interest and free ridership - o Test the effectiveness of other program strategies, including marketing, workin...

AI summary The document outlines strategies for testing program effectiveness, including measuring free ridership, assessing incentive impacts, and evaluating marketing and financing approaches. The pilot program is expected to achieve approximately 2 GWh of net first-year savings.

MEASURING SUCCESS p. pp. 222-223
MEASURING SUCCESS The success of the pilot program should ultimately be judged against the program objectives described on page [3.](#page-179-0) All of these objectives relate to discovering more information about the target market, measu...

AI summary The success of the pilot program is evaluated based on the quality of program evaluation, implementation fidelity, and net energy savings. The evaluation gathers data on uptake rates, customer surveys, installer interviews, billing data, and wood and pellet consumption reports to assess program effectiveness.

EVALUATION PLAN p. pp. 224-225
EVALUATION PLAN We recommend that ENSC conduct an impact evaluation and a process evaluation for the pilot program, both conducted by an independent third party. The impact assessment should be relatively straightforward, using weather-nor...

AI summary The document recommends that ENSC conduct an impact and process evaluation of a pilot program by an independent third party. The impact assessment will use weather-normalized energy consumption data, while the process evaluation will include surveys and interviews to assess program effectiveness and participant experiences.

E-22010 DSM Evaluation Reports - Final Report - February 28, 2011 2/28/2011 182 passages
Section 1
NOVA SCOTIA’S 2010 ELECTRICITY DEMAND SIDE MANAGEMENT PLAN EVALUATION REPORTS FINAL REPORT FEBRUARY 28, 2011 Submitted to: NOVA SCOTIA UTILITY AND REVIEW BOARD Submitted by: EFFICIENCY NOVA SCOTIA CORPORATION Prepared by: NMR GROUP INC. Ev...

AI summary This final report evaluates Nova Scotia’s 2010 Electricity Demand Side Management (DSM) Plan, submitted to the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board by Efficiency Nova Scotia Corporation. The evaluation was conducted by NMR Group Inc. and focuses on assessing the effectiveness of DSM programs implemented in 2010.

Section 3
Contents 1 DSM PORTFOLIO PERFORMANCE ............................................................................................................1 1.1 OVERVIEW ..................................................................................

AI summary The document outlines a review of Demand Side Management (DSM) portfolio performance, focusing on data quality, access/delivery challenges, and recommendations. It includes sections on evaluation objectives, impact assessments, and on-site evaluations, with subsections addressing data tracking issues and forward-looking considerations for 2011.

Section 4
................................................... 8 2.2.1 On-site Evaluations ..................................................................................................................................8 2.2.2 Net-to-Gross Ratio an...

AI summary The text outlines a structured evaluation framework for energy efficiency programs, including on-site evaluations, net-to-gross ratio analysis, process evaluations via interviews and surveys, and performance assessments of specific initiatives like the C&I Custom Program, Business Energy Rebates, and Smart Lighting Choices. It emphasizes methodological approaches to program effectiveness.

Section 5
ENT PRODUCTS – RETAIL PROGRAM (POWER DOWN - PD) ............................................................... 14 3.4.1 CFL Component ...........................................................................................................

AI summary The document outlines energy efficiency programs including retail and direct installation initiatives, home energy assessments, new housing programs, appliance retirement/replacement, and support for low-income households. It also references an executive summary evaluating program impacts and processes.

Section 6
...................................................... 18 NMR NSPI Impact and Process Evaluation Executive Summary Tables TABLE 1-1: 2010 UARB APPROVED SAVINGS TARGETS AND NMR RESULTS (NET INSTALLED ANNUAL ENERGY AND DEMAND SAVINGS AT THE...

AI summary The document evaluates the 2010 DSM program performance, including savings targets, portfolio composition, and process evaluation methods. It references tables analyzing energy/demand savings, program effectiveness, and stakeholder feedback through interviews and surveys.

Section 7
NMR Evaluation 2010 DSM Programs Executive Summary Page 1 Executive Summary 1 DSM Portfolio Performance 1.1 Overview This document provides a summary of the evaluation of 2010 electric Demand Side Management programs in Nova Scotia. NMR co...

AI summary This document evaluates Nova Scotia's 2010 Demand Side Management (DSM) programs, concluding they met targets despite challenges. NMR assessed programs like Efficient Products Retail and Low Income Households, noting efficient execution during transition to Efficiency Nova Scotia Corporation. The 2010 DSM plan was approved by the Utility and Review Board (UARB) on August 4, 2009.

Section 8
results for the 2010 program year. NMR Evaluation 2010 DSM Programs Executive Summary Page 2 Table 1-1: 2010 UARB Approved Savings Targets and NMR Results (Net Installed Annual Energy and Demand Savings at the Generator) 2010 Targets 2010...

AI summary The 2010 DSM program evaluation shows actual energy and demand savings exceeded UARB-approved targets, with residential and C&I programs achieving higher results than projected. Key programs include Efficient Products, EnerGuide, and Business Energy Rebates, with NMR reporting outcomes for the year.

Section 10
m Development Working Group (PDWG) NMR Evaluation 2010 DSM Programs Executive Summary Page 3

AI summary The document references an evaluation of 2010 Demand Side Management (DSM) programs, involving the Program Development Working Group (PDWG). It appears to be part of a regulatory proceeding analyzing past DSM initiatives.

Section 11
 In 2010, the CFL component of the Efficient Products – Retail program accounted for 88% of the program‘s energy savings from retail product sales. As a result of the upcoming phase-out of incandescent bulbs starting in January 2012, the...

AI summary The Efficient Products programs face challenges as CFLs near their energy-saving limits due to incandescent bulb phase-outs, while the Direct Install program may have peaked. The EnerGuide program exceeded targets despite federal rebate changes, but other programs like Low Income Households and Business Energy Rebates underperformed significantly.

Section 13
simply by installing a heat pump. NMR Evaluation 2010 DSM Programs Executive Summary Page 4 1.3 Program Data Tracking It is important to note that the 2010 evaluation encountered significant bottlenecks stemming from data issues in several...

AI summary The 2010 evaluation of DSM programs identified significant data tracking challenges, including inconsistent data quality and delays in generating participation reports. These issues raised concerns about Efficiency Nova Scotia's ability to scale programs effectively as savings targets increase.

Section 15
1.3.1 Data Quality Issues The NMR team encountered several issues involving inconsistent, inaccurate, or missing data in 2010. These issues were experienced particularly in the SBLS, DI, and C&I Custom programs. Inconsistent and Inaccurate...

AI summary The NMR team identified data quality issues in 2010 within SBLS, DI, and C&I Custom programs, including human errors and discrepancies between recorded and actual installations. Corrective actions were taken, and the need for spot audits in DSM programs was highlighted to prevent similar errors.

Section 16
dditional spot audits or site inspections by program staff for a sample of participants: SBLS, LIH, and DI.2 The DSM Administrator should consider devoting resources to conduct spot audits or site inspections, on a quarterly basis, on a sa...

AI summary The DSM Administrator is recommended to conduct quarterly spot audits/inspections for SBLS, LIH, and DI participants, increasing frequency if issues are found. Missing data in billing records for SBLS participants (multiple meters not included) complicates analysis, requiring improved tracking methods.

Section 17
ject. While this does not affect the tracking of equipment installed, it makes conducting a billing analysis problematic. We recommend that this be taken into consideration when tracking participants. 1.3.2 Data Access / Delivery Issues Th...

AI summary The evaluation of Conserve Nova Scotia programs faces challenges due to delayed and inconsistent data reporting, lack of standardized formats, and absence of unique identifiers. These issues hinder accurate participation tracking, particularly for low-income households, and complicate program evaluation and data sharing.

Section 18
ome cases requiring several days before requests could be fulfilled.3 These delays were especially problematic for generating monthly participation lists required by NMR to complete telephone surveys. 1.3.3 Recommendations Data tracking an...

AI summary The 2010 DSM program evaluation highlighted delays in data fulfillment due to resource allocation during the transition to Efficiency Nova Scotia Corporation. While a centralized data system was implemented, improvements in data entry, reporting, and tracking remain critical for effective program management and evaluation.

Section 19
oncurrent with this evaluation. NMR Evaluation 2010 DSM Programs Executive Summary Page 6 The DSM Administrator should examine their data tracking processes and procedures for each program and consider the following recommendations regardi...

AI summary The evaluation recommends improving data tracking protocols for DSM programs, including standardizing data entry, automating reports, enhancing audit processes for specific programs, and ensuring systems capture historical billing data to support program evaluation and management.

Section 20
ns (e.g. monthly portfolio and program reports).  If possible, incorporate data likely to be needed for project assessments (such as historical billing data) into the data tracking system. 1.4 Looking Ahead to 2011 As Efficiency Nova Scot...

AI summary Efficiency Nova Scotia evaluated program performance from 2008-2010, finding that commercial/industrial sectors contributed over two-thirds of total energy and demand savings annually, while residential programs accounted for less than one-third. Key reliance on Efficient Products Direct Install and CFL programs faced challenges due to the 2012 incandescent bulb phase-out.

Section 24
n of implementing electric DSM programs in the province, Efficiency Nova Scotia has an opportunity to create relationships anew, not only with customers, but with stakeholders and interest groups.6 5 The Appliance Retirement and Replacemen...

AI summary Efficiency Nova Scotia aims to rebuild stakeholder relationships post-DSM program transitions. The 2010 DSM program evaluation focused on documenting objectives, estimating energy savings, and identifying performance improvements. The Appliance Retirement and Replacement program differed from other efficiency initiatives. Evaluations used surveys, on-site data, and net-to-gross ratios to account for free ridership.

Section 25
d that incorporated impacts of free ridership and, in some cases, spillover. The net-to-gross ratio was applied to the gross savings impacts in order to estimate net savings impacts for each program.7 2.2.1 On-site Evaluations In total, th...

AI summary The NMR team conducted on-site evaluations for 11 programs, calculating net-to-gross ratios to account for free ridership and spillover effects. Five programs showed low free ridership, while methods for determining net impacts are detailed in program reports.

Section 26
and Appliance Retirement & Replacement), NMR evaluated a total of 11 programs. Five of these eleven programs showed relatively low levels of free ridership— Efficient Products –Retail: CFLs, LIH, C&I 7 Free ridership and spillover were not...

AI summary NMR evaluated 11 DSM programs in 2010, finding five with low free ridership. The LIH program lacked free ridership/spillover data, while the SLC program had over 5,000 completed projects. Verification calls were made to refine savings estimates.

Section 27
athered over the phone. NMR Evaluation 2010 DSM Programs Executive Summary Page 9

AI summary The text references an evaluation of 2010 Demand Side Management (DSM) programs, with a focus on the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board (NMR). The document appears to be part of a regulatory proceeding analyzing program effectiveness and compliance.

Section 29
f 2010. However, even the new minimum requirement of EnerGuide 83 did not set significant stretch goals for participants, who could exceed this rating simply by installing a heat pump. The Business Energy Rebates program was a new program...

AI summary The Business Energy Rebates program's prescriptive measures led to higher free-ridership due to high transaction volumes. Table 2-1 shows net-to-gross ratios for various programs, with the LIH program exempt from free-ridership calculations as it offers free participation. The Efficient Products –Retail: CFLs program used a difference-of-differences approach to estimate its net-to-gross ratio.

Section 30
a net-to-gross ratio using a difference-of-differences approach and was presumed to have had spillover. Free ridership was not calculated for the LIH program which is free to low income participants. NMR Evaluation 2010 DSM Programs Execut...

AI summary The evaluation of 2010 DSM programs used a net-to-gross ratio with a difference-of-differences approach, acknowledging spillover effects. Free ridership was not calculated for the LIH program due to its free access for low-income participants. Process evaluations included interviews, surveys, and site visits to assess program implementation.

Section 31
iew with a Delivery Agents, eight interviews with Contractors, and four in-depth interviews with program participants. A summary of the interviews completed for each program is presented in Table 2-2. Table 2-2: 2010 Process Evaluation In-...

AI summary The 2010 DSM program evaluation involved 12 staff interviews, 15 delivery agent interviews, 8 contractor interviews, and 4 participant interviews across programs like C&I Custom, SBLS, DI, and LIH, with results summarized in Table 2-2. The evaluation focused on stakeholder perspectives and program implementation details.

Section 32
12 15 8 4 NMR Evaluation 2010 DSM Programs Executive Summary Page 11 2.3.2 Telephone Surveys NMR completed a total of 548 interviews with 2010 program participants and 70 interviews with non- participants (Table 2-3). Although the content...

AI summary NMR conducted telephone surveys with 548 DSM program participants and 70 non-participants in 2010-2011 to evaluate program effectiveness, including satisfaction, installed measures, free-ridership, and spillover effects. Surveys were administered by Interviewing Service of America via CATI, with RDD samples for some programs and DSM Administrator-provided contact data for others.

Section 33
ing Houses Program utilized random digit dial (RDD) samples of residential telephone numbers in Nova Scotia and the remaining programs utilized contact information provided by the DSM Administrator.11 Table 2-3: 2010 Process Evaluation Tel...

AI summary The 2010 DSM program evaluation used RDD sampling for residential surveys and direct contact information for other programs. Surveys covered C&I Custom, SBLS, EP RM/PD, and others, with varying participant and non-participant counts. The NH program used RDD for non-participant surveys.

Section 34
for the non-participant survey. NMR Evaluation 2010 DSM Programs Executive Summary Page 12 3 Individual Program Performance Based on the evaluation activities described above, it is the opinion of the NMR team, that the portfolio of progra...

AI summary The NMR evaluated 2010 DSM programs, finding them generally well-run and efficient. To meet 2011 energy savings goals, the DSM Administrator must increase participation rates, enhance savings per participant, and introduce new programs as existing ones reach their life cycles.

Section 35
grams reach the end of their program life-cycles. Brief overviews of NMR‘s evaluation for each program are presented below, complete evaluation findings can be found in the individual program reports.

AI summary The text notes that programs are reaching the end of their life cycles, with brief evaluations by NMR provided. Full findings are detailed in individual program reports, indicating a focus on assessing program outcomes and effectiveness.

Section 36
3.1 C&I Custom Program (C&I) The C&I Custom program is a well run program with a well-documented and detailed data tracking process, rigorous policies and procedures to screen out free-riders, and a rigorous monitoring and verification (M&...

AI summary The C&I Custom program demonstrated strong energy savings in 2010 but missed demand targets. NMR recommends adapting incentives to include demand response. Program success was driven by expanded outreach via Sales Leads, though long implementation timelines may delay impact realization. The program's rigorous M&V and free-rider screening were noted as strengths.

Section 39
ce any effort to improve the program through a process evaluation would have been of limited value as the SLC program will be terminated once the expected legislation mandating T8 lighting is enacted. 3.3 Small Business Direct Install Ligh...

AI summary The SLC program will terminate with T8 lighting legislation enactment. The SBLS program showed increased energy impacts and customer satisfaction but faced material delivery issues, leading to a 2011 redesign allowing Delivery Agents to source materials independently.

Section 40
will become increasingly important for the DSM Administrator to monitor the performance of Delivery Agents in order to achieve 2011 targets and to ensure continued high levels of customer service. NMR Evaluation 2010 DSM Programs Executive...

AI summary The DSM Administrator must monitor Delivery Agents to meet 2011 targets and maintain service quality. The Power Down (PD) program's CFL component faces challenges due to the 2012 incandescent bulb phase-out, necessitating diversification into other efficiency measures. However, other retail products under PD are unlikely to match CFLs' energy savings contribution.

Section 44
One possible approach might be to require customers to pay for a portion of the cost for the energy efficiency measures offered by the program and to continue to offer installation services for free. 3.6 EnerGuide for Existing Houses Progr...

AI summary The EnerGuide for Existing Houses (EEH) program faced challenges due to the withdrawal of federal rebates by NRCan and the transition of administration from Nova Scotia Power to Efficiency Nova Scotia Corporation, leading to staff layoffs and uncertainty about the program's future. Despite these issues, the program exceeded its energy savings goals, and there is a need to rebuild trust with Delivery Agents and re-establish the program's infrastructure.

Section 51
p levels continue to rise, consider adjusting the if it continues to increase it may become an area of concern. screening procedures used to identify free-riders. C&I-F2. C&I-R2. Due to the compressed time frame between the end of the prog...

AI summary The text discusses challenges in the C&I Custom program's evaluation process, including compressed timelines, data entry errors, and the need for improved screening procedures and evaluation schedules to ensure accurate and rigorous impact assessments.

Section 76
Program Finding Recommendation Business BER-F1. BER-R1. Energy Unlike the C&I Custom program, the BER program did not While higher levels of free-ridership may be acceptable for a new Rebate incorporate any checks to ensure that participan...

AI summary The BER program lacks checks to ensure participants have funding from the DSM Administrator before proceeding with implementation. Free-ridership was high at 46% in 2010, compared to low levels for the C&I Custom program. As the BER program matures, it is recommended to introduce a free-ridership screening process, particularly for larger projects over $2,000. Awareness and outreach efforts should also be intensified in 2011.

Section 102
Program Finding Recommendation EnerGuide EEH-F6. EEH-R6. Existing The EEH program has both resource acquisition and market In order to achieve its market transformation goals, any future transformation goals. A pool of well trained contrac...

AI summary The EEH program aims to achieve market transformation goals through contractor training. Proper training ensures correct installation of energy efficiency measures and increases the likelihood of contractors recommending energy-efficient products. The withdrawal of federal rebates in 2010 and the transition of DSM program administration are also discussed.

Section 116
Program Finding Recommendation Low LIH-F4. LIH-R4. Income Customers were motivated to participate in the program primarily Continue to promote the savings benefits of the program with an Households because of energy savings and the associa...

AI summary The Low Income Households Program was found to motivate participation through energy savings and financial benefits. Participants reported significant reductions in energy bills and improved comfort. The program was successfully promoting savings, but there was some skepticism about it being free. The recommendation is to emphasize the program's cost-free nature and the comfort benefits of the installed measures.

Section 131
consumers on continued energy efficient information from the energy audit, there was a change in their behavior practices offers a payback in energy savings long after a customer with regard to their use of energy at home: 51% now turn off...

AI summary The program has achieved high overall satisfaction (90%) with participants reporting increased energy efficiency interest and knowledge. However, satisfaction with specific aspects like energy conservation measures, presentations, and work quality declined between 2009 and 2010. The top recommendation for improvement is enhancing the quality of work.

Section 193
n-depth interviews with DSM Administrator staff and implementation contractors as well as telephone surveys with 16 store managers, including nine with chain retailers and seven with independent retailers. All the interview guides and surv...

AI summary The evaluation of the 2010 Power Down Program involved interviews and surveys to estimate energy savings, using data from previous studies and databases like CALMAC and CEE. The findings include first-year energy and demand savings estimates, accounting for line losses and interactive effects of heating.

Section 195
es washers 114.2 548 15% 17.1 82 Total Program 2,078.0 9,678 107% 2,234.8 10,361 Findings and Recommendations3 The CFL component of the PD program is faced with the upcoming phase-out of incandescent bulbs starting in January 2012.4 The fi...

AI summary The CFL component of the PD program is reaching the limits of its energy-saving value due to the phase-out of incandescent bulbs starting in 2012. The program diversified in 2010 in anticipation of this change. Free-ridership and net-to-gross ratios were estimated based on surveys and interviews, with programmable thermostats and dimmer switches excluded due to low projected energy savings.

Section 197
-dec08.cfm?attr=4 NMR Evaluation of 2010 Power Down Program Page III

AI summary This document evaluates the 2010 Power Down Program, focusing on its effectiveness in reducing energy consumption and achieving program goals. It discusses program design, implementation, and outcomes, providing insights into its impact on energy efficiency and customer participation.

