Interacting at AESP  

• Policy Session: "Huey, Dewey and Louisiana! Collaboratives" - The AESP conference sessions kicked off with an interesting comparison of collaborative approaches to developing energy efficiency programs launched.  Katherine moderated a session with Cathy Herren and Lana Lovick (Entergy New Orleans), Melissa Piper (National Grid), and Elaine Bryant (PSE&G), who candidly shared their insights (and frustrations) with developing programs by committee.  One of the highlights was learning of the progress Entergy has made in helping to rebuild New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. Thanks again for sharing.
• Barakat & Chamberlin Reunion - it wouldn't be an AESP conference if it didn't include a reunion of former Barakat & Chamberlin alumni. It was a wonderful chance to see our former colleagues: (left) Jim Niewald, ICF; Greg Wikler, Global Energy Partners; Bill LeBlanc, E Source; Dan Engel, Freeman & Sullivan Co. (back); Carol Sabo, Tetra Tech; Katherine Johnson; Terry Fry, Nexant; and Scott Dimetrosky, Opinion Dynamics. Also attending the conference but far more camera shy were Sami Khawaja and Hossein Haeri, Cadmus Group, and Bill Prindle, ICF.

A Flurry of Process Evaluations

One of the really interesting parts of conducting process evaluations across diverse utilities is to analyze the innovative ways in which these programs are offered to customers. These evaluations illustrate three different approaches to promoting energy efficiency measures and behaviorial change to customers:

• The Partners in Energy Savings (PIES) Collaborative-a group of four natural gas utilities in Colorado, promoted their portfolio of energy efficient rebates and home energy checkups through its Excess is Out branding campaign.

• Columbia Gas of Virginia used a different approach- emphasizing energy savings through its WarmWise brand to promote a similar set of program offerings to both residential and small commercial customers.

• PECO's Smart Home Rebate Program has taken a much more humorous approach - focusing on ways to get rid of "energy monsters" through its equipment rebates and appliance recycling programs.

During the next few months, Katherine will be analyzing the effects of these different approaches - as well as identifying some of the challenges of marketing these types of programs to customers. The lessons learned from these process evaluations, especially those in the start up phase, will be presented at the next International Energy Program Evaluation Conference Getting out of the Starting Blocks: Challenges with PY1 Portfolio Evaluations in Boston, August 16-18, 2011.