Energy Efficiency Goal (Texas)

Last modified on February 12, 2015.

Rules Regulations Policies Program

Place	Texas
Name	Energy Efficiency Goal
Incentive Type	Energy Efficiency Resource Standard
Applicable Sector	Investor-Owned Utility
Eligible Technologies	Geothermal Heat Pumps, Solar Water Heat, Unspecified