Section 201
chase the products anyway. NMR Evaluation of 2010 Power Down Program Page IV

AI summary The text refers to an evaluation of the 2010 Power Down Program, which is likely related to energy efficiency or demand-side management initiatives. However, the content is incomplete and lacks detailed discussion or analysis.

Section 245
etailers look for more opportunities to leverage energy efficiency programs and promote energy efficiency. Long-Term Outcomes  Improved availability of energy efficient appliances. Increased understanding of the benefits of energy efficie...

AI summary The document discusses long-term outcomes of energy efficiency programs, including increased availability of efficient appliances, standard practices among residential customers, and sustained energy savings. It also mentions the evaluation of the 2010 Power Down Program, specifically the CFL component, and the use of a logic model and difference-in-differences approach to estimate energy savings.

Section 246
e effects of free-ridership and spillover. Using the difference of differences approach based on establishing a counterfactual, the formula for computing the net energy savings is as follows: And Where, NTGR = Net-to-Gross-Ratio A = Partic...

AI summary The text discusses the calculation of net energy savings using a difference of differences approach, focusing on CFL purchases by participants and non-participants in a program. It highlights the impact of free-ridership and spillover effects, and provides data on average monthly purchases before and during the program period.

Section 265
d 7,383 programmable thermostats between October and November of 2010, resulting in savings of 466,236 kWh—we believe these savings estimates are accurate and do not recommend any changes. (Table 3-2) Table 3-2: Tracked and Evaluated Savin...

AI summary The document evaluates the savings from 7,383 programmable thermostats installed between October and November 2010, reporting total savings of 466,236 kWh. It also discusses the savings estimates for indoor light timers, citing the OPA report and confirming their reasonableness based on the 2007 Every KiloWatt Counts Program.

Section 267
Number of units 524 Savings per unit (kWh) 219 Total savings (kWh) 114,756 3.2.3 Outdoor/Heavy Duty Timers The NMR team reviewed two reports to determine whether or not the program‘s current savings estimate for heavy duty timers (for pool...

AI summary The NMR team evaluated the savings estimate for heavy duty timers used in pool pumps, reviewing reports from ADM (2002) and OPA (2010). The OPA report assumed a reduction in pool pump operation from ten to six hours per day, leading to an estimated savings of 383.65 kWh per unit. NMR concluded that the assumptions were reasonable and that the tracked savings estimates should remain unchanged.

Section 275
3.4.1 Retail Survey Questions In order to determine the magnitude of free-ridership and spillover, retailers were asked a series of questions related to their sales of fixtures and controls before, during and after the Power Down program p...

AI summary The Nova Scotia Utility Board (NMR) designed a retail survey to estimate free-ridership and spillover effects from the Power Down program. Only measures with higher projected savings were included in the survey, while lower-saving measures like dimmer switches and thermostats were excluded from free-ridership estimation. Retailers were asked about sales trends and rebate impact to evaluate program effectiveness.

Section 314
gy and demand savings for the APP component of the PD program in 2010. For the 2010 program year, the generator-level impacts were estimated at 160 MWh of energy savings and 31.5 kW of demand savings. Table 4-9: Appliance Energy Savings Es...

AI summary The 2010 Power Down Program's appliance energy savings were estimated at 160 MWh of energy and 31.5 kW of demand savings. The evaluation included interviews with program staff and contractors, as well as residential customer surveys to assess the program's impact and process.

Section 315
r and one interview in December with the implementation contractor‘s project manager. The interviews covered a variety of program- related topics, including program goals, program theory and delivery. 5.1.2 Residential Survey Seventy progr...

AI summary The report details a residential survey conducted in December 2010 to assess the impact of the CFL program. It identified 31% of participants, higher than previous years, and used telephone interviews to estimate spillover effects and in-service rates. The survey was conducted by NMR's subcontractor, Interviewing Services of America, using a random digit dial sample.

Section 318
h the current level of communication. Per its contract, the implementation contractor was responsible for the following program development, implementation and tracking activities: Program Development  Developing a detailed project plan ...

AI summary The 2010 Power Down Program involved the implementation contractor handling program development, implementation, and tracking. Activities included developing a project plan, evaluating products, executing marketing plans, and tracking sales and energy savings. Outreach efforts included direct mail, radio ads, and in-store promotions, which contributed to increased sales compared to previous years.

Section 396
NMR Evaluation of 2010 Power Down Program Page 72 6 Process Evaluation: Fixtures and Controls 6.1 Program Description The Light Fixtures and Controls (F&C) portion of the 2010 Nova Scotia Power Down (PD) program began on October 1st 2010 a...

AI summary The 2010 Power Down Program's Light Fixtures and Controls portion exceeded energy savings projections, with significant rebate redemptions for various energy-efficient products. A telephone survey of 47 chain store managers was conducted to evaluate the program's implementation and effectiveness.

Section 408
ot important 22% 5% 9% Not at all important 17% 9% 6.5 Retailer Satisfaction Overall satisfaction with the program was high among the retailers interviewed with more than three out of five saying they were very satisfied and an additional...

AI summary Retailer satisfaction with the program was high, with over 60% of chain retailers reporting they were very satisfied and an additional one-third satisfied. Dissatisfaction was low, with only two retailers citing reasons such as customer unawareness and insufficient program items.

Section 416
NMR Evaluation of 2010 Power Down Program Page 82 7 Process Evaluation: Appliances 7.1 Methodology According to the work plan, NMR had planned to conduct a survey of customers who had purchased a rebated ENERGY STAR refrigerator or clothes...

AI summary The evaluation of the 2010 Power Down Program's appliance rebate component was impacted by retailers' refusal to provide customer names due to confidentiality concerns. NMR adjusted the evaluation method by piggybacking appliance rebate questions onto a survey of retail store managers. Interviews were conducted with store managers and program staff to assess program administration and delivery.

Section 442
Table 7-22: Satisfaction with Specific Aspects of Program – Chain and Independent Retailers Chain Independent Retailers Retailers Total Sample size 9 6 15 Very satisfied 4 4 Program Marketing and Satisfied 3 2 5 Advertising Neither satisfi...

AI summary The table presents survey results on customer satisfaction with various aspects of a program among chain and independent retailers. It includes metrics on satisfaction with program marketing, support, items covered by the program, and rebates, with varying sample sizes and responses across categories.

Section 453
150 50 118 5,900 33 150 101 117 11,817 40 150 146 110 16,060 Unknown na 61,389 na na Total na 179,591 na na NMR Evaluation of 2010 NSPI Power Down Program Page B1 Appendix B - Questionnaire and Interview Guides NOVA SCOTIA POWER RESIDENTIA...

AI summary This document outlines a questionnaire used by the Nova Scotia Utility Regulator (NMR) to evaluate the Nova Scotia Power residential lighting program. The survey aims to gather customer feedback to improve energy efficiency initiatives, with assurances of confidentiality.

Section 528
please tell me if you are very satisfied, satisfied, neither satisfied nor dissatisfied, dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied with your experience with that specific aspect of the program. VS S Neither Dissat V.Dissat DK/Ref a. Program marke...

AI summary The text presents a survey format asking participants to rate their satisfaction with various aspects of the Power Down program, followed by questions about barriers to participation and recommendations for improvement. It includes rating scales and open-ended questions for feedback.

Section 529
rier affecting customer participation? Any others? 25. Do you have any recommendations for improving the Power Down program? NMR Evaluation of 2010 NSPI Power Down Program Page B63 26. Approximately how many full-time equivalent workers ar...

AI summary The document includes questions about the Power Down program and its impact on customer participation, as well as evaluations of the 2010 NSPI Power Down Program and appliance retirement and replacement programs conducted by NMR Group, Inc. for Efficiency Nova Scotia Corporation.

Section 550
ent Refrigerators 31.2 149.8 100% 31.2 149.8 Total 639.8 3,070.5 74% 476.4 2,285.9 Program NMR Evaluation of 2010 Appliance Retirement & Replacement Programs Page iii Findings and Recommendations The process evaluation drew upon in-depth i...

AI summary The evaluation of the 2010 Appliance Retirement & Replacement Programs in Nova Scotia found substantial demand for such programs despite high free ridership. The program achieved its savings goals and was extended into a second phase. Future programs should address free ridership, incentive structures, promotion timing, and planning and communications.

Section 581
 Transfer of understanding. Multi-residential unit owners will remember the energy and bill savings they realized from participating in the program and consider energy efficient options when making decisions to purchase other energy using...

AI summary The text discusses a program aimed at replacing inefficient refrigerators in multi-residential units, highlighting barriers such as program timing and inadequate staff, as well as outcomes like energy savings, bill reductions, and environmental benefits from appliance recycling.

Section 600
ts for the secondary replaced refrigerator UEC is shown below: Similar calculations were applied to the other UECs. Table 3-10 shows the adjusted gross savings using each of the NMR methodologies. Table 3-10: Adjusted Gross Savings per Uni...

AI summary The document evaluates the 2010 Appliance Retirement & Replacement Programs by comparing adjusted gross savings estimates with tracking database estimates, showing a 42% decrease for refrigerators and 37% for freezers.

Section 622
27% 7% NFR (non-free-riders) 57 93 PFR (possible free-riders) 14 0 3.5.2 Appliance Replacement Component NMR was able to conduct only one in-depth interview with a participant in the Appliance Replacement program component. NMR determined...

AI summary The document discusses the evaluation of the 2010 Appliance Retirement & Replacement (ARR) program, noting that free ridership could not be estimated due to limited data. Net savings were calculated based on original population tracking and participant survey data, resulting in 2,286 MWh of energy savings and 476.4 kW of demand savings.

Section 623
ngs and do not account for any potential program free ridership. For the 2010 program year, the generator-level impacts were estimated at 2,286 MWh of energy savings and 476.4 kW of demand savings. Table 3-27: 2010 Final Energy and Demand...

AI summary The 2010 Appliance Retirement & Replacement Programs resulted in estimated energy and demand savings, with generator-level impacts of 2,286 MWh of energy savings and 476.4 kW of demand savings. Table 3-27 summarizes the gross and net savings across various appliance categories.

Section 624
476.4 2,285.9 NMR Evaluation of 2010 Appliance Retirement & Replacement Programs Page 30 4 Process Evaluation 4.1 Methodology The 2010 process evaluation of the Appliance Retirement and Replacement program drew upon in-depth interviews con...

AI summary This section outlines the methodology used in the 2010 process evaluation of the Appliance Retirement and Replacement program, which included in-depth interviews with program staff, contractors, and participants, as well as a survey of participants.

Section 632
rily to the expanded of hours of operation. NMR Evaluation of 2010 Appliance Retirement & Replacement Programs Page 34 4.3.2 Administrative Structure and Processes Out of necessity, many pilot programs are designed operate for a limited ti...

AI summary The document discusses the administrative structure and processes of the 2010 Appliance Retirement & Replacement (ARR) program. It notes that pilot programs are often limited in time and geography, which can hinder performance but also allow for quick evaluation. The ARR program faced challenges related to staffing and free-ridership, with suggestions for improving future programs.

Section 714
Theory and Logic Model Review: 10. In general, how would you characterize the overall goals of the program—would you say that the program is primarily a Resource Acquisition program, where the focus is on delaying or displacing new power p...

AI summary The text outlines a series of questions for reviewing a program's goals, motivations, barriers to participation, and market impacts across short-, intermediate-, and long-term timelines. It also inquires about measurement indicators for program effectiveness.

Section 715
program effectiveness and success in short-, intermediate-, and long-term? Marketing, Participating Retailers, and Verification: 17. Please explain the various marketing activities utilized by each program. What do you think is particularl...

AI summary The text includes a series of questions about program marketing, delivery, effectiveness, and gaps in coverage related to the 2010 Appliance Retirement & Replacement Program. It also asks about program strengths, weaknesses, and potential improvements, as well as about individuals or groups to interview for further evaluation.

Section 736
s it provided? How frequently is it provided? Approximately how much of your organization‘s effort for the Appliance Retirement Program is spent on fulfilling data tracking requirements? 17. In general, how well do you think the program tr...

AI summary The text includes questions about data tracking requirements for the Appliance Retirement Program, the efficiency of the program tracking and reporting process, and the program delivery process. It asks about data capture, communication, and improvements. NMR is mentioned as the entity involved.

Section 738
20. Are there any factors inhibit your ability to effectively perform any part of the program delivery process? IF YES: What are they? How can these be addressed? What impact do you think addressing them will have on your effectiveness and...

AI summary The text outlines a series of questions aimed at assessing the effectiveness of a program delivery process, including challenges, successful aspects, and opportunities for improvement. It also explores customer awareness, participation rates, and satisfaction with the Appliance Retirement program.

Section 752
MWh of energy savings and 2,174 kW of demand savings. These evaluated program savings substantially exceeded the program‘s goal of 4,930 MWh of energy savings and 1,410 kW of demand savings (Table 1). Table 1: 2010 Program Energy Savings P...

AI summary The 2010 Existing Houses Program achieved significant energy and demand savings, exceeding its goals. The evaluation highlights potential double counting of savings due to funding from multiple agencies, including Natural Resources Canada.

Section 754
Findings and Recommendations The EnerGuide for Existing Homes program has been somewhat confusing for potential participants since the withdrawal of the rebates from NRCan in March 2010. In March, 2010 NRCan announced that new participants...

AI summary The EnerGuide for Existing Homes program exceeded its energy and demand savings goals despite confusion caused by the withdrawal of federal rebates and administrative changes. The program faces uncertainty about its continuation past March 31, 2011, which has affected delivery infrastructure and prompted NMR to emphasize the importance of maintaining relationships with Delivery Agents.

Section 759
which would aid in program evaluations. EEH-F5. EEH-R5. The 2009 evaluation had found that the EEH program puts the full Any future program should consider creating a list of contractors burden of contractor selection on the customer and d...

AI summary The 2009 evaluation of the EEH program highlighted issues with contractor selection and lack of training. It recommended pre-approved, certified contractors to improve program effectiveness and reduce liability for the DSM Administrator.

Section 780
 Skills and equipment. Delivery Agents have the equipment, tools and skills required to complete evaluations of participating homes or they can contract for such services.  Understanding of savings. Homeowners will understand the energy...

AI summary The document outlines the requirements and barriers related to the Energy Efficiency for Homes (EEH) program. It emphasizes the importance of skills, equipment, and awareness in achieving energy savings, while also identifying challenges such as lack of awareness, cost concerns, and the need for proper training.

Section 789
. NMR Evaluation of 2010 Existing Houses Program Page 9

AI summary This chunk discusses the evaluation of the 2010 Existing Houses Program, likely focusing on its effectiveness, outcomes, and any associated performance metrics or feedback.

Section 809
5 0% Don‘t know 25% Program Influence Score = maximum of FR5a, FR5b, or FR5c. NMR Evaluation of 2010 Existing Houses Program Page 15

AI summary The document evaluates the 2010 Existing Houses Program, with a focus on its influence score calculated as the maximum of FR5a, FR5b, or FR5c. A significant portion of respondents indicated they do not know the program's influence.

Section 818
NMR Evaluation of 2010 EnerGuide for Existing Houses Program Page 19 3 Process Evaluation 3.1 Methodology The 2010 process evaluation of the EnerGuide Existing Houses (EEH) program drew upon in-depth interviews conducted with program staff...

AI summary The 2010 process evaluation of the EnerGuide Existing Houses (EEH) program involved in-depth interviews with program staff, contractors, and delivery agents, as well as surveys of participants. The evaluation focused on program delivery, tracking, reporting, and suggestions for improvement.

Section 819
e EEH program. Thus, to the extent feasible, interviews with staff or delivery agents who worked on both programs were combined to avoid having to conduct multiple interviews with the same person. 3.1.2 Participant Survey NMR completed a t...

AI summary The document discusses the evaluation of the 2010 EnerGuide for Existing Houses program, including the integration of interviews with staff involved in both the EnerGuide and EEH programs, and a participant survey conducted with 2010 program participants. The survey aimed to assess satisfaction, motivations, and program value, with sampling errors provided for both 2009 and 2010.

Section 864
t I installed) 7. (The process would take too long) 8. (Other) [SPECIFY _]) 9. Don‘t know 10. Refused Section 2 – Satisfaction with program 7. Thinking of your OVERALL experience with the EnerGuide for Existing Houses Program up to this po...

AI summary The text outlines survey questions related to customer satisfaction with the EnerGuide for Existing Houses Program, including overall satisfaction, reasons for dissatisfaction, and satisfaction with specific aspects of the program.

Section 885
Staff Interview Guide for EnerGuide Existing Houses Date: Name: Programs responsible for: Introduction: [This interview should take about an hour] Your comments are confidential. By the way, if I ask you about areas you don‘t know about, p...

AI summary This document outlines an interview guide for the EnerGuide Existing Houses program, focusing on program responsibilities, stakeholder interactions, communication challenges, program timelines, and energy savings goals. It aims to gather insights on program implementation and performance.

Section 886
of specific areas later in the interview, but from an overall perspective, what would you say are the successes you were able to achieve in planning and implementing the program(s) this year? a. Again at the broadest level, what were the a...

AI summary The text discusses an evaluation of the 2010 EnerGuide for Existing Houses Program, focusing on its successes, challenges, and theoretical framework. It explores whether the program's primary goal is resource acquisition, market transformation, or a combination of both.

Section 888
9. What are the major components and activities of the program, and what are they intended to accomplish? a. In the short term? b. Intermediate term? c. Long term? 10. What are the key outputs from each activity? 11. Is there any sequence...

AI summary The text outlines a set of questions regarding the major components, activities, and goals of a program, including its short-term, intermediate, and long-term objectives, key outputs, sequencing of activities, measurement of success, and assumptions underpinning the program's effectiveness.

Section 891
Marketing and Verification: 16. Please explain the various marketing activities utilized by each program. What do you think is particularly good about program marketing? How could program marketing be improved? 17. Overall, how successful...

AI summary The document outlines a series of questions related to program marketing, delivery, success, free-ridership safeguards, coverage gaps, and the adoption of 2009 recommendations. It also asks about program strengths, weaknesses, and potential improvements.

Section 900
Scotia Power? If not, what data should be captured? Do you think the data is being captured and communicated in the most efficient possible way? IF NO: How could the data capture and communication be improved? 16. [IF NOT MENTIONED ABOVE]...

AI summary The text outlines a series of questions related to data collection and program delivery processes for energy efficiency initiatives. It focuses on data capture, communication, and program implementation, including audit timelines, customer follow-up, and challenges in program delivery.

Section 901
that can be done to encourage these customers to implement recommended measures? 22. For customers who go on to do the final audit, typically, how soon after the first audit do they implement the measures and how much time after the first...

AI summary The text outlines a series of questions aimed at evaluating the 2010 EnerGuide for Existing Houses Program, focusing on customer behavior, program effectiveness, vendor practices, and areas for improvement.

Section 902
ng the program delivery process? NMR Evaluation of 2010 EnerGuide for Existing Houses Program Page B7

AI summary The document discusses the evaluation of the 2010 EnerGuide for Existing Houses Program, focusing on the program delivery process and its effectiveness.

Section 904
additional electric measure rebates from Nova Scotia Power? 34. How does the pre-retrofit evaluation serve the customers‘ needs? How often does the information provided confirm what they already know about their homes? How often does it le...

AI summary The text includes a series of questions about the effectiveness of energy efficiency programs, including customer satisfaction, program barriers, and program improvements. It also references an evaluation report on the Low Income Households Program from 2010, submitted to Efficiency Nova Scotia Corporation.

Section 917
NMR Evaluation of 2010 Low Income Households Program Page I Executive Summary This report presents the results of the 2010 process and impact evaluation of the residential Low Income Households program (LIH) conducted by NMR Group, Inc. (N...

AI summary This report evaluates the 2010 Low Income Households (LIH) program, also known as the Residential Energy Affordability Program (REAP), administered by Conserve Nova Scotia (CNS). The evaluation was conducted by NMR Group, Inc. for Nova Scotia Power and Efficiency Nova Scotia Corporation, and included interviews with staff and contractors, as well as a telephone survey with 62 participants.

Section 935
h Agent Integrate Outreach and Delivery Agents as full partners in and the participants they recruited, but not between the participants program delivery. Establish a feedback loop for Outreach and CNS. Both of the Outreach Agents reported...

AI summary The document highlights issues with communication and data tracking in the DSM program, including lack of resolution for customer complaints, inconsistent data formats, and discrepancies between installed measures and records. It recommends integrating outreach and delivery agents, providing online data tracking, and standardizing data entry.

Section 936
Delivery Agent to walk measures that were recorded as having been installed and what they participants around their homes after installation is thought actually was installed. In particular, verification of building complete and attest to...

AI summary The evaluation of the 2010 Low Income Households Program found that verification of installed energy efficiency measures decreased from 95% in 2009 to 77% in 2010, possibly due to poor recall or incomplete installation. Quality control activities were increased in 2010, including third-party inspections and participant sign-off on installed measures.

Section 962
icipants. The participant and nonparticipant billing data used in the analysis extended from January of 2008 through present. This data was analyzed in a systematic way to estimate program impacts. Specifically, the initial analysis determ...

AI summary The document outlines the methodology used to analyze billing data for program participants and nonparticipants from January 2008 to the present. The analysis includes developing participant billing information, creating a control group, temperature normalizing data, and quantifying energy impacts using various statistical methods.

Section 964
e-participation and post-participation period to be accurately analyzed. At the end of the editing of the participant billing data a total of 210 participants were available for the billing analysis. 2.4 Develop Representative Control Grou...

AI summary The analysis involved 210 participants in the LIH program and the creation of a control group of 1,860 customers to assess the program's impact on electricity consumption. The control group was selected based on similar temperature, rate class, and heating source. Matching criteria included annualized usage and rate code, with four control group customers selected for each participant. The distribution of annualized usage showed similar consumption patterns between the groups.

Section 967
se in the mean and median consumption for the pre to post period. The comparison of the NAC between groups for each period demonstrates that the control group is well matched to the participant group. Table 2-3: Distribution of Electric NA...

AI summary The text discusses the analysis of energy consumption data for participants and control groups before and after program installation, using statistical methods to quantify energy impacts. The analysis involved stratification based on pre-participation NAC to ensure accurate projections of program savings.

Section 971
-5000 -4000 -3000 -2000 -1000 0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 Net Savings 2.6.2 The Regression Approach To try to obtain a more precise estimate of savings, the regression approach was implemented.11 Only a subset of the participants had tracki...

AI summary The regression approach was used to estimate savings from the 2010 Low Income Households Program. It assumed expected savings correlated with pre-participation consumption, using pre-NAC as a proxy. The analysis showed that participants with tracking data were not representative of the broader population, leading to higher variability in savings estimates.

Section 982
AP%20Evaluation%20Report.pdf NMR Evaluation of 2010 Low Income Households Program Page 19 Table 2-10 presents the final estimates of savings for the LIH program based upon the billing analysis results described above. This table utilizes t...

AI summary The 2010 Low Income Households (LIH) Program achieved 800.3 MWh in energy savings at the meter and 895.4 MWh at the generator. The program had a 30% realization rate compared to the tracking estimate. Demand savings were estimated at 178 kW at the meter and 199.2 kW at the generator.

Section 998
A lot of it is the outreach agents don‘t know exactly what we‘re looking for.‖ The lack of regularity in the provision of prospective participant names was identified as a significant weakness of the 2009 REAP program year. The 2010 in- de...

AI summary The evaluation of the 2010 Low Income Households Program highlights issues with outreach agents' lack of clarity on program goals and irregular provision of participant names, identified as significant weaknesses. Improper screening of participant homes was also noted as an ongoing issue.

Section 1005
3.7 Program Tracking and Reporting The REAP program collects data from customers regarding their energy usage before and after participation in the program. This is done by asking the homeowners to sign a waiver that allows CNS and the DSM...

AI summary The REAP program collects energy usage data from participants before and after upgrades, using waivers to access information from fuel providers and NSPI. Delivery Agents maintain a database and submit monthly tracking sheets. While tracking has improved, feedback mechanisms and data integration are areas for improvement.

Section 1019
or rural inhabitance, was difficult for some participants and could potentially represent a barrier to participation. However, outreach agents focus on explaining the chart to potential participants. 4.3 Verification of Measures Installed...

AI summary The document discusses verification rates of energy efficiency measures installed in homes under the REAP program. Verification rates varied across different measures, with some showing improvement from 2009 to 2010, while others, like building envelope measures, saw a decline. Lower verification rates may be attributed to respondents' difficulty recalling installations due to the time elapsed since installation.

Section 1065
valuation of 2010 Low Income Households program Page A6 Equation 7 - The Augmented Comparison Approach, Determination of Net Savings NACPost Pr ogram (Ci ) S adjusted  NAC pre program ( Pi )  NAC post Pr ogram ( Pi ) NACPre Pr ogram (...

AI summary The document discusses two methods for evaluating the 2010 Low Income Households program: the Augmented Comparison Approach and the Regression Approach. The Augmented Comparison Approach adjusts savings based on control group averages, while the Regression Approach uses a systematic four-step process to quantify program impact.

Section 1075
Yes 4 NMR Evaluation of 2010 Low Income Households program Page B2 Table B-5: Impact of Measures 2009 2010 Rating: 5= ‘considerable Rating: 5= ‘considerable improvement’ improvement’ and 1 = ‘no improvement’ and 1 = ‘no improvement’ n 5 4...

AI summary The document evaluates the impact of the 2010 Low Income Households program by analyzing survey responses on comfort, value of the house, energy bill reduction, and energy efficiency knowledge. It includes a questionnaire used during interviews with participants.

Section 1095
a. Again at the broadest level, what were the areas that were not so successful? b. To what do you trace the difficulties you encountered? How might they be addressed in future programs? Marketing and Verification: 8. Please explain the va...

AI summary The text outlines a series of questions posed to evaluate the success, challenges, and improvements needed for energy efficiency and conservation programs. It covers marketing, delivery, free rider safeguards, program gaps, and a review of past recommendations.

Section 1105
16. In general, how well do you think the program tracking and reporting process is working? Do you believe all the necessary data is being captured and passed on to Conserve Nova Scotia? To Nova Scotia Power? If not, what data should be c...

AI summary The text asks about the effectiveness of the program tracking and reporting process, data capture, program delivery timing, vendor selection, and factors affecting program delivery. It seeks improvements and insights into the delivery process and vendor relationships.

Section 1112
c. Again at the broadest level, what were the areas that were not so successful? d. To what do you trace the difficulties you encountered? How might they be addressed in future programs? PROGRAM OUTREACH 11. Do you have any goals for the p...

AI summary The text focuses on evaluating the success and challenges of the Low-Income Residential Energy Assistance Program (LI REAP), including outreach efforts, awareness levels, participation barriers, and opportunities for improvement, particularly in reaching low-income consumers and renters.

Section 1113
ularly good about program outreach? How could program outreach be improved? STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES / WRAP-UP 18. What would you say are the greatest strengths of the LI REAP program? And what would you say are the greatest weaknesses? Wh...

AI summary The document includes questions about the Low-Income Residential Energy Assistance Program (LIREAP), focusing on its outreach strengths and weaknesses, and potential improvements. It also references an evaluation report on the 2010 New Houses Program conducted by NMR Group, Inc. for Efficiency Nova Scotia Corporation.

Section 1128
................................ 13 NMR Evaluation—2010 New Houses Program Page 1 1 Executive Summary This report presents the results of the process and impact evaluation of the 2010 New Houses (NH) program conducted by NMR Group, Inc. (N...

AI summary This report evaluates the 2010 New Houses program, focusing on its process and impact. Key changes included a new building code requiring EnerGuide ratings and a transition to the PerformancePlus program. The evaluation involved surveys and interviews to assess program administration, satisfaction, and barriers to participation.

Section 1129
tion explored issues that included program administration, satisfaction, motivation, barriers to participation and how the rebates incentivized participants to implement energy efficiency measures. NMR Evaluation—2010 New Houses Program Pa...

AI summary The impact evaluation of the 2010 New Houses Program found that it achieved 680 MWh of energy savings and 810 kW of demand savings, falling short of the energy savings target of 2,000 MWh but exceeding the demand savings target of 640 kW. Net savings were calculated using a 46% net-to-gross ratio.

Section 1162
NMR Evaluation—2010 New Houses Program Page 14 3 Impact Evaluation 3.1 Methodology The NMR team‘s approach to evaluating the 2010 impacts of the NH program was based on a review of the program records to assess the approach taken by the DS...

AI summary The NMR team evaluated the 2010 New Houses Program by reviewing program records and tracking data to assess savings calculations and adjust estimates. A sample of homes was used to update baseline characteristics and calculate savings using HOT2000 and REM/Rate software. Free-ridership rates were determined via a survey of 47 participants. Total tracked savings for 2010 were 1,700 MWh at the meter and 1,900 MWh at the generator.

Section 1203
e one meant the program had ‗had no influence at all‘ on their decision and five meant that the program had been ‗extremely influential‘ to their decision to improve the energy efficiency of the home. 3.7.3.3 Impact of Budget For responden...

AI summary The evaluation of the 2010 New Houses Program found that the program had varying levels of influence on respondents' decisions to improve home energy efficiency, with some stating it had no influence and others saying it was extremely influential. A cross-check was performed for respondents with a 50% free-ridership rate based on their budget's ability to accommodate the project without the program.

Section 1204
core was reduced to 25%. NMR Evaluation—2010 New Houses Program Page 31 3.7.4 Combining Scores and Weighting Finally, to compute the overall free-ridership rate for each participant, their free-rider stated intent score was averaged with t...

AI summary This section discusses the evaluation of the 2010 New Houses Program, focusing on free-ridership rates calculated using different methods in 2009 and 2010. The overall free-ridership rate in 2010 was 54%, similar to 2009, with a net-to-gross ratio of 0.46.

Section 1296
2. Nova Scotia Home Builders‘ Association – 50% c. Low Income REAP i. Kate McDonald at Conserve Nova Scotia ii. Delivery agents 1. MJM Energy 2. Clean NS 3. Trinity Maintenance Solutions 4. ACAP Cape Breton iii. Low income outreach agent [...

AI summary The document discusses the implementation and evaluation of energy efficiency programs, including interactions with various stakeholders such as the Nova Scotia Home Builders‘ Association and low-income outreach agents. It explores program goals, communication challenges, and the effectiveness of initiatives like the EnerGuide New and Existing Homes Programs.

Section 1297
g Now, turning to the EnerGuide New Homes Program / Now, turning to the EnerGuide Existing Homes Program 8. Does the program have an explicit program theory and logic model? 9. In general, how would you characterize the overall goals of th...

AI summary The discussion focuses on the EnerGuide New Homes Program and its program theory, logic model, and overall goals. It asks whether the program is primarily a Resource Acquisition program, a Market Transformation program, or a combination of both, and why.

Section 1299
10. What are the major components and activities of the program, and what are they intended to accomplish? a. In the short term? b. Intermediate term? c. Long term? 11. What are the key outputs from each activity? 12. Is there any sequence...

AI summary The questions focus on the structure, sequence, and measurement of program activities, outputs, and outcomes over short, intermediate, and long-term periods. They also explore assumptions related to resource availability, customer motivation, and program effectiveness.

Section 1302
Marketing and Verification: 17. Please explain the various marketing activities utilized by each program. What do you think is particularly good about program marketing? How could program marketing be improved? 18. Overall, how successful...

AI summary The text outlines a series of questions related to program marketing, delivery, success, free-ridership safeguards, coverage gaps, and evaluation of past recommendations. It also asks about program strengths, weaknesses, and needed improvements.

Section 1309
fic barriers to communication or collaboration with others involved in the program, such as turf issues or bureaucratic red tape? Are there any other overall issues with communication, or opportunities for improvement? 12. Describe how you...

AI summary The document asks about communication barriers, payment processes, and data tracking and reporting for the EnerGuide for New Houses Program. It seeks insights into challenges, opportunities for improvement, and the frequency and form of data submission.

Section 1310
h of your organization‘s effort for the EnerGuide for NMR Evaluation—2010 EnerGuide for New Houses Program Page A34 New Homes Program is spent on fulfilling data tracking requirements specifically for electric measures rebated by Nova Scot...

AI summary The text includes a series of questions directed at the Nova Scotia Home Builders' Association (NSHBA) regarding the EnerGuide for New Houses Program, focusing on data tracking, program management, and program delivery processes. It explores concerns about the lack of a dedicated program manager and the efficiency of data collection and communication.

Section 1314
al customers to the program? Who is targeted in your marketing (i.e Home buyers, Builders)? How do you market to them specifically? Do you have access to adequate materials and information for customer presentations and meetings?] 31. Are...

AI summary The text contains a series of questions about customer participation in a program, focusing on target segments, marketing strategies, and barriers to participation. It also references an evaluation of the 2010 EnerGuide for New Houses Program.

Section 1343
LED Exit Lights 1,957 410 83% 1,624 341 Total program 32,617 6,839 77% 25,233 5,291 Findings and Recommendations Despite changes to the free-ridership calculations from year to year, both the CFL and LED free-ridership rates remained stati...

AI summary The evaluation of the 2010 Efficient Lighting Products Direct Install Program found that free-ridership rates for CFLs remained stable, with many businesses already installing CFLs before the program. In contrast, LED exit light adoption was lower, suggesting a need to reconsider program incentives and design.

Section 1383
Table 3-5 shows the installed annual energy and demand savings for the 2010 Efficient Products Direct Install Program. This table is comprised of the original population tracking savings followed by the expanded savings estimates from the...

AI summary The document discusses the evaluation of the 2010 Efficient Products Direct Install Program, highlighting discrepancies in installation rates identified by the NMR team. These discrepancies led to an overestimation of program savings by 2,294 MWh, and the implementation contractor conducted audits to address the issue.

Section 1384
lize this information to inform an alternative savings estimate, we can assume that the reduction in savings of 2,294 MWh (or 5.5% of tracking) can also be considered an estimate of the installation rate, albeit a rate that is determined t...

AI summary The document evaluates the 2010 Efficient Lighting Products Direct Install Program, adjusting initial savings estimates based on installation rates. The initial estimate was 26,401 MWh, but after applying an adjusted installation rate of 72.2%, the final estimate becomes 29,853 MWh. This adjustment accounts for discrepancies in the implementation process.

Section 1396
FR4. installing the LED exit lights? Not including installation costs, the LED exit lights would have cost approximately [read: cost from program records]. Based on their responses to these questions, NMR divided respondents into three dis...

AI summary The text discusses the categorization of respondents in the 2010 Efficient Lighting Products Direct Install Program into full free-riders, non-free-riders, and partial free-riders based on their pre-existing plans, budget capabilities, and installation intentions.

Section 1405
he implementation contractor‘s project manager and the subcontractor‘s project manager. The interviews covered a variety of program-related topics including program goals, program theory and delivery. 4.1.2 Participant Survey & Sample Desi...

AI summary The document discusses the evaluation of the 2010 Efficient Lighting Products Direct Install Program, including interviews with project managers and participants, sample design changes, and the number of CFLs and LEDs installed by participants.

Section 1411
names and over-stated the NMR Evaluation of 2010 Efficient Lighting Products Direct Install Program Page 26 number of measures they installed was removed from the program. In addition, the implementation vendors sought to determine the sco...

AI summary The 2010 Efficient Lighting Products Direct Install Program faced issues with overstated savings due to inaccuracies in the tracking system. The implementation vendor conducted audits and site visits to estimate the overstatement and implemented new checks to prevent future errors. The program's awareness sources included phone calls, email, and word of mouth.

Section 1498
will be terminated once the legislation is enacted. The impact evaluation was based on visits to nine sites with installed lighting and visits with four of the six major distributors for the program. Impact Evaluation Findings For the BER...

AI summary The impact evaluation of the BER and SLC programs found that combined net generator-level impacts were 6,748.3 MWh of energy savings and 1,267.3 kW of demand savings, falling short of the combined program targets of 10,000 MWh and 2,420.0 kW. The evaluation used site visits, program records, and telephone surveys to estimate free-ridership and spillover effects.

Section 1550
0% FR4e. NSPI funded feasibility study Don‘t know 25% Program Influence Score = maximum of FR4a, FR4b, FR4c, FR4d and FR4e. NMR Evaluation of 2010 Prescriptive Rebate Programs Page 21 Table 3-10: Free-ridership Screening and Cross-check Qu...

AI summary The text discusses the evaluation of 2010 prescriptive rebate programs, focusing on free-ridership screening through questions such as whether organizations had prior plans to pursue specific measures and whether they could have afforded projects without incentives.

Section 1555
Demand Energy Sample size 6 6 Free-ridership rate 46% 46% 3.6 Net-to-Gross Ratio For the BER program, the net-to-gross ratio was calculated based on spillover and free-ridership. For the 2010 program year, the net-to-gross ratio for the BE...

AI summary The document evaluates the 2010 BER program, calculating the net-to-gross ratio at 54% for both energy and demand savings. It also estimates net annual energy savings at 503.3 MWh and demand savings at 0.72 MW, based on participant surveys and on-site observations.

Section 1563
rmation to further inform our analysis. Included in the analysis was an examination of the 2009 evaluation, which included a total of 41 telephone surveys (30 electrical contractors and 11 end users). 4.2.1 Transaction Paper Audit As part...

AI summary This section discusses the 2010 impact evaluation of the SLC program, including a transaction paper audit conducted by the NMR team. The audit involved verifying sales records from four major distributors against the DSM Administrator's tracking system, confirming consistency in the data.

Section 1573
for their recently-installed HP T8 lighting systems. Based on these responses, we estimated a free-ridership value of 16%. In 2009, NMR estimated that the SLC program had resulted in no spillover. NMR Evaluation of 2010 Prescriptive Rebate...

AI summary The document discusses the evaluation of the 2010 SLC program, estimating a free-ridership value of 16% and net energy and demand savings. It also outlines the process evaluation methodology for the 2010 BER program, including interviews and surveys conducted.

Section 1583
2 NMR Evaluation of 2010 Prescriptive Rebate Programs Page 38 Nearly all of the respondents (ten out of eleven) reported that they had experienced no barriers to participating in the BER program. The one respondent who had reported facing...

AI summary Nearly all respondents (10 out of 11) reported no barriers to participating in the BER program, with one respondent citing delays in eligibility determination. The section also discusses free-ridership and spillover effects, examining participants' energy efficiency intentions and actions before and after program participation.

Section 1589
n influenced to take additional actions including installing HVAC upgrades, energy efficient lighting, and occupancy sensors.12 Table 5-13: Influence of Program on Additional Energy Efficiency Actions Program Influenced Additional Actions...

AI summary The 2010 Prescriptive Rebate Programs influenced some participants to take additional energy efficiency actions, such as installing HVAC upgrades, energy-efficient lighting, and occupancy sensors. However, these actions were not completed by 2010 and were included in the process evaluation but excluded from the impact evaluation.

Section 1600
A Interview Guides Participant Survey 2009-10 NSPI Business Energy Rebate Program DRAFT 8-6-10 Could I speak with [INSERT NAME]? 1. Yes [GO TO INTRODUCTION] 2. No [SAY ―Perhaps you can help me anyway.‖ GO TO INTRODUCTION] [INTRODUCTION] He...

AI summary This document outlines an interview guide for evaluating the 2009-10 NSPI Business Energy Rebate Program. It includes a participant survey to gather feedback on the program's effectiveness, targeting individuals or firms that participated in the rebate initiative.

Section 1613
cility open? [998 = Don’t know, 999 = Refused] NMR Evaluation of 2010 Business Energy Rebate Program Page A14 F5. Is your company independent, or part of a larger company? 1. Independent 2. Part of a larger company 98. (Don‘t know) 99. (Re...

AI summary This document is part of an evaluation of the 2010 Business Energy Rebate Program, focusing on free-ridership and spillover effects. It includes a participant interview guide used by NMR Group, Inc. to gather information from respondents regarding their interactions with Nova Scotia Power's energy efficiency programs and any additional upgrades they have implemented.

Section 1617
cipate in the NSPI rebate programs? [Probe: Save energy, rebates offered, reduce maintenance costs, protect environment, recommended by utility, concerns with carbon, etc.] 12. Were there any challenges or barriers that you faced in making...

AI summary The document includes questions about participation in NSPI rebate programs, challenges faced, barriers to participation, and satisfaction with program implementation and communication. It also asks about gaps in energy efficiency programs and overall satisfaction with various NSPI programs.

Section 1624
Introduction: [This interview should take about an hour] Your comments are confidential. By the way, if I ask you about areas you don‘t know about, please feel free to tell me and we will move on. For transcription purposes we will be reco...

AI summary The text outlines a series of questions for an interview regarding the status and implementation of a program, including legislative status, program launch delays, energy savings goals, and stakeholder interactions. It focuses on program evaluation, coordination, and challenges in communication and collaboration.

Section 1627
b. To what do you trace the difficulties you encountered? How might they be addressed in future programs? 10. Do you have a plan in place for transitioning the program over to the new administrator? If yes: what does that plan involve? Do...

AI summary The text outlines a series of questions related to program challenges, transition planning, and the theoretical underpinnings of a program. It explores the program's goals, components, activities, and expected outcomes, as well as the assumptions behind its success indicators.

Section 1628
there any key indicators or metrics to gauge program effectiveness and success in short-, intermediate-, and long-term? 18. What are the assumptions behind the expectations that the program activities will yield the outputs and outcomes, w...

AI summary The text outlines key questions related to program effectiveness, assumptions behind program outcomes, and barriers to participation. It emphasizes the importance of resource availability, customer motivation, and program design in achieving program goals.

Section 1629
primary motivations for participating in the program? What are the major barriers to their participation in the program? 20. What has changed about the program since the beginning, and why? Marketing and Verification: 21. Please explain th...

AI summary The text outlines a set of questions related to energy efficiency programs, focusing on participant motivations, barriers, program changes, marketing strategies, program success, delivery improvements, free-ridership safeguards, and coverage gaps. It also mentions an evaluation of a specific program, the Commercial and Industrial Custom Program 2010, from February 25, 2011.

Section 1630
about the program? Thank You NMR Impact and Process Evaluation: Commercial and Industrial Custom Program 2010 February 25, 2011 Final Report Submitted to: Efficiency Nova Scotia Corporation Submitted by: NMR Group, Inc. Principal Investiga...

AI summary This document is the final report of an impact and process evaluation of the 2010 Commercial and Industrial Custom Program conducted by NMR Group, Inc. and submitted to Efficiency Nova Scotia Corporation. The report was prepared by a team of principal investigators.

Section 1639
......... 1 NMR Evaluation of 2010 C&I Custom Program Page I Executive Summary This report presents the results of the process and impact evaluations of the Commercial and Industrial Custom Program (C&I) conducted by NMR Group, Inc. (NMR)....

AI summary This report evaluates the 2010 Commercial and Industrial Custom Program (C&I) by NMR Group, Inc., finding energy savings of 19,413 MWh and demand savings of 2,405.5 kW, which fell short of targets but showed significant improvement over 2008 and 2009 combined.

Section 1640
avings goal of 3,410 kW. However, the 2010 savings exceed the evaluated savings for 2008 and 2009 combined (16,311 MWh and 2,403 kW), which shows significant growth for the C&I Custom program in 2010. Table 1: 2010 Program Energy and Deman...

AI summary The C&I Custom program achieved significant energy and demand savings in 2010, exceeding the combined savings of 2008 and 2009. The program is well-run with robust data tracking and free-rider screening, though staff constraints and data entry errors impacted NMR's evaluation process.

Section 1643
Program Design and Delivery Finding Recommendation C&I-F1. C&I-R1. The C&I Custom program incorporated checks to ensure that The DSM Administrator should continue to include free- participants would not proceed with project implementation...

AI summary The C&I Custom program had low but increasing free-ridership levels, which may become a concern if they continue to rise. The program also faced challenges with a compressed timeframe for evaluation and M&V activities, affecting the timely incorporation of results into the tracking system.

Section 1644
cient time to complete their M&V results into their tracking system. This was also the case in the activities and enter the results into the tracking system. After 2009 evaluation. that, a more rigorous impact evaluation effort can be unde...

AI summary The 2010 C&I Custom Program evaluation faced bottlenecks due to time required for report generation and data entry errors. The Program Administrator is advised to improve data entry protocols and conduct more rigorous impact evaluations.

Section 1650
rmance in: o Building envelopes; o Lighting; o HVAC; o Power systems; o Controls; o Design guidance; o Verification. This document reports the results of the evaluation of the C&I Custom program. Although the C&I New Construction program l...

AI summary This document evaluates the performance of the C&I Custom program in areas such as building envelopes, lighting, HVAC, and power systems. The C&I New Construction program launched in 2010 but had no completed projects that year, so the evaluation focused on two projects enrolled in the C&I Custom program prior to the launch.

Section 1653
Other3 10 3,469 409 Total 102 22,758 2,805 2.2 Sample Methodology At the time of sampling for this study, the program year was only 80% complete. At that point in time, the C&I Custom program manager provided a best-estimate population of...

AI summary The 2010 C&I Custom Program's evaluation used a sample methodology based on an 80% complete program year. The C&I Custom program manager estimated 93 sites would be completed, with 29,488 MWh of energy savings and 3,691 kW of demand savings. The NMR team applied Model-Based Statistical Sampling (MBSS) to stratify the population based on estimated annual kWh savings.

Section 1654
improvements, and solar. NMR Evaluation of 2010 C&I Custom Program Page 3 larger impacts, MBSS provides an excellent framework for conducting the analysis and the subsequent stratified ratio estimation analyses. Targeting a ±10% relative p...

AI summary The document evaluates the 2010 C&I Custom Program, discussing the use of MBSS for stratified ratio estimation analyses and the sampling methodology employed, including the removal of one site due to being credited to the 2009 program year.

Section 1655
le was designed and drawn from a projected status of sites at year end. Overall, the final sample design remained fairly optimal in capturing greater savings at the larger sites than the smaller ones. Table 2-2: Final Sample Design Max Sav...

AI summary The text discusses the final sample design for evaluating the 2010 C&I Custom Program, highlighting how the sample was optimized to capture greater savings at larger sites. Table 2-2 shows strata based on maximum savings, and Table 2-3 indicates the diversity of measure types in the sample, with lighting measures being the most common.

Section 1674
0% FR4e. NSPI funded feasibility study Don‘t know 25% Program Influence Score = maximum of FR4a, FR4b, FR4c, FR4d and FR4e. NMR Evaluation of 2010 C&I Custom Program Page 10 Table 2-8: Free-ridership Screening and Cross-check Questions Fre...

AI summary The text discusses the evaluation of the 2010 C&I Custom Program, including a table on free-ridership screening and cross-check questions. It includes responses to questions about whether the organization had plans to pursue specific measures prior to the program and whether the company could have accommodated the full cost of the project without the incentive.

Section 1675
es FR3. Power, could your budget have accommodated the full cost of the No N/A project including the incentive? Don‘t know Based on their responses to these questions NMR divided respondents into three distinct groups:  Full free-riders –...

AI summary The document evaluates the 2010 C&I Custom Program by classifying respondents into free-riders based on their pre-existing plans, budget capacity, and installation intentions. None of the 13 respondents were classified as full free-riders.

Section 1678
(0%)  FR2b = No (50%)  FR2c = Yes; FR2ci = Somewhat (25%)  FR2d = Yes (50%) 2.6.3.2 Program Influence In order to determine the influence of the program on respondents, they were asked to rate the influence of five program elements on t...

AI summary Respondents were asked to rate the influence of program elements on their decision to install energy efficient lighting, with ratings ranging from 1 to 5. A cross-check was performed to assess the impact of budget on project accommodation, adjusting free-rider stated intent scores based on whether the budget could accommodate the project without the program.

Section 1682
t-to-gross ratio 90% 90% Net savings 19,413 2,405.5 7 Note that these include the savings goals for the C&I Custom and New Construction programs combined. NMR Evaluation of 2010 C&I Custom Program Page 15 3 Process Evaluation 3.1 Methodolo...

AI summary The process evaluation of the 2010 C&I Custom Program involved in-depth interviews with program staff and a participant, as well as telephone surveys of 13 participants. Topics included program awareness, communication, and free-ridership. The evaluation aimed to assess the program's effectiveness and identify barriers and motivations.

Section 1690
additional work remains to be done to fine-tune the system. NMR understands that implementing a centralized data tracking system takes time and that DSM Administrator staff will fine-tune the system over time. The 2010 evaluation shows the...

AI summary The 2010 evaluation of the C&I Custom Program highlights the need for improved data tracking and more rigorous data entry protocols. Outreach efforts included public speaking, emails, the NSPI website, and the addition of a Sales Lead position. Program awareness was primarily through NSPI and contractors.

Section 1700
Table 3-5: Participant Barriers 2008 Participants (n=11) 2009 Participants (n=13) 2010 Participants (n=13) Most Second Most Most Second Most Most Second Most Barriers Faced During Program Important Important Important Important Important I...

AI summary The table presents participant barriers to program participation across three years (2008, 2009, 2010). It highlights that the majority of participants did not face barriers, but issues such as communication, remote location, and voltage change were noted as challenges.

Section 1702
building envelope measures responded to the 2010 survey. (Table 3-6) 10 Note that the program makes no distinction between non-profit and for profit companies. NMR Evaluation of 2010 C&I Custom Program Page 22

AI summary The 2010 C&I Custom Program's building envelope measures were evaluated, with responses noted in Table 3-6. The program does not differentiate between non-profit and for-profit companies.

Section 1709
Table 3-8: Participant Satisfaction with Program 2008 2009 2010 Program Aspect n % Satisfied n % Satisfied n % Satisfied Program overall 11 91% 13 100% 13 77% Interaction and communication with 11 82% 12 100% 13 47% program staff Availabil...

AI summary The table presents participant satisfaction levels with various aspects of a program from 2008 to 2010. Satisfaction rates vary across different program aspects, with some areas showing high satisfaction and others showing a decline over time.

Section 1710
90% 12 66% Project rebate amount 10 90% 10 100% 13 77% Verification 7 86% 9 78% 12 75% Those giving a rating of 5 or 4 on a scale where Rating: 5= ‗very satisfied‘ and 1 = ‗not at all satisfied‘ 11 The detailed responses are provided in Ap...

AI summary The 2010 C&I Custom Program evaluation found that 85% of respondents indicated that someone outside their organizations, primarily design professionals (46%) and contractors (23%), was most responsible for specifying the measures installed through the program, similar to findings in 2008 and 2009.

Section 1716
39 Government 8 Non-profit 8 8 NMR Evaluation of 2010 C&I Custom Program Page A1 Appendix A Individual On-Site Reports Technical Note on Stratified Ratio Estimation The on-site engineering assessment used engineering analysis and surveys t...

AI summary This document discusses the evaluation of a 2010 C&I Custom Program, focusing on the use of stratified ratio estimation to calculate energy savings. It outlines the methodology for combining on-site engineering assessments with statistical analysis to estimate program impacts and net savings.

Section 1771
king analysis. The primary culprit NMR Evaluation of 2010 C&I Custom Program Page A26 was likely the use of lower wall and roofing R-values in the tracking baseline model than those proposed in the feasibility study. As documented previous...

AI summary The evaluation of the 2010 C&I Custom Program found that lower insulation R-values in the baseline model led to overestimation of heating and cooling loads, reducing insulation savings. Lighting controls savings could not be assessed due to an unknown calculation method. Evaluated peak demand savings were only 13% of projections, as buildings were unoccupied during peak hours.

Section 1782
that the controller was in override or that the fans would not shut off in the future. The evaluator was not able to compare box temperatures with fan control set points to further verify fan control. 7.0 Conclusions Annual energy savings...

AI summary The evaluation of the 2010 C&I Custom Program found that annual energy savings were 100% of the tracking savings, with no variances in equipment types or operational parameters. Controls were functional, but calculations relied on fixed default values without verification of equipment operation.

Section 1847
120-volt MR16 19 20 PAR20 3 50 LED Retro Kit 1 1 Incandescent Exit 1 30 The fixture quantities listing in Table 2 reflect changes to the counts made during the evaluation. Note that line items do not match along rows in Table 2. Fixtures i...

AI summary The document discusses fixture quantities and their organization in Table 2, noting changes in counts during the evaluation. It also mentions the installation of additional lighting measures after program participation, which may be considered spillover but are not credited to the program under gross savings work.

Section 1852
areas. Since the Metrix analysis was not available for review at the time of the evaluation, savings were calculated relative to the feasibility study savings values available in the tracking system. 5.0 On-Site Methodology The on-site met...

AI summary The evaluation of the 2010 C&I Custom Program involved verifying the installation of retrofit fixtures and reviewing lighting operating schedules. Of 655 retrofit fixtures, 582 were verified, accounting for a significant portion of the connected load reduction and energy savings. Adjustments to lighting schedules were made based on discussions with the hotel’s maintenance manager.

Section 1857
od. Equation 3 was applied to all retrofitted areas of the building served by HVAC systems (100% in this case). Savings from all areas were summed to arrive at interactive effects peak demand savings. 7.0 Conclusions Annual energy savings...

AI summary The evaluation of the 2010 C&I Custom Program found that annual energy savings were 82.9% of the tracking savings, with reductions partly due to removing double-counted savings and adjusting operating hours. Peak demand savings exceeded tracking projections by 1.9% due to higher coincidence factors used in the evaluation.

Section 1906
NMR Evaluation of 2010 C&I Custom Program Page C1 Appendix C Interview Guides PARTICIPANT QUESTIONNAIRE: C&I Custom Program Final: July 22, 2010 Hello, my name is from NMR Group. I am calling on behalf of Nova Scotia Power, as part of an e...

AI summary This document is a participant questionnaire for Nova Scotia Power's Commercial and Industrial Custom Program, used to evaluate and improve the program through feedback from participants. It includes questions about program participation and knowledge of the program.

Section 1909
contractor) 11. (Past participation in utility programs) 12. (Other (Please explain )) 99. (Don‘t know/Don‘t recall) 10. What was the second most important reason your company / organization chose to participate in the program? (Do not rea...

AI summary The text outlines survey questions related to participation in utility programs, including reasons for participation and verification of actions taken through the program. It also includes questions about feasibility studies and implementation of energy efficiency measures.

Section 1912
(To take advantage of program incentives) NMR Evaluation of 2010 C&I Custom Program Page C5 2. (To see what else I should be doing as part of a planned project) 3. (To save on energy costs/bills) 4. (To reduce maintenance costs) 5. (To imp...

AI summary The text outlines participant motivations for energy efficiency measures, including cost savings, environmental benefits, and recommendations from utility representatives. It also includes instructions for evaluating multiple measures and addressing free-ridership in a program evaluation context.

Section 1914
rganization had not participated in the NMR Evaluation of 2010 C&I Custom Program Page C6 Commercial and Industrial Custom Program, which of the following actions do you think you would have taken? Please select all that apply. Would you h...

AI summary The document evaluates the 2010 Commercial and Industrial Custom Program, asking participants about their behavior if the program had not existed, including potential delays in installation, budget impacts, and the program's influence on their participation decision.

Section 1933
Theory and Logic Model Review: 9. Is the program theory and logic model included in the C&I program manual still valid? 10. Has the program been expanded to include participants other than larger commercial, industrial and municipal custom...

AI summary The document contains a series of questions about the Commercial & Industrial (C&I) program, focusing on its theory, logic model, outreach activities, program goals, and market impact. It explores whether the program is primarily a Resource Acquisition or Market Transformation initiative, and seeks clarification on short-term and intermediate goals.

Section 1934
or outcomes that are not included in the C&I logic model?] d. How do you think this program will affect the overall market in the intermediate term? What is the mechanism by which this impact on the market will be achieved? NMR Evaluation...

AI summary The text asks about the long-term goals of the C&I Custom Program, its impact on the market, and how program success will be measured. It also probes whether the logic model includes all relevant goals and outcomes.

Section 1935
ve? Short-term? Intermediate? Long-term? a. Are there any key indicators or metrics to gauge program effectiveness and success in short-, intermediate-, and long-term? Marketing, Participating Retailers, and Verification: 17. Please explai...

AI summary The document outlines questions related to the evaluation of the 2010 C&I Custom Program, focusing on program effectiveness, marketing strategies, trade ally involvement, and program delivery. It includes recommendations for improving marketing and delivery, such as training energy efficiency contractors.

Section 1936
rogram delivery be improved? NMR Evaluation of 2010 C&I Custom Program Page C20

AI summary The document discusses the evaluation of the 2010 C&I Custom Program, focusing on improvements in program delivery. It highlights the need for better implementation and effectiveness of the program.

Section 1937
21. For the C&I program, how has the involvement of contractors changed since last year? [Probe: Have contractors taken a more active role in program marketing?] [Probe: in the program logic model NSPI has identified that trade allies and...

AI summary The text outlines a series of questions posed to NSPI regarding the Commercial and Industrial (C&I) program, including contractor involvement, barriers to participation, program impacts, customer targeting, program interactions, coverage gaps, and program strengths and weaknesses.

Section 1938
what would you say are the programs greatest weaknesses? What could be done to address these weaknesses? 29. Based on your experience with the program so far, what are the most important improvements that still need to be made to the progr...

AI summary The text includes a set of questions for an interview with a participant in Nova Scotia Power's Commercial and Industrial Custom and Business Energy Rebate programs, focusing on program weaknesses, improvements, and other issues. It also includes an interview guide and a request for permission to record the interview.

Section 1942
cipate in the NSPI rebate programs? [Probe: Save energy, rebates offered, reduce maintenance costs, protect environment, recommended by utility, concerns with carbon, etc.] 12. Were there any challenges or barriers that you faced in making...

AI summary The text outlines a series of questions aimed at understanding participants' experiences with NSPI rebate programs, including barriers to participation, challenges in implementation, satisfaction levels, and gaps in program coverage. It focuses on feedback from customers regarding the effectiveness and accessibility of these programs.

Section 1949
50-2 Howard Street, Somerville, MA 02144 Phone: (617) 284-6230 Fax: (617) 284-6239 www.nmrgroupinc.com Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................................

AI summary The document outlines a program description and impact evaluation, including program theory, logic models, and evaluation methodology. It discusses the 2010 SBLS savings and research design, indicating a focus on assessing program effectiveness and outcomes.

Section 1958
ation was based on in-depth interviews with the DSM Administrator‘s staff, Delivery Agents, the Materials Vendor and the Recycling Contractor as well as a telephone survey of 65 program participants. Impact Evaluation Findings The impact e...

AI summary The impact evaluation of the 2010 SBLS program found that the program achieved 11,210 MWh of energy savings and 1,529.5 kW of demand savings, falling short of the energy and demand savings goals. The evaluation used interviews, surveys, and program records to estimate free-ridership and spillover effects.

Section 1959
nerator 1,758.5 12,944 Net-to-Gross Ratio (%) 87.0% 86.6% Net annual savings at generator 1,529.9 11,210 Key Findings The net energy impacts of the SBLS program have increased steadily since 2008. They have more than tripled from 1,522 MWh...

AI summary The SBLS program's net energy impacts have increased significantly since 2008, with customer satisfaction remaining high. NMR recommended monitoring Delivery Agents and Contractors to maintain quality and satisfaction. In 2010, customer satisfaction remained strong despite program expansion.

Section 1966
uirements. SBLS-F5. SBLS-R5. Some respondents cited barriers to implementing additional energy At the time of participant contact, the DSM Administrator efficiency measures (beyond those covered by the program) including should continue to...

AI summary Respondents identified barriers to implementing additional energy efficiency measures, including lack of financing and information. The SBLS program was found to be a crucial source of assistance for small businesses, with low free-ridership indicating its effectiveness in encouraging energy efficiency improvements.

Section 1967
NMR Evaluation of 2010 Small Business Lighting Solutions Program Page IV Findings and Recommendations Finding Recommendation SBLS-F7. SBLS-R7. While nearly all of the 2010 respondents (63 out of 65) said they would Despite the importance o...

AI summary The evaluation of the 2010 Small Business Lighting Solutions Program found that while most respondents were likely to purchase energy-efficient equipment in the future, few took additional energy efficiency actions after participating in the program. The report recommends expanding program offerings to help small businesses identify and pursue other energy efficiency measures.

Section 1975
2.1 Research Design Consistent with the free ridership summit recommendation, The NMR Team performed a billing analysis to determine the impacts of the SBLS Program. This evaluation methodology encountered two critical issues that resulted...

AI summary The evaluation of the SBLS Program faced challenges due to incomplete billing data and the inability to form a representative control group. As a result, the performance of the 2010 program was based on site work from 2008, and the 2011 evaluation is recommended to use time-of-use metering for better accuracy.

Section 1990
8, and Table 2-9) NMR Evaluation of 2010 Small Business Lighting Solutions Program Page 11

AI summary The document evaluates the 2010 Small Business Lighting Solutions Program, focusing on its implementation and outcomes. It includes data and analysis from Table 2-9 and is associated with Nova Scotia Power.

Section 1994
5 0% Don‘t know 25% Program Influence Score = maximum of FR4a, FR4b, or FR4c. NMR Evaluation of 2010 Small Business Lighting Solutions Program Page 12 Table 2-9: CFL Free-ridership Screening and Cross-check Questions Free- Question Questio...

AI summary The document evaluates the 2010 Small Business Lighting Solutions Program, focusing on free-ridership screening through a series of questions. It assesses whether businesses would have pursued lighting improvements without the program's incentives and considers the financial impact of the program on participants.

Section 2001
el impacts were estimated to be 11,210 MWh of energy savings and 1,529.5kW of demand savings. These savings fell short of the energy savings goal of 13,980 MWh and the demand savings goal of 3,300 kW. Table 2-11: Program Energy Savings Est...

AI summary The 2010 Small Business Lighting Solutions Program achieved energy savings of 11,210 MWh and demand savings of 1,529.5 kW, falling short of the energy savings goal of 13,980 MWh and the demand savings goal of 3,300 kW. A process evaluation was conducted using interviews and surveys.

Section 2004
Agent and Recycling Contractor. NMR Evaluation of 2010 Small Business Lighting Solutions Program Page 17 Table 3-1: Final Sample Population Sample Region N = 418 n= 65 Cape Breton 8% 8% Central 28% 32% Dartmouth 30% 25% Halifax 8% 6% South...

AI summary The document evaluates the 2010 Small Business Lighting Solutions (SBLS) program through a participant survey, focusing on spillover effects, free-ridership, participant motivations, and energy attitudes. It also discusses sampling error in the telephone surveys conducted as part of the evaluation.

Section 2020
Table 3-7: Influence of Program on Additional Energy Efficiency Actions Program Influenced Additional Actions 2008 2009 2010 Sample size 50 50 65 No 62% 76% 66% Yes 34 22 29 Don‘t Know 2 2 5 Type of Action Taken 2008 2009 2010 Sample size...

AI summary The table shows the influence of energy efficiency programs on additional energy efficiency actions taken by participants from 2008 to 2010. The data indicates that a majority of participants did not take additional actions, while a smaller percentage did, with various types of actions being taken.

Section 2050
Evaluation of 2010 Small Business Lighting Solutions Program Page B1 Appendix A Interview Guides Draft participant QUESTIONNAIRE: NSPI SBLS PROGRAM Final: July 22, 2010 Hello, I am with NMR Group, and we are performing an evaluation of ene...

AI summary This document is a draft participant questionnaire for evaluating Nova Scotia Power's Small Business Lighting Solutions (SBLS) program. It aims to gather feedback from participants about their experience with the program, previous participation in energy efficiency initiatives, and their reasons for involvement.

Section 2063
ding – have to work through owner) NMR Evaluation of 2010 Small Business Lighting Solutions Program Page B9 l. (Other (Specify: _)) 99. (Don‘t know/Don‘t recall) 38. On a scale of 1 to 5, where 1=‗not at all important‘ and 5=‗very importan...

AI summary The text includes survey questions related to the importance of energy usage reduction and cost management for small businesses, as well as feedback on improving the Small Business Lighting Solutions Program. It focuses on customer perspectives and program evaluation.

Section 2072
9. Don‘t know/Don‘t recall NMR Evaluation of 2010 Small Business Lighting Solutions Program Page B16 Materials Vendor Interview Guide: NSPI SBLS Program Interviewer: Date of Interview: Time Begun: Time Ended: Respondent Name: Respondent Ti...

AI summary The document outlines an interview guide used by Nexus Market Research (NMR) to evaluate the Small Business Lighting Solutions (SBLS) Program provided by Nova Scotia Power. The guide includes questions to assess the vendor’s role, experience, and satisfaction with the program.

Section 2075
f 17. Incentive level provided NMR Evaluation of 2010 Small Business Lighting Solutions Program Page B18 18. Program paperwork 19. Program delivery process and procedures 20. Availability of information about the program 21. The program ov...

AI summary The text discusses the evaluation of the 2010 Small Business Lighting Solutions (SBLS) program, focusing on data tracking, contractor perceptions, and firmographics. It includes questions on how data is tracked, contractor motivations and barriers, and suggestions for program improvement.

E-32010 Savings Verification Study 3/25/2011 13 passages
Preamble p. p. 5
3 This Savings Verification study is focused on impact, so also addresses the first nine program areas. In preparing for this study, which includes review of the NMR impact evaluations, the savings verification team had initial meetings wi...

AI summary This Savings Verification study focuses on reviewing the impact evaluations of DSM programs conducted by NMR Group. The study involved meetings with the Board, DSM Administrator, and NMR, as well as on-site visits. It evaluated NMR's estimates of energy savings and demand reductions, including adjustments for free-ridership and spillover effects, and focused on the generator level for 2010.

Basic Findings and Recommendation p. p. 5
Basic Findings and Recommendation There are two basic findings in this 2010 savings verification study: - Finding 1: All of the 2010 DSM programs were competently administered by the DSM Administrator. This finding is based on the NMR eval...

AI summary The 2010 savings verification study found that DSM programs were competently administered, with NMR evaluations supporting the findings. The study recommends accepting NMR results for energy savings and demand reduction, except for a 10% adjustment for Efficient Products-Direct Install. Some areas for improvement were identified, including internal program control and electrical measurement.

Specific Action Items p. p. 5
Specific Action Items Improvements in evaluation methods to improve validity (balanced by reasonable cost) as well as some improvements in related areas are listed below as action items. Response to each of the following recommendations sh...

AI summary The text outlines recommendations to enhance DSM program evaluation by prioritizing electrical measurement and passive monitoring over modeling and social science methods. It emphasizes using actual energy usage data from customer systems for validity, citing NMR's analysis of the Low Income Housing EnerGuide program as a successful example.

(1) 2010 Commercial & Industrial Custom Program (C&I) p. p. 20
(1) 2010 Commercial & Industrial Custom Program (C&I) The Commercial and Industrial (C&I) Custom Program was first implemented in the 2008 program year. The program provides financial incentives to large commercial and industrial customers...

AI summary The 2010 Commercial & Industrial Custom Program provides financial incentives to large commercial and industrial customers who complete energy studies and implement energy efficiency measures. The program includes data tracking, free-ridership screening, and monitoring processes. A centralized data system was implemented in 2010, though further refinement is needed.

Overall Combined Energy Savings and Demand Reductions p. p. 20
Overall Combined Energy Savings and Demand Reductions Combining the estimates of gross savings for the three categories of equipment installed through the BER program in 2010, and using a factor of 1.069 to calculate the generator level sa...

AI summary The Business Energy Rebates (BER) program in 2010 achieved 932.0 MWh of gross energy savings and 134.8 kW peak demand reduction, but after accounting for a 46% free-ridership rate, net savings were 503.3 MWh and 72.8 kW. The program is recommended for continuation and expansion due to its success and potential, though measures to reduce free-ridership are advised.

2010 Smart Lighting Choices Program (SLC) p. p. 20
ined value for average annual hours of use per fixture of 3,400 hours per year is consistent with previous findings and, given the sample size constraints, is also a conservative yet reasonable value. The 2010 evaluation of the Smart Light...

AI summary The 2010 evaluation of the Smart Lighting Choices (SLC) program showed significant energy and demand savings, with 6,242.1 MWh and 1,188.9 MW saved, respectively. The evaluation relied on free ridership rates from 2009, and the results are deemed conservative but reasonable. The program is recommended for continuation as an effective DSM initiative until lighting codes are updated to T-8.

(3) 2009 Direct Install (Small Business Lighting Solutions Program – SBLS) p. p. 20
. The participant cost can be financed, interest free, for up to two years. Eligible small businesses have an average demand of less than 100 kW and an annual electricity use of less than 300,000 kWh. NMR approached the impact evaluation t...

AI summary The 2009 Direct Install (Small Business Lighting Solutions Program – SBLS) allows eligible small businesses to finance participant costs interest-free for up to two years. NMR faced challenges in evaluating the program's impact due to data limitations but used 2008 site work data for the 2010 analysis and recommended on-site and time-of-use metering for 2011. The study estimated energy savings and accounted for spillover and free ridership.

(6) 2010 EnerGuide for Existing Houses (EEH) p. p. 20
int of 1,047 kWh in contrast to the estimate used by the program of 1,032.88 kWh. This sample of 71 houses is then shown by NMR to reasonably represent the set of houses served by the program in 2010. Using information from a recent Ontari...

AI summary The 2010 EnerGuide for Existing Houses (EEH) program achieved significant energy savings, exceeding its goals by nearly double. NMR's analysis showed program and evaluated savings were close, within two percent. Free-ridership was estimated at 24%, and the program's results were described as excellent performance.

(7) 2010 EnerGuide for New Houses & Performance Plus Program (NH) p. p. 20
ctices, localized weather, equipment characteristics and the lifestyle of the occupants." 25 Use of independent modeling and ratios is a reasonable method, especially for new construction. if the minimum participation EnerGuide score is ra...

AI summary The analysis of the 2010 EnerGuide for New Houses and Performance Plus Program highlights the importance of new housing in residential demand-side management (DSM). NMR's evaluation methods were deemed appropriate, and the program's continuation is recommended due to its potential for reducing free ridership and improving energy efficiency over time.

(9) 2010 Low Income Households Program (LIH) p. p. 20
, and the DSM Administrator.35 Electric heated home energy savings, electrically heated hot water energy savings and electricity saving measures in other homes are paid for by the DSM Administrator.36 NMR's impact analysis follows a non-eq...

AI summary The 2010 Low Income Households Program (LIH) analysis uses a non-equivalent control group design to evaluate energy savings, comparing participant and non-participant homes. Multiple analytical methods were used, with results varying based on data availability and representativeness of the sample.

Error Bands p. p. 20
Error Bands As to small differences in numbers, it is useful to imagine an error band around each program result and a wider error band around the overall portfolio results for GWh and MW for 2010. It is natural to want to take the numbers...

AI summary The text discusses the concept of error bands in program evaluations, noting that while evaluation results are useful approximations, they are not exact due to modeling assumptions and data from other jurisdictions. The size of these error bands is not statistically determined but is acknowledged as a conceptual reality.

More Measurement p. p. 20
More Measurement One way to narrow errors is to limit modeling steps, limit the number of auxiliary parameters employed and limit the number of assumptions in constructing results. That is why in the savings verification study we emphasize...

AI summary The text discusses the importance of direct electrical measurement and passive monitoring in evaluation studies to reduce modeling errors and improve accuracy in energy savings estimates. It highlights the limitations of current modeling software and administrative approaches, advocating for increased use of empirical measurement techniques.

Methods, Programs and Recommendations p. p. 20
Methods, Programs and Recommendations The NMR Executive Summary concludes with a brief summary of evaluation objectives and methods for the impact and process evaluations, summaries of the performance of individual programs, and a convenie...

AI summary The NMR Executive Summary outlines evaluation objectives and methods for impact and process evaluations, summarizes individual program performances, and provides a summary of all NMR recommendations.

E-4ENSC (Avon) IR-1 to IR-10 3/29/2011 1 passage
- 2. Actual expenditures are subject to audit.
- 2. Actual expenditures are subject to audit. 1 Request IR-5: 3 Reference: Exhibit E-1, Appendix "B", 4 5 a) With respect to the program spending listed in Table 2, please provide a table 6 showing the program costs directly assigned to t...

AI summary The document requests detailed information on program spending for the Large Industrial Rate Class from 2009 to 2012, specifically regarding the allocation of enabling strategies and the relative percentage share of program costs. The response explains that costs were allocated based on the number of customers in each class and provides some financial details for 2008/2009.

E-5-(i)ENSC (CA) IR-1 to IR-55 3/29/2011 4 passages
10
10 2012 DSM Program Average Measure Effective Useful Life 9 For the Commercial & Industrial (C&I) Custom program, free ridership is assessed on a case by 10 case basis through direct customer interaction. By understanding each customer's i...

AI summary The document discusses free ridership assessment in the 2012 DSM Program, particularly for Commercial & Industrial (C&I) Custom programs, and strategies to enhance participation through innovative financing and program design adjustments, such as eligibility thresholds and incentive structures.

c) The program administrator must use professional judgment and knowledge of the market to apply these strategies with an objective of maximizing the long term benefit/cost ratio of the portfolio.
c) The program administrator must use professional judgment and knowledge of the market to apply these strategies with an objective of maximizing the long term benefit/cost ratio of the portfolio. 1 Request IR-26: 2 3 With regard to market...

AI summary The program administrator is required to use professional judgment and market knowledge to maximize the long-term benefit/cost ratio of the portfolio. The text includes requests and responses related to market transformation efforts and a reference to a study mentioned in the Dunsky report.

Illustrative Alternative Funding Paths
Illustrative Alternative Funding Paths Year Incremental Achievable Potential Energy Savings (GWh) Total Demand (NSR GWh) Non-ELI Demand (GWh) Savings (% eligible demand) 9 Dunsky's report considered a number of programs that make use of on...

AI summary The text discusses alternative funding paths for energy efficiency programs, citing examples like Manitoba Hydro and Property-Assessed Clean Energy (PAC) programs in U.S. cities. It also references a request and response regarding factors limiting participation in low-income retrofit programs, including challenges like market awareness and privacy concerns.

Date Filed: March 29, 2011 ENSC CA IR-50 Page 1 of 1
Date Filed: March 29, 2011 ENSC CA IR-50 Page 1 of 1 1 Request IR-51: 2 3 What is the average maximum payback period for residential customers to invest in energy 4 efficiency measures? 5 6 Response IR-51: 7 8 ESNC has not determined the a...

AI summary The document contains responses from ENSC to various requests regarding energy efficiency measures, success criteria for DSM programming, and recommendations from Dunsky's report. ENSC has not determined the average maximum payback period for residential energy efficiency investments, defines success based on fulfilling its legislative mandate, and is considering some recommendations from Dunsky's report.

E-6ENSC (EAC) IR-1 to IR-43 (Revised April 6, 2011) 3/29/2011 13 passages
Section 4 p. p. 37
- 2 consulted in 2011 to gain thoughts on potential changes to the PDWG and/or the possible - 3 creation of a new stakeholder process. 4 - 5 For how this relates to performance-based accountability and regulation, please refer to Multeese...

AI summary The document references a 2011 consultation on potential changes to the Program Design Working Group (PDWG) and the creation of a new stakeholder process. It also cites a 2010 Board decision that the PDWG should retain its current role until the transition to ENS is completed.

Abstract p. p. 37
energy efficient in Holland is higher in "green" communities, that is communities where the Green Party and the Party for the Animals had received a larger fraction of the vote. U.S studies have also documented that environmentalists are m...

AI summary The text highlights a correlation between political affiliation (Green Party, Party for the Animals) and higher energy efficiency in Holland, supported by U.S. studies showing environmentalists' participation in green markets. It argues that tailored nudges are needed to address heterogeneous household responses to social initiatives.

Economic Framework p. p. 37
households in an ongoing randomized experiment to encourage reductions in electricity consumption is a two page Home Electricity Report (see Appendix A for a sample). Similar reports have been used by 3 See Keith Poole's web site, www.vote...

AI summary The Home Electricity Report provides households with comparative feedback on their energy use relative to neighbors and historical data, including energy-saving tips and dollar savings estimates. The report's effectiveness in driving consumption reductions is complicated by a 0.7 correlation between absolute consumption and relative comparisons, limiting the ability to isolate the impact of each component.

Data p. p. 37
lds in the experiment group are roughly 10% richer than the average county 11 The collected revenue is used by the electric utility to purchase and produce power from wind, water, and sun. homeowner. 12 The geographical areas included in t...

AI summary The experiment group showed higher income and education levels compared to average counties. Revenue from the program funds renewable energy generation. Randomization of the HER was effective, with no pre-treatment energy usage differences between groups. Households in electric homes received more frequent billing reports.

Econometric Framework p. p. 37
per year). A household that realizes it is below the neighborhood average in consumption may increase its consumption. This "boomerang effect" is discussed in Allcott (2009) and Ayers et. al. (2009). Environmentalist households may read th...

AI summary The text discusses the 'boomerang effect' where households may increase energy consumption if they perceive themselves as below average, citing Allcott (2009) and Ayers et al. (2009). It highlights differing behavioral responses to Home Energy Reports (HER) based on household environmental values, with regression models used to estimate treatment effects on electricity consumption.

Results p. p. 37
Results Table 2 shows the mean overall treatment effect and the treatment effect by own and neighborhood ideology, own and neighborhood education, and house characteristics using specifications 1-4. We obtain a mean overall treatment effec...

AI summary The analysis reveals a mean treatment effect of -0.021 on electricity consumption, with differential impacts based on political ideology and green energy engagement. Conservatives show smaller reductions (0.4%) compared to liberals (1.1%), while unregistered voters and green energy purchasers exhibit larger responses (2.9% and 1.5%, respectively). Environmental donors also show reduced consumption (1.0%).

1 Introduction p. p. 48
, and Mobius, Niehaus, and Rosenblat (2005). In these settings, agents make a choice under uncertainty and draw inference from others' behavior because others may have distinct and useful information. & lt;sup>2 Recent work on conditional...

AI summary The text discusses studies on conditional cooperation in public goods contributions, energy efficiency program evaluations, and the impact of randomized trials on energy pricing programs. It also references media coverage and potential investment implications based on credible documentation of program effects.

4.1 Treatment Effects p. p. 48
uded to demonstrate the importance of implementing the program as a randomized trial, it appears that in this particular case, the ATE could have been estimated even in the absence of a control group. The third specification in Table 7.3 r...

AI summary The text discusses the estimation of Average Treatment Effects (ATE) in a randomized trial, highlighting a discrepancy between ATEs calculated using logged and non-logged specifications. The difference is statistically and substantively significant, affecting cost-effectiveness estimates.

6 Conclusion p. p. 48
6 Conclusion This paper evaluates the effects of the Positive Energy Home Energy Reports, which give households easily-understandable feedback on past energy consumption, compare them to their neighbors, and provide energy conservation tip...

AI summary The document evaluates the effectiveness of Positive Energy Home Energy Reports, which provide households with energy consumption feedback and conservation tips. The program uses behavioral science and randomized controlled trials. The Average Treatment Effect in Minnesota is 1.9 percent below baseline, and the effectiveness of quarterly reports may depend on cost structures.

References p. p. 48
(April). - [48] Hirano, Keisuke, and Jack Porter (2006). "Asymptotics for Statistical Treatment Rules." Working Paper, University of Wisconsin (August). - [49] Houwelingen, Jeannet, and Fred van Raaij (1989). "The Effect of Goal-Setting an...

AI summary The text contains a list of academic references and publications related to statistical treatment rules, energy use behavior, program evaluation, and field experiments in economics. These references are primarily from working papers and journals and are cited in a document context.

- p. pp. 82-83
- Executive Summary 2 A. Does the program continue to generate savings? 3 B. What is the trend in program savings? 3 C. Do program savings increase with electricity use? 3 D. Graphical summary 4 I. Program Description and Evaluation Object...

AI summary The document provides an executive summary and evaluation of a program's impact on electricity savings. It outlines evaluation methods such as Difference-in-Difference (DID) analysis and Linear Fixed Effects Regression (LFER) models, and presents results on program savings trends, including seasonal and long-term variations.

Program Description and Evaluation Objectives p. pp. 87-89
ve information on how to reduce electricity consumption by electric heating systems); and c) most strikingly, information on how their electricity use compares to that of neighbors with similar homes. Importantly, the program was set up as...

AI summary The program involved randomly assigning households to receive Home Electricity Reports (treatment group) or not (control group), with the goal of reducing electricity consumption. The treatment group received reports either monthly or quarterly, with higher energy consumers more likely to receive monthly reports. Studies, including one by Summit Blue Consulting, evaluated the program's impact.

B. Results of Linear Fixed Effects Regression (LFER) Analysis p. pp. 101-102
B. Results of Linear Fixed Effects Regression (LFER) Analysis The difference between the estimated savings for high consumption households in summer 2009 and summer 2010 presented in Figures 3.1-3.2 and 3.7 can lead one to conclude that th...

AI summary The text discusses the limitations of the DID analysis in evaluating program effectiveness, noting that it does not account for time-varying factors like weather. It highlights that the LFER analysis allows for conditioning on such variables, providing better insights into program savings trends and the impact of temperature fluctuations on savings.

E-7ENSC (Multeese) IR-1 to IR-31 3/29/2011 12 passages
4 Revised Figure 5.1 with 158.5 GWh in Energy Savings from ENSC Programs p. p. 55
4 Revised Figure 5.1 with 158.5 GWh in Energy Savings from ENSC Programs In cremental Annual Net Energy Savings Incremental Annual Net Demand Savings Ben efit/ Cost Ratio Total Resource Ben efit/ Cost Ratio Program Administrator Cost Test...

AI summary Revised Figure 5.1 highlights energy savings from ENSC programs, showing 158.5 GWh in energy savings. The table includes data on various programs such as residential, commercial, and industrial DSM initiatives, along with metrics like incremental annual net energy savings, benefit/cost ratios, and program administrator cost tests.

NON-CONFIDENTIAL p. p. 100
NON-CONFIDENTIAL 1 Request IR-10: 2 monetary savings in the 2012 DSM Plan TRC calculations since these benefits are not 3 easily quantified. This is similar to some Enabling Strategies, such as training, 4 development and research, and edu...

AI summary The text discusses requests and responses related to the 2012 DSM Plan, including the exclusion of participant costs in calculations, the use of TRC and PAC, and the evaluation of free ridership and spill over in 2010 DSM programs. It highlights the challenges in quantifying benefits from non-energy strategies and confirms the methodology differences between years.

Section 344 p. p. 100
8 Program implications will be based on the findings and recommendations of the 2010 evaluation and verification reports. As an example, the New Houses program runs until the end of June, 2011. The evaluated 2010 net-to-gross ratio will be...

AI summary The program implications are based on the 2010 evaluation and verification reports. The New Houses program is set to end in June 2011, and the evaluated 2010 net-to-gross ratio will influence the next phase of the program. The report distinguishes between participant-like and non-like spillover in evaluating program effectiveness.

NON-CONFIDENTIAL p. p. 100
NON-CONFIDENTIAL 1 2 c) ENSC will seek to further adjust assessment of free ridership and spillover and suggests 3 doing so through consultation with experts and input from stakeholders. Areas for 4 refinement may include, but are not limi...

AI summary ENSC aims to refine the assessment of free ridership and spillover in energy efficiency programs through expert consultation and stakeholder input. Key areas for refinement include adjusting the timing of spillover assessments, broadening methodology to include non-like spillover, and adjusting free ridership scoring based on financial constraints and self-reporting accuracy.

Table of Contents p. p. 111
Table of Contents Table of Contents i 5. Undertake a full analysis of deferred cost models, including Pay As You Save (PAYS), as a funding source for low-income-renter DSM programming47 6. Develop a long term funding strategy to finance lo...

AI summary The document outlines various initiatives aimed at addressing energy poverty in Nova Scotia, including the analysis of deferred cost models, long-term funding strategies, implementation of building energy codes, and the use of legislative frameworks to support low-income renters. It also references energy efficiency programs from other provinces as examples.

U.S.: Weatherization Assistance Program p. p. 131
U.S.: Weatherization Assistance Program Although many of the factors important in the design and delivery of DSM programming have been dealt with by the programs studied in our research, some consistent gaps remain: particularly reporting...

AI summary The U.S. Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) provides accountability reports to Congress and the public, including 'In Progress Peer Reviews' and 'Process Assessments.' In contrast, programs like Peaksaver and Warm Up Winnipeg have limited reporting on program effectiveness. The paper highlights gaps in reporting and accountability in DSM programs and discusses barriers facing low-income renters in accessing energy savings.

British Columbia: Energy Conservation Assistance Program p. pp. 191-205
British Columbia: Energy Conservation Assistance Program Program Name Energy Conservation Assistance Program Two-step program. First, an energy efficiency advisor visits the home and assesses its energy efficiency levels as well as areas f...

AI summary The Energy Conservation Assistance Program in British Columbia involves an energy efficiency advisor visiting low-income households to assess and improve energy efficiency. While the program was successful in visiting 2979 households between 2004-2008, it failed to achieve significant energy savings due to limited building knowledge and auditing capacity.

1 e) The following presents the methods used in four Canadian jurisdictions: p. p. 237
1 e) The following presents the methods used in four Canadian jurisdictions: 2 3 4 5 6 7  British Columbia: BC Hydro applies a "modified TRC" as its primary guideline at the program level; in a number of cases it includes non-energy benef...

AI summary The text discusses the use and modification of the Total Resource Cost (TRC) method in four Canadian jurisdictions, highlighting variations in its application and reconsideration of its value. It also references a paper examining concerns with current benefit-cost analysis practices.

ABSTRACT p. p. 237
ABSTRACT For the past two decades, the Total Resource Cost Test (TRC) has been regulators' principal test for assessing energy efficiency program cost-effectiveness and approving utility funding. However, the TRC as commonly applied today...

AI summary The Total Resource Cost Test (TRC) has been the primary method for assessing energy efficiency program cost-effectiveness, but it has significant limitations, including the exclusion of non-energy benefits and inconsistent treatment of supply alternatives. The document argues that the TRC is impractical to improve and suggests emphasizing the program administrator cost test instead.

Using Only the "Energy Portion" of Measure Costs in the TRC p. p. 237
uld be reduced to $4250. At that cost, the $6000 in energy benefits would exceed the $5750 ($4250 plus $1500 in administration costs) in "energy related costs", making the program cost-effective. However, this approach also has some disadv...

AI summary The text discusses the cost-effectiveness of a program where energy benefits exceed energy-related costs, but highlights potential disadvantages such as the need for significant additional evaluation expenditures, challenges in assessing new programs, and the risk of sub-optimal efficiency investment due to misalignment between customer assessments and actual benefits.

Switching to the Program Administrator Cost Test p. p. 237
Switching to the Program Administrator Cost Test The alternative to the two options for fixing the TRC is to replace it with a different test, specifically the PACT.14 This approach has a number of advantages. First, it is much simpler. Th...

AI summary The text discusses switching from the Total Resource Cost (TRC) test to the Payback Analysis Criteria (PACT) for evaluating energy efficiency programs. The PACT is argued to be simpler, less expensive, and more symmetric with supply-side investment assessments. While it may allow some less cost-effective measures from a societal perspective, it ensures cost-effectiveness from the rate-payer's viewpoint. The Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program is used as an example of how the PACT would apply.

References p. p. 237
References - Amann, Jennifer. 2006. " Valuation of Non-Energy Benefits to Determine Cost-Effectiveness of Whole-House Retrofit Programs: A Literature Review ", ACEEE Report Number A061. - [CPUC/CEC] California Public Utilities Commission a...

AI summary The references section lists various academic and industry publications related to the evaluation of demand-side management (DSM) programs, cost-effectiveness analysis, and energy efficiency initiatives. These sources include studies on non-energy benefits, economic analysis, and program evaluation techniques.

E-8ENSC (NPB) IR-1 to IR-11 3/29/2011 1 passage
1
1 Peak Annual Present Program 19 the program"s threshold EnerGuide rating of 83 and be eligible to receive 20 incentives simply by installing a heat pump." 21 22 Please refer to NPB IR-8. 1 Request IR-10: 2 3 Reference: NMR Group Inc. 2010...

AI summary The document discusses ENSC's response to concerns about data tracking and quality in its programs. ENSC agrees with recommendations to improve data tracking through enhanced standards, reporting protocols, auditing, and site inspections. A centralized data system is being upgraded to implement these improvements.

E-9ENSC (Synapse) IR-1 to IR-13 3/29/2011 1 passage
1 Request IR-1: p. p. 21
1 Request IR-1: 2 3 With respect to page 14, Figure 5.1, 4 5 a) Please provide the results for the TRC test in terms of costs, benefits and net 6 benefits in cumulative present value dollars, for each program and the total. 7 8 b) Please p...

AI summary The document requests detailed results of the TRC and PAC tests, including costs, benefits, and net benefits in cumulative present value dollars, as well as the worksheets and calculations used to determine these results. A table with TRC/PAC benefits and costs data is provided, showing various programs and their associated figures.

E-10Evidence of George Foote on behalf of CA 4/8/2011 5 passages
Q. Have you testified before this Board?
Q. Have you testified before this Board? - A. No. I have not. - Q. Have you testified before other utility regulatory Boards? - A. Yes. I testified on behalf of the Nova Scotia Department of Energy at the joint National - Energy Board/Cana...

AI summary The witness confirms no prior testimony before this Board but has testified before other regulatory bodies regarding the Deep Panuke Natural Gas Project. Their testimony covers DSM budgets, Enabling Strategies, low-income participation, free ridership, Total Resource Test, and data quality improvements.

Q. Does the reporting of savings from outside 2012 DSM Programs raise any concerns?
Q. Does the reporting of savings from outside 2012 DSM Programs raise any concerns? - Previous DSM plans relied exclusively on customer-funded, incentive-based DSM programs to - meet IRP targets. In 2012, ENSC is recording incremental ener...

AI summary The reporting of savings from outside 2012 DSM programs is discussed, referencing the 2009 IRP Update Report which allows inclusion of non-program savings. Concerns include lack of criteria for verifying such savings, potential erosion from industrial efficiency projects, and ensuring ENSC's spending is justified. Savings from non-program sources may reduce new generation needs and aid environmental targets.

Q. Do you have any concerns about the integration of programs for low income households
Q. Do you have any concerns about the integration of programs for low income households - being integrated with other residential programs? - A. The integration of the LIH Program into the Existing Houses Program may result in some - progr...

AI summary Integration of the Low-Income Household (LIH) Program with other residential programs may create efficiencies but risks losing transparency. ENSC projects 40% of 2012 Existing Houses Program funds will target low-income households, yet no specific benchmarks exist for programs like Efficient Products. The recommendation emphasizes tracking savings and setting targets for low-income participation in DSM evaluations.

FREE RIDERSHIP AND SPILL OVER
FREE RIDERSHIP AND SPILL OVER - Q. Please summarize your conclusions and recommendations with regard to the proposed - treatment of free ridership and spill over. - A. ENSC has not proposed an amendment to free ridership and spill over eva...

AI summary ENSC did not propose changes to free ridership/spill over evaluation methods for 2012, planning to revisit in 2011. It advocates a case-by-case approach and program design to address free ridership. The recommendation emphasizes requiring ENSC to estimate free ridership/spill over for 2012 programs to refine future methodologies.

DATA QUALITY AND EVALUATION
DATA QUALITY AND EVALUATION - Q. Please summarize your conclusions and recommendations with regard to the manner in - which Efficiency Nova Scotia proposes to address the need to improve data quality and - evaluation of forecast energy sav...

AI summary ENSC emphasizes the need for continuous improvement in data quality and evaluation techniques for energy savings forecasts. It recommends including benchmarks such as energy savings, expenditures on low-income households, and free ridership in program evaluations. These metrics are critical for assessing program success and guiding future initiatives.

E-11Evidence of Glenn Reed of Energy Futures Group on behalf of EAC 4/8/2011 3 passages
Preamble p. p. 8
ls. - The low level of lighting savings is due to two factors. First, the program relies primarily on - the refrigerator and freezer recycling measures (47 percent of Program savings) and on the - aforementioned cooking range and clothes d...

AI summary The program's low lighting savings stem from reliance on non-lighting measures (e.g., fridge recycling, fuel switches) and minimal promotion of lighting products in 2012, with only 0.03 CFLs per household promoted compared to typical 1.0–2.0 CFLs in mature programs.

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY p. p. 8
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY Glenn Reed has more than 25 years of expertise in demand-side management (DSM) program planning and evaluation; energy-efficiency policy development and implementation; building codes and appliance standards developmen...

AI summary Glenn Reed has over 25 years of experience in demand-side management (DSM) program planning, energy-efficiency policy, building codes, and appliance standards. He has worked with Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and other states, providing technical assistance and overseeing program design. He also developed training modules and held roles at various energy organizations.

SELECTED PROJECTS p. pp. 11-12
- Georgia Power C&I Baseline Study . Managed an on-site survey and analysis project to determine new construction baseline practices. For this study for Georgia Power, data were collected on-site at 480 facilities representing over 13 mill...

AI summary XENERGY (now KEMA) managed multiple studies and evaluations for utilities across Georgia, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Wisconsin, and Virginia, focusing on baseline practices, program design, and impact assessments in commercial, industrial, and residential sectors. These included on-site surveys, interviews, and analysis of energy efficiency measures and building practices.

E-12Evidence of Mel Whalen, Multeese Consulting, Board Consultant 4/8/2011 3 passages
5 WHAT ARE YOU CONCLUSIONS?
5 WHAT ARE YOU CONCLUSIONS? - 7 My conclusions are as follows: - 8 a) With the exception of one new program and the addition of new enabling 9 strategies, the DSM programs proposed for 2012 are expanded continuations of 10 programs previou...

AI summary The 2012 DSM programs are largely continuations of prior approved programs but require adjustments due to lower projected savings. Key approvals include program structure changes, stakeholder engagement, and alignment with IRP. Evaluations of past programs have been implemented to improve effectiveness.

15 WHAT ARE YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE 2012 PACKAGE?
15 WHAT ARE YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE 2012 PACKAGE? 1 I would recommend that ENSC adjust its plan to provide energy savings from its 2 programs that are at least equal to the 2011 plan. Such an approach sustains the 3 momentum of the 20...

AI summary The speaker recommends that ENSC adjust its 2012 energy savings plan to match or exceed the 2011 plan to maintain momentum and achieve 2013 targets. They note that savings from large industrials and codes are conservatively estimated at 80 Gwh, with plans for more formal M&V processes in 2011 to refine these estimates.

13 NSUARB-NSPI-P-884(2), Paragraph 36.
13 NSUARB-NSPI-P-884(2), Paragraph 36. 1 • PAC = Present Worth of costs avoided by the DSM measure (or program) 2 divided by only ENSC's cost. 3 4 In each of these tests, the numerator is the avoided costs of the DSM. For 2012, ENSC 5 has...

AI summary The text discusses the evaluation of Demand Side Management (DSM) programs using various cost tests, including the Total Resource Cost (TRC) Test and the Program Administrator Cost (PAC) Test. It supports the application of the TRC at the program level starting in 2012, noting that no single test provides a complete answer and that judgment is required in their application.

E-13Evidence of Tim Woolf, Synapse Energy Economics Inc., Board Consultant 4/8/2011 3 passages
3. RAMP UP SCHEDULE OF EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS
3. RAMP UP SCHEDULE OF EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS 1 2 Please summarize the general conclusions from the 2007 IRP and the 2009 0. 3 IRP with regard to the implementation of energy efficiency programs. 4 A. The 2007 IRP identified a large potential...

AI summary The 2007 and 2009 Integrated Resource Plans (IRPs) emphasized cost-effective energy efficiency through Demand Side Management (DSM), with the 2007 IRP recommending 5% of NSPI revenues for efficiency programs. The 2009 IRP maintained DSM targets, aiming for 2% annual electricity use reduction. Nova Scotia Power Inc. (NSPI) exceeded 2008-2009 savings targets and met 2010 goals, demonstrating success in early DSM implementation.

1 2 Q. Are there actions that the Board and ENSC can take to maximize customer participation in the energy efficiency programs?
1 2 Q. Are there actions that the Board and ENSC can take to maximize customer participation in the energy efficiency programs? 3 A. Yes. First, the energy efficiency program budgets can be set in a way to increase 4 customer participation...

AI summary The response outlines strategies for increasing customer participation in energy efficiency programs, such as increasing program budgets and designing programs to be inclusive and tailored to various customer types. It also clarifies that non-participants still benefit from energy efficiency programs through system-wide improvements and environmental and economic advantages.

Q. You mentioned above that the overall benefits of efficiency programs should be a factor in assessing rate impacts. What do you mean by this?
Q. You mentioned above that the overall benefits of efficiency programs should be a factor in assessing rate impacts. What do you mean by this? A. It is important to recognize that while energy efficiency can increase rates it also results...

AI summary The response emphasizes that energy efficiency programs, while potentially increasing rates, also provide significant benefits such as reduced electricity costs. It suggests that the Board should consider these benefits when evaluating rate impacts and recommends using the Program Administrator Cost test to assess cost reductions. A comparison between scenarios with different efficiency budgets is recommended to determine the optimal balance between rate impacts and benefits.

E-14Reply Evidence of Efficiency Nova Scotia Corporation 4/13/2011 1 passage
Section 5
0 GWh for 2012), Mr. 27 Whalen has raised concerns that the lower budget amount for 2012 DSM-funded 28 programs from that forecast in the IRP may be regressive. DATE FILED: April 13, 2011 Page 1 of 4 1 Mr. Woolf, while leaving budget issue...

AI summary ENSC argues the 2012 DSM Plan meets and exceeds IRP energy savings targets while spending $17M less than the original budget. Concerns are raised about potential regressive impacts of reduced funding and insufficient evidence for rate impacts. ENSC highlights challenges in meeting aggressive savings targets and the transition from NSPI to ENSC as DSM Administrator.

E-17NPB Opening Statement 4/18/2011 1 passage
Section 2
so understands that this proposed level of DSM investment is broadly supported by other ratepayer representatives including the Consumer Advocate, the Avon Group, and the Municipal Electric Utilities. As a result, following our review of t...

AI summary NPB initially planned to avoid participating in the hearing but changed course after intervenor evidence suggested increasing ENSC's 2012 DSM spending. NPB supports cost-effective DSM but notes the plan already exceeds 2009 IRP targets. Both Bowater and NewPage have conducted internal energy initiatives beyond ratepayer-funded programs.

E-21CV Philippe Dunsky 4/18/2011 5 passages
Mr. Dunsky is currently responsible for several key projects including: p. p. 0
Mr. Dunsky is currently responsible for several key projects including: - Best practice assessment, analysis and design of a small-scale renewable energy incentive strategy for the Government of Saskatchewan 's Go Green fund. - Strategic r...

AI summary Mr. Dunsky oversees projects in renewable energy incentives, energy efficiency programs, and regulatory processes for various organizations, including Efficiency Nova Scotia Corp., BC Hydro, and Quebec Energy Efficiency Agency, focusing on residential, commercial, and low-income initiatives.

In 2010 p. p. 0
In 2010 - Development of the Efficiency Maine Trust 's first triennial energy efficiency plan addressing all fuels and sectors, including responsibility for all residential and enabling strategies. - Measure characterization, screening and...

AI summary In 2010, activities included developing energy efficiency plans for Efficiency Maine Trust, assisting Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro with rural programs, supporting Quebec's low-income initiatives, reviewing Conserve Nova Scotia's programs, advising Nova Scotia Power Inc. on demand-side management, and conducting assessments for Hydro-Québec and Canada's economic development agency. These efforts focused on program design, policy analysis, and market opportunities for energy efficiency.

In 2009 p. p. 0
In 2009 - White paper and roadmap for Northeastern states interested in adopting mandatory building energy labelling and upgrade policies, for the Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP). - Strategic evaluation of Manitoba Hydro's...

AI summary The text outlines various energy efficiency initiatives and advisory roles from 2009, including program evaluations for Manitoba Hydro, Hydro-Québec, and Efficiency New Brunswick, strategic planning for New Jersey's energy targets, and regulatory counsel for Quebec's Energy Efficiency Agency. It emphasizes program design, market analysis, and policy development across multiple jurisdictions.

In 2005 p. p. 0
In 2005 - Best practice study for Hydro-Québec of government and utility programs aimed at accelerating proper installation of ground-source heat pumps (GSHP). Included review of Canadian, U.S. and European practices. - Pre-feasibility stu...

AI summary In 2005, studies and reviews were conducted for Hydro-Québec, Quebec Metro Technology Park, Ecos Consulting, Gaz Metro's Energy Efficiency Fund, and a coalition of stakeholders. These included analyses of ground-source heat pumps, CO2 reduction technologies, energy-efficient transformers, DSM programs, and international energy efficiency service models.

In 2004 p. p. 0
In 2004 - Review of North American "best practices" for select residential energy efficiency programs. Also review of programs aimed at encouraging commercialization of innovative and emerging energy efficiency technologies or strategies....

AI summary In 2004, three initiatives were undertaken: reviewing residential energy efficiency best practices for Hydro-Québec, assessing accelerated energy efficiency potential in Québec with program development and testimony, and comparing economic/environmental impacts of energy options (combined-cycle, wind, efficiency) with regulatory testimony. All involved stakeholder coalitions.

E-22ENSC Corrections to Evidence 4/18/2011 2 passages
The corrected figure is 1.9%.
The corrected figure is 1.9%. 1 Program New Components 2 of The 2012 DSM Plan introduces a number new program components. These include: 3 4 • program components for renters and multi-unit residential buildings 5 • a Home Energy Report pro...

AI summary The 2012 DSM Plan introduces new program components, including initiatives for renters and multi-unit buildings, a Home Energy Report program, and strategies to increase access for low-income households. The plan also proposes innovative financing options and enhanced outreach to commercial and industrial customers. ENSC requests the application of the Total Resource Cost (TRC) screening test at the program level to meet long-term goals.

1 TRC/PAC Benefits and Costs Data
1 TRC/PAC Benefits and Costs Data mc Benefits (million) mc Costs (million) Benefit! Cost Ratio Total Resource Cost Test (mC)' PAC Benefits (million) PAC Costs (million) Benefit! Cost Ratio Program Administrator Cost Test (PACf ENABLINGSTRA...

AI summary The document presents a table comparing the benefits and costs of various energy efficiency programs and strategies, including education and outreach, development and research, and specific initiatives such as efficient products, home energy reports, and prescriptive and custom programs. It includes benefit-to-cost ratios for both the Total Resource Cost (TRC) and Program Administrator Cost (PAC) tests.

E-27CV of Hugh Gilbert Peach, Ph.D., H. Gil Peach & Associates/Scan America, Board Counsel Consultant 4/19/2011 2 passages
Experience
Experience Principal, H. Gil Peach & Associates (HGPA). January 1988 to present. HGPA provides evaluation design, process and impact evaluation services, planning and program development services, management and organizational studies, pro...

AI summary The text details the professional experience of H. Gil Peach, focusing on roles in evaluation, demand-side management, and energy policy research. It highlights work with organizations like H. Gil Peach & Associates (HGPA), Pacific Power, and the Fund for the City of New York, emphasizing expertise in program evaluation, energy conservation, and statistical analysis.

Selected Papers & Publications
Selected Papers & Publications - Peach, Hugh Gilbert, "Coal" and Fossil Fuels," sections of a freshman/sophomore year college textbook on energy, Greenwood Press, September 2008. - Peach, H. Gil, "Global Perspectives on Technology in Histo...

AI summary The document lists academic publications by H. Gil Peach on topics including energy policy, globalization, program evaluation, and utility customer service. Works focus on evaluating energy assistance programs, customer perspectives during industry transitions, and implications of income shifts for program evaluation.

07313Board Order 6/30/2011 1 passage
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that:
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that: - 1) With regard to the SVS, the Board is satisfied that ENSC is reviewing the recommendations and orders ENSC to file its response to the recommendations no later than July 31, 2011, for consideration by the Bo...

AI summary The Board orders ENSC to respond to recommendations, improve rate impact data, complete a free ridership study, develop policies for non-electricity programs, continue PDWG engagement, and meet quarterly to review program progress. These actions aim to enhance transparency, stakeholder involvement, and accountability in energy efficiency initiatives.

07314Board Decision 6/30/2011 11 passages
Preamble p. p. 0
NSPI's role in DSM and consequently, whether the DSM Plan it proposes is in the public interest, is cost effective, meets the established objectives, and warrants approval. [2010 NSUARB 155, pp. 5-6] - [3] The shift in responsibility for D...

AI summary The document evaluates NSPI's proposed DSM Plan, focusing on its public interest, cost-effectiveness, and alignment with objectives. Key issues include TRC testing, free ridership, pilot programs, and reporting methods. The Board's Final Issues List outlines evaluation criteria for DSM programs and administrative approaches.

[11 ] The relevant provisions of the ENSC Act are: p. p. 0
, by letter dated September 22, 2010, which provided: The Board has carefully reviewed the DSM Transition Plan and grants approval to proceed with implementation, subject to the following directives: - a) The DSM Transition Committee is to...

AI summary The Board approved the DSM Transition Plan with specific directives, noting ENSC's compliance and the evaluation of the 2010 DSM Report and SVS. The 2012 DSM Plan is under consideration, with stakeholders generally supportive of the transition and existing DSM efforts.

3.0 EVALUATION AND VERIFICATION OF 2010 DSM PLAN p. p. 0
3.0 EVALUATION AND VERIFICATION OF 2010 DSM PLAN

AI summary The section outlines the evaluation and verification process of the 2010 Demand Side Management (DSM) Plan, focusing on its implementation, effectiveness, and compliance with regulatory standards.

3.1 Evaluation Report and Savings Verification Study p. p. 0
3.1 Evaluation Report and Savings Verification Study - [17] ENSC reported in its Application (Exhibit E-1, pp. 8-9) that in 2010 the DSM energy savings results had exceeded the target (84.79 GWh v. 81.13 GWh). The demand savings results we...

AI summary ENSC's 2010 DSM program achieved energy savings exceeding targets (84.79 GWh vs. 81.13 GWh) but fell slightly short on demand savings. NMR's evaluation highlighted mixed results across programs, with some exceeding targets significantly while others underperformed. The Board commissioned an SVS to verify savings data, noting data quality and access challenges.

[25] The SVS contains two basic findings: p. p. 0
[25] The SVS contains two basic findings: Finding 1: All of the 2010 DSM programs were competently administered by the DSM Administrator. This finding is based on the NMR evaluations, our review of program documentation and tracking databa...

AI summary The SVS identifies two findings: (1) 2010 DSM programs were competently administered but require improvements in internal control and free-ridership management; (2) NMR's 2010 evaluations met industry standards but need more electrical measurement and support for a Nova Scotia socket study. Recommendations focus on evaluation accuracy and program oversight.

[26] The SVS recommended acceptance of: p. p. 0
[26] The SVS recommended acceptance of: ... the NMR evaluation results for ... 2010, except for a ten percent (10%) cut for Efficient Products-Direct Install. .. [Exhibit E-3, p. 6] [27] Additional recommendations were made in the SVS for...

AI summary The SVS recommended accepting NMR evaluation results for DSM programs, except for a 10% reduction for Efficient Products-Direct Install. Improvements in evaluation methods were suggested, with Dr. Peach emphasizing methodological concerns over NMR results and praising DSM program execution. Data tracking issues were acknowledged but deemed manageable.

3.1.1 Findings p. p. 0
3.1.1 Findings [38] As pointed out by the CA in examination of both the ENSC panel and Dr. Peach, the evaluation and verification of the DSM program and results are of critical importance to ratepayers. It is the means by which ratepayers...

AI summary The Board emphasizes the importance of evaluating DSM programs to ensure ratepayer investments are prudent. It accepts the 2010 DSM Plan evaluation with a 10% reduction for the Efficient Products-Direct Install program. The Province endorses SVS recommendations, and ENSC is ordered to respond by July 31, 2011. An audit is deferred until the 2013 DSM Plan review.

[57] Further, Mr. Whalen recommends: p. p. 0
scaling back and that an alternative approach would be to maintain or increase the budget and that would be consistent with the more long-term ramp ups in making it a bit easier to get to 2013 goals. [Transcript, p. 224] BOARD: But you're...

AI summary The text discusses maintaining or increasing energy efficiency program budgets to meet long-term goals, with support from Mr. Whalen, Mr. Woolf, EAC, and Dr. Peach. Concerns are raised about potential cutbacks disrupting program effectiveness, emphasizing cost-effectiveness and alignment with 2013 targets.

4.4 Bill Impacts p. p. 0
4.4 Bill Impacts [79] In his direct evidence on behalf of Board Counsel, Mr. Woolf discussed the need to establish key principles regarding how to quantify bill and rate impacts due to increasing DSM budgets in order that these rate and bi...

AI summary The text discusses the principles for quantifying bill and rate impacts from increasing DSM budgets, emphasizing the need to evaluate these impacts on participants, non-participants, and all customers. The Province recommends ENSC consult with NSPI and the PWDG to develop principles for incorporating these impacts into DSM plan filings.

[91 ] The SVS made the following recommendation: p. p. 0
[91 ] The SVS made the following recommendation: Recommendation 11: The DSM Administrator should consider whether or not it may be useful to revisit approaches to assessing free-ridership. Currently, NMR is using an improved variant of the...

AI summary The SVS recommends revisiting methods for assessing free-ridership in DSM programs, noting that current methods may overstate free-ridership. ENSC is advised to refine evaluation methods through stakeholder consultation and consider NTG ratios at the measure level. The Province and ENSC agree on the need for ongoing refinement and stakeholder engagement in free-ridership and spillover assessments.

9.0 SUMMARY OF BOARD FINDINGS p. p. 0
9.0 SUMMARY OF BOARD FINDINGS [153] The Board accepts the 2010 DSM Plan evaluation and verification, with the qualification made in the SVS for a 10% reduction for the Efficient Products-Direct Install program. [154] The Board understands...

AI summary The Board accepts the 2010 DSM Plan evaluation with modifications, approves the 2012 investment in DSM programs, and directs ENSC to address data systems, cost allocations, and stakeholder engagement. The Board also requires ENSC to complete a free ridership study and develop policy for tracking costs across mandates.

IR-1 to IR-10 issued by Avon Group06612 3/17/2011 1 passage
1207.vl
1207.vl 1 2 (b) Please have identify any measures for the Commercial and Industrial Programs which been added to or deleted from the measures filed in the 2011 Plan. 3 Request IR-3 4 5 Reference: TRC test be Exhibit applied at E-1, p.17, s...

AI summary The text outlines several requests related to the 2011 and 2012 Demand Side Management (DSM) Plans, including identifying changes to measures, elaborating on strategic benefits, and providing variance analyses for program expenditures. These requests are part of a regulatory proceeding involving Efficiency Nova Scotia Corporation (ENSC).

IR-1 to IR-11 issued by NPB06611 3/17/2011 1 passage
INFORMATION REQUESTS to ENSC from NewPage and Bowater Mersey NON-CONFIDENTIAL
INFORMATION REQUESTS to ENSC from NewPage and Bowater Mersey NON-CONFIDENTIAL 1 Request IR-7: 2 Reference: ENSC Evidence, page 33, lines 22-28. 3 4 (a) Please provide ENSC's best available estimate of the potential GWh and MW savings that...

AI summary NewPage and Bowater Mersey request ENSC to estimate energy savings from adopting codes/standards by 2012, outline steps to encourage adoption, respond to evaluation report recommendations, comment on evaluation points, and address data tracking concerns. The requests reference specific reports and pages, focusing on energy efficiency, program evaluation, and data quality.

IR-1 to IR-13 issued by Tim Woolf, Synapse Energy Economics, Inc. (Board Counsel Consultant)06609 3/17/2011 3 passages
The Conservation Supply Curve p. p. 7
supply curve for saved energy" is theoretically appealing. It reflects a logical order of prioritization of opportunities. Why would someone implement a high cost measure but not a lower cost measure? There is no question that CSC analysis...

AI summary The Conservation Supply Curve (CSC) is a useful tool for comparing energy efficiency measures but has limitations. It excludes advanced technologies and implies a bias against demand-side resources in long-term modeling. Program costs may differ from technology-based CSE due to factors like administration and verification expenses.

Historical Trends in Program CSE p. p. 7
Historical Trends in Program CSE We analyzed several comprehensive energy efficiency programs in varying regions in order to explore the empirical relationship between program CSE and program scale. In this investigation, we collected and...

AI summary The analysis examines historical trends in Program CSE by evaluating over 160 energy efficiency programs across regions, focusing on expenditures, costs, and savings. Data was sourced from utility reports and regulators, with emphasis on the uncertainty of savings estimates despite regular impact evaluations. The study includes programs beyond those achieving 1% sales savings.

References p. p. 10
- [CT ECMB] Connecticut Energy Conservation Management Board. 2007. Energy Efficiency Investing in Connecticut's Future: Report of the Energy Conservation Management Board Year 2006 Programs and Operations. - CT ECMB. 2006. Energy Efficien...

AI summary The document references energy efficiency programs and reports from Connecticut's Energy Conservation Management Board (CT ECMB), the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), and Efficiency Vermont. It cites annual reports, the National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency (NAPEE), and data sources like EIA-861. These materials provide historical context on energy efficiency initiatives and resource assessments.

IR-1 to IR-31 issued by Mel Whalen, Multeese Consulting Inc. (Board Counsel Consultant)06607 3/17/2011 3 passages
Request IR-5 With respect to Figure 5.1, a) If the annual avoided energy and avoided capacity costs used in the development of the TRC's and PAC's are different from those used to assess the 2011 DSM Plan, Please provide them. Please provide the date of the most recent update. Please confirm that the avoided costs currently being used were derived using the same methodology as was used to develop the avoided costs for the 2011 DSM programs. If not, please provide the new derivation. b) Please confirm that avoided costs are being applied in the same manner as in 2011. c) Please provide the derivation of the TRC and PAC results for two of the measures in the Efficient Products program that have different life expectancies. Request IR-6 With respect to Figure 5.1, Note e, please provide the derivation of the "historic savings" of 10 Gwh associated with the adoption of Codes and Standards. Request IR-7 With respect to page 15, line 17, please provide the basis for concluding that the industrial projects "were not included in the 2009 IRP Update" and reconcile it to the statement in Note 13 that "All DSM is assumed to be included in the projection used in the 2009 IRP". Request IR-8 With respect to page 15, lines 19 - 23, a) Please provide the "preliminary investigation" provided to ENSC by a third-party specialist. b) Please provide the qualifications of the third-party specialist to complete this work. Request IR-9 With respect to page 16, line 25, please provide the basis on which ENSC concludes that
rovide the basis on which ENSC concludes that "80th of these changes are incremental to the electrical load forecast in the 2009 IRP Update". Request IR-1 0 With respect to page 17, lines 23 - 25, a) Please provide examples of measures whi...

AI summary The document contains a series of regulatory requests (IR-5 to IR-14) seeking clarifications on ENSC's methodology for calculating avoided costs, free ridership, program evaluations, and alignment with prior DSM plans. Requests focus on data derivation, consistency with past methodologies, and justification for program design assumptions.

Request IR-20
Request IR-20 - With respect to Appendix A, page 14, line 23 - a) Please explain why the Home Energy Report is proposed as a stand-alone program, as opposed to being included as a measure in other programs such as the Existing Houses progr...

AI summary The request seeks clarification on the Home Energy Report's standalone status, evaluation of its savings, and sustainability of behavior-based energy savings. It questions why the report isn't integrated into other programs, how savings are verified, and the long-term effectiveness of behavior-focused measures.

Hard caps on carbon dioxide emissions
Hard caps on carbon dioxide emissions 1 Hard caps mercury emissions on 2 3 4 Request IR-29 5 With respect to the first sentence of Issue C page 23 of Appendix please provide the on C, 6 7 source of the $0.27 - $0.28 per Kwh. If these are c...

AI summary The text includes several requests for information related to carbon dioxide emissions, program cost comparisons, and the selection criteria for a pilot program. Specific inquiries are made about the derivation of cost estimates, the use of data from other jurisdictions, and the factors influencing school selection for the pilot.

IR-1 to IR-43 issued by Ecology Action Centre06613 3/17/2011 3 passages
Section 5
15 IR 9: Please confirm that 4 million will be spent on enabling strategies. Please explain 16 why enabling strategies are important to the future success of ENSC DSM programs in 17 Nova Scotia. 18 19 IR 10: Please confirm that the Home En...

AI summary The text contains a series of inquiries regarding ENSC's DSM programs, including funding for enabling strategies, the effectiveness of the Home Energy Report, baseline assumptions for energy savings, and comparisons between residential and commercial/industrial program budgets and savings projections.

Section 7
2012. - IR 22: Please produce the entire presentation given to stakeholders on January 7, 2011 - by Stu Slote from Navigant Consulting entitled 'ENSC 2012 DSM Plan: Programs - Outline". - IR 23: Does ENSC consider the preliminary budget /...

AI summary The document contains a series of requests for information regarding ENSC's 2012 DSM Plan, including the presentation given to stakeholders, the realism of energy savings projections, alternative savings strategies if ELI savings were unavailable, and the role of the IRP in shaping DSM decisions. References to the IRP 2007 are included, emphasizing low-cost programs and long-term success in energy efficiency.

Section 12
elop and enforce new codes and standards in the residential and commercial/industrial sectors, and what opportunities (beside those already identified) ENSC foresees as potential areas of interest. On May 19, 2010, a one-day session was or...

AI summary The document discusses a session held in 2010 to evaluate free ridership and spillover effects in Nova Scotia's demand-side management (DSM) programs. ENSC aims to refine evaluation methods as programs evolve, and the UARB and other stakeholders were involved in the process. Questions are raised about ENSC's protocols and considerations for free-ridership in their 2012 savings estimates.

IR-1 to IR-55 issued by Consumer Advocate06610 3/17/2011 1 passage
Request IR-54:
Request IR-54: Please provide the Non-participants' or Rate Impact Measure results for all programs proposed for the 2012 program year.

AI summary The request is asking for the Non-participants' or Rate Impact Measure results for all programs proposed for the 2012 program year.

06563Preliminary Issues List 3/7/2011 1 passage
PRELIMINARY ISSUES LIST p. p. 0
PRELIMINARY ISSUES LIST The following issues will be dealt with in the public hearing on Efficiency Nova Scotia's ("ENS") Application for approval of its electricity Demand Side Management ("DSM") Plan for 2012: - 1. Evaluation and verific...

AI summary The document outlines preliminary issues for a public hearing on Efficiency Nova Scotia's 2012 DSM Plan application, including evaluation of past programs, TRC test criteria, free ridership approaches, pilot programs (fuel substitution, green schools, advanced houses), reporting methods, and administrative models.

06564Final Issues List 3/21/2011 1 passage
FINAL ISSUES LIST p. p. 0
FINAL ISSUES LIST The following issues will be dealt with in the public hearing on Efficiency Nova Scotia's ("ENS") Application for approval of its electricity Demand Side Management ("DSM") Plan for 2012: - 1. Evaluation and verification...

AI summary The Final Issues List outlines key topics for the public hearing on Efficiency Nova Scotia's 2012 DSM Plan, including evaluation of past programs, proposed plan details, TRC test effectiveness, free ridership, pilot programs, reporting methods, and administrative approaches.

06934EAC Final Submission 5/13/2011 1 passage
Summary p. p. 2
- 7. While the application of energy savings from outside DSM program activities (either from cumulative savings, codes and standards or stakeholder"s own efficiency volitions) does assists in moving the DSM ball forward, the last-minute i...

AI summary The 2012 DSM Plan's inclusion of 80GW/h of unforeseen savings risks setting a low standard for future DSM programs. EAC highlights ambiguities in evaluating non-program savings, urging clarity to protect ratepayers and ensure effective energy efficiency. EAC recommends revising the plan to address evaluation gaps and sustain DSM goals amid rising NSPI rates.

06951ENSC Closing Submission 5/13/2011 3 passages
1 Hearing Transcript, April 19, 2011, Page 401, Line 9.
1 Hearing Transcript, April 19, 2011, Page 401, Line 9. 1 Evaluation and verification of the success of the 2010 DSM Plan has been positively 2 received and is not being challenged by any stakeholder. As part of the recognized cycle 3 of c...

AI summary The 2010 DSM Plan evaluation and verification have been positively received and are not being challenged. ENSC is committed to implementing recommendations for improvement and requests Board approval of the 2012 DSM Plan and acceptance of the evaluation reports.

Preamble
DATE FILED: May 13, 2011 Page 2 of 14 Exhibit [E-2], 2010 DSM Evaluation Reports – Final Report, February 28, 2011 [NMR Group]. 3 Exhibit [E-3], 2010 Savings Verification Study, March 2011 [H. Gil Peach & Associates]. 4 Exhibit [E-3], Supr...

AI summary The 2010 DSM savings have been evaluated and verified, with no challenges from stakeholders. ENSC is committed to continuous improvement in DSM program design and requests the Board to confirm acceptance of the 2010 results.

15 4. TRC TEST SHOULD BE APPROVED AT PROGRAM LEVEL
15 4. TRC TEST SHOULD BE APPROVED AT PROGRAM LEVEL - ENSC submits that all experts before the Board agree with the Evidence and justification - filed by ENSC supporting the request to apply the TRC screening test at the program - level, an...

AI summary ENSC argues that all experts agree with their evidence supporting the TRC screening test at the program level and reporting PAC test results. No stakeholders opposed the change, and the 2012 DSM Plan is broadly supported for its cost-effectiveness and customer benefits.

06952Avon Group Closing Submission 5/13/2011 2 passages
" Large Industrial Customers p. p. 0
he market and tempered by 2010 participation, but acknowledged it is "more than estimate than a scientific projection". The starting point was the 2010 participation.1O 6 Transcript, p.89. 7 Transcript, p.91 and 2009 NSUARB 116. S Transcri...

AI summary ENSC proposes $1.473 million for large industrial customers, citing 2010 data showing $527,908 actual spending versus $800,000 forecasted. An administrative error misattributed 2010 spending to the wrong class, prompting an updated response. Variance analysis highlights underperformance relative to forecasts.

CONCLUSION p. p. 0
CONCLUSION On behalf of the Avon Group, we recommend: - (a) the budget as filed, be approved, subject to either a deduction for budgeted DSM expenditures assigned to the large industrial class (or a reallocation). It is recommended that 20...

AI summary The Avon Group recommends approving the budget with adjustments to DSM expenditures for large industrial customers, confirming non-program savings inclusion, directing ENSC to engage directly with industrial clients, confirming multi-sector cost allocation, scrutinizing shared services, and requiring rate impact information in future DSM filings.

06953NSDOE/NSE Closing Submission 5/13/2011 5 passages
Program Energy Savings and Expenditures p. p. 0
Program Energy Savings and Expenditures In its evidence ENSC forecasted its annual energy and demand savings as 233.6GWh and 44MW, respectively. ENSC's proposed investment in its 2012 DSM programs is $43.7million. ENSC's proposed plan for...

AI summary ENSC forecasts 233.6GWh annual energy savings and 44MW demand savings, with a $43.7M investment in 2012 DSM programs. Cumulative savings would exceed IRP targets (541GWh energy, 99.6MW demand) but fall slightly below demand targets. ENSC includes savings from industrial codes and prior program overachievements, reducing 2012 savings to 124.1GWh (energy) and 23.2MW (demand) compared to 2011. ENSC claims this meets IRP targets with investment below the $61M program cost cap.

Savings Verification Study p. p. 0
Savings Verification Study A Savings Verification Study of the DSM's administrator's 2010 Demand Side Management Programs was prepared and filed by H. Jill Peach and Associates as Exhibit E-3. Dr. Peach's Savings Verification Study conclud...

AI summary A Savings Verification Study of the 2010 DSM programs, conducted by H. Jill Peach and Associates, confirms competent administration by the DSM administrator. The study relies on NMR Group Inc.'s evaluation and interviews, recommending acceptance of NMR's energy savings results except for a 10% reduction in efficient products direct install. NSDOE supports this recommendation.

Socket Study/Free Ridership Evaluation p. p. 0
Socket Study/Free Ridership Evaluation NSDOE specifically notes for ENSC's review the recommendation that a Nova Scotia socket study be conducted (Recommendation #5); and the recommendation that the DSM administrator or evaluator should co...

AI summary NSDOE recommends conducting a Nova Scotia socket study and refining free-ridership analysis for DSM programs, emphasizing stakeholder consultation. ENSC plans to evaluate free ridership and spillover effects as programs evolve, endorsed by NSDOE in alignment with the Savings Verification Study's recommendations.

Peach Recommendations with respect to Process Evaluation-Organizational Study p. p. 0
Peach Recommendations with respect to Process Evaluation-Organizational Study The Savings Verification Study notes that NMRconducted an excellent process evaluation, primarily directed to interviews and surveys in support ofthe impact eval...

AI summary The Savings Verification Study commends NMR's process evaluation methods, including interviews and surveys. Dr. Peach suggests that after ENSC's first year of operation, a full organizational study should be conducted, which NSDOE supports. The recommendation aligns with traditional DSM process evaluation frameworks.

Application of TRC test at Program Level p. p. 0
Application of TRC test at Program Level As part of its application, ENSC is proposing that the TRC test for the 2012 DSM Plan be applied at the program level, rather than at the measure level as previously required. The benefits ofsuch an...

AI summary ENSC proposes applying the TRC test to the 2012 DSM Plan at the program level, not the measure level, citing benefits outlined by Mel Whalen. NSDOE supports this approach, emphasizing its advantages over the previous method.

06954CA Closing Submission 5/13/2011 2 passages
REASONS TO ADOPT THE BUDGET AND ENERGY SAVING TARGETS AS FILED
REASONS TO ADOPT THE BUDGET AND ENERGY SAVING TARGETS AS FILED The Consumer Advocate's support for the budget and savings targets contained in the 2012 Plan is based on the following factors. - 1. Since 2008, electricity ratepayers in Nova...

AI summary The Consumer Advocate supports the 2012 DSM budget and energy targets, citing past success, Efficiency Nova Scotia's transitional operations, and the need for cautious spending. While recommending additional DSM spending, Board consultant Mel Whalen's analysis is acknowledged, but the Advocate favors the filed plan to ensure ratepayer confidence during the transition.

ABILITY OF Low-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS TO ACCESS DSMPROGRAMMING
ABILITY OF Low-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS TO ACCESS DSMPROGRAMMING Efficiency Nova Scotia has expressed a commitment to the principle of broad access to DSM programs. To date, DSM programming has not been successful in providing low-income househol...

AI summary Efficiency Nova Scotia (ENSC) committed to broad access to DSM programs, but past efforts failed to engage low-income households. The Consumer Advocate supported ENSC's plan to track energy savings and expenditures from low-income DSM participation, aligning with Mr. Foote's 2012 Plan benchmarks to build ratepayer confidence and guide future spending.

06957Quetta Closing Submission 5/13/2011 2 passages
Section 1
IN THE MATTER of the PUBLIC UTILITIES ACT RSNS.c380 as amended. IN THE MATTER of AN APPLICATION to Approve Efficiency Nova Scotia Corporation's Electricity Demand Side Management (DSM) Plans for 2012. Closing Submission by QUETTA INC. May...

AI summary The submission highlights the need for Efficiency Nova Scotia to develop a formal Communication Plan to publicize DSM benefits and improve transparency. It references past Commission Rulings and suggests ISO 9000 certification for evaluation processes to ensure consistency. Education and Communication expenses are emphasized as critical for stakeholder engagement.

Section 2
of the processes and protocols used in Collecting data for the evaluation. This will formally confirm a consistency in the year to year evaluations even if different firms are engaged to do the work. All of which is respectfully submitted....

AI summary The text emphasizes ensuring consistency in year-to-year evaluations of programs, even when different firms conduct the work, by standardizing data collection processes and protocols. This is submitted by John H. Reynolds on behalf of QUETTA INC.

07014ENSC Reply Submission 5/20/2011 1 passage
11 Program Budget for Large Industrial Class
11 Program Budget for Large Industrial Class 12 13 The Avon Group has urged the Board to revisit the issue of proposed program costs for 14 the Large Industrial (LI) class in 2012, and is seeking a reduction in the program costs 15 directl...

AI summary The Avon Group is requesting a reduction in the 2012 DSM Plan program costs for the Large Industrial class from $1.473M to $1.01M. ENSC disagrees, stating that program expenditures and the 'true-up' mechanism are reliable and subject to continuous improvement. ENSC argues that projections must account for market conditions and customer participation, and that the 'true-up' process ensures adjustments based on actual spending.

07313Board Order 6/30/2011 2 passages
ORDER
ORDER WHEREAS on February 28, 2011, Efficiency Nova Scotia Corporation ("ENSC") filed an application with the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board (the "Board") for Approval of its Electricity Demand Side Management Plan for 2012; AND WHER...

AI summary The Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board accepted the 2010 DSM Plan evaluation with a 10% reduction for the Efficient Products-Direct Install program, as qualified in the Savings Verification Study. The Board's decision followed a public hearing on April 18-19, 2011, regarding ENSC's 2012 DSM Plan application.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that:
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that: - 1) With regard to the SVS, the Board is satisfied that ENSC is reviewing the recommendations and orders ENSC to file its response to the recommendations no later than July 31, 2011, for consideration by the Bo...

AI summary The Board orders ENSC to address SVS recommendations, conduct studies on free ridership and non-electricity programs, enhance rate impact information, and maintain stakeholder engagement. ENSC must also track program progress quarterly and align with the 2013 DSM Plan.

07314Board Decision 6/30/2011 10 passages
Preamble p. p. 0
NSPI's role in DSM and consequently, whether the DSM Plan it proposes is in the public interest, is cost effective, meets the established objectives, and warrants approval. [2010 NSUARB 155, pp. 5-6] - [3] The shift in responsibility for D...

AI summary The document outlines the evaluation of NSPI's proposed 2012 DSM Plan by the Board, focusing on public interest, cost-effectiveness, and compliance with objectives. Key issues include program evaluation, free ridership, pilot programs, and reporting requirements, with the Board's Final Issues List highlighting specific criteria for assessment.

3.0 EVALUATION AND VERIFICATION OF 2010 DSM PLAN p. p. 0
3.0 EVALUATION AND VERIFICATION OF 2010 DSM PLAN

AI summary This section focuses on evaluating and verifying the 2010 Demand Side Management (DSM) Plan, likely assessing its compliance, effectiveness, and alignment with regulatory goals. The analysis may involve reviewing program outcomes, cost recovery, and adherence to efficiency targets.

3.1 Evaluation Report and Savings Verification Study p. p. 0
3.1 Evaluation Report and Savings Verification Study - [17] ENSC reported in its Application (Exhibit E-1, pp. 8-9) that in 2010 the DSM energy savings results had exceeded the target (84.79 GWh v. 81.13 GWh). The demand savings results we...

AI summary ENSC's 2010 DSM program exceeded energy savings targets by 5% (3.84 GWh) but fell short on demand savings (98% of target). Key programs like Efficient Products-Retail and Direct Install exceeded targets significantly, while Low Income Households and New Houses underperformed. NMR's evaluation highlighted data quality challenges, and an SVS was commissioned to verify savings estimates.

[25] The SVS contains two basic findings: p. p. 0
[25] The SVS contains two basic findings: Finding 1: All of the 2010 DSM programs were competently administered by the DSM Administrator. This finding is based on the NMR evaluations, our review of program documentation and tracking databa...

AI summary The SVS identifies two key findings regarding Nova Scotia's 2010 DSM programs: (1) programs were competently administered but require improvements in internal control and free-ridership reduction, and (2) NMR evaluations met industry standards but recommend enhanced electrical measurement and a socket study for future cycles.

[26] The SVS recommended acceptance of: p. p. 0
[26] The SVS recommended acceptance of: ... the NMR evaluation results for ... 2010, except for a ten percent (10%) cut for Efficient Products-Direct Install. .. [Exhibit E-3, p. 6] [27] Additional recommendations were made in the SVS for...

AI summary The SVS recommended accepting NMR evaluation results except for a 10% cut for Efficient Products-Direct Install. It proposed method improvements, with Dr. Peach emphasizing methodology concerns over NMR results and praising DSM program execution. Data tracking issues were noted but deemed improving.

3.1.1 Findings p. p. 0
3.1.1 Findings [38] As pointed out by the CA in examination of both the ENSC panel and Dr. Peach, the evaluation and verification of the DSM program and results are of critical importance to ratepayers. It is the means by which ratepayers...

AI summary The Board emphasizes the importance of evaluating DSM programs to ensure ratepayer prudence. It accepts the 2010 DSM Plan evaluation with a 10% reduction for the Efficient Products-Direct Install program. The Province endorses SVS recommendations, and ENSC is ordered to file a response by July 31, 2011. An audit is deferred until the 2013 DSM Plan review.

[57] Further, Mr. Whalen recommends: p. p. 0
[57] Further, Mr. Whalen recommends: ... that ENSC adjust its plan to provide energy savings from its programs that are at least equal to the 2011 plan. Such an approach sustains the momentum of the 2011 plan and makes the achievement of t...

AI summary Mr. Whalen recommends ENSC adjust its plan to achieve energy savings equal to the 2011 target, increasing 2012 spending to $53.4M. This would result in incremental savings of 158.6 GWh and 29.4 MW, with cumulative savings of 487.6 GWh and 86.4 MW. He argues maintaining the 2011 target sustains momentum and makes 2013 targets achievable, citing comparable economics and TRC/PAC metrics.

[65] In its Closing Submission of May 13, 2011, ENSC stated: p. p. 0
exceeds, the ambitious energy savings targets contained in the Integrated Resource Plan ("IRP"), at a budget level that is among the highest in North America on a percentage of utility revenues basis. ENSC's plan meets its savings targets...

AI summary ENSC's DSM plan meets energy savings targets using conservative estimates, differing from independent consultant figures. NPB argues against increasing ENSC's budget, citing support from ratepayer classes, while EAC advocates for higher DSM savings. Discrepancies in energy efficiency project calculations and ELI customer contributions are highlighted.

[91 ] The SVS made the following recommendation: p. p. 0
[91 ] The SVS made the following recommendation: Recommendation 11: The DSM Administrator should consider whether or not it may be useful to revisit approaches to assessing free-ridership. Currently, NMR is using an improved variant of the...

AI summary The SVS recommends revisiting methods for assessing free-ridership in DSM programs, noting potential overestimation by current approaches. EAC suggests determining net-to-gross ratios at the measure level, while ENSC agrees to refine free-ridership evaluation through stakeholder consultation and incorporates recommendations from intervenors and Board Counsel.

9.0 SUMMARY OF BOARD FINDINGS p. p. 0
9.0 SUMMARY OF BOARD FINDINGS [153] The Board accepts the 2010 DSM Plan evaluation and verification, with the qualification made in the SVS for a 10% reduction for the Efficient Products-Direct Install program. [154] The Board understands...

AI summary The Board accepts the 2010 DSM Plan evaluation, approves the 2012 DSM investment, and sets conditions for ENSC, including quarterly meetings and a free ridership study. It also approves changes to the TRC test and allows exploration of a PBM. The Board reserves jurisdiction to rule on costs if EAC and ENSC cannot agree.

07662Status Report on 2010 Evaluation Recommendations and 2010 Savings Verification Study Action Items 7/29/2011 3 passages
Status of 2010 Evaluation Recommendations – and – 2010 Savings Verification Study Action Items
Status of 2010 Evaluation Recommendations – and – 2010 Savings Verification Study Action Items July 29, 2011

AI summary The document provides an update on the status of 2010 evaluation recommendations and action items from a 2010 savings verification study, dated July 29, 2011. It outlines the progress or unresolved issues related to these initiatives within a Nova Scotia regulatory proceeding.

1. Specific Action Items
1. Specific Action Items Specific Action Items not it may be useful to revisit approaches to and approaches to estimate free ridership and assessing free-ridership. Currently, NMR is using an spillover. ENSC is on track to file a study by...

AI summary The document discusses the need to reassess methods for estimating free ridership in energy efficiency programs. It notes that the current method may overstate free-ridership and suggests implementing a policy on dual baselines for future evaluations.

Efficient Products Retail Recommendations
Efficient Products Retail Recommendations Efficient Products Retail Program R2. This pilot is a promising new program. We recommend exploring ways to continue and expand the pilot. R3. While the analysis is well constructed for a first yea...

AI summary The text discusses recommendations for improving the Efficient Products Retail Program, including expanding the pilot, using direct appliance metering for evaluation, and taking digital pictures of appliance labels to determine age. The program was expanded province-wide in 2011, and some recommendations are already being implemented.

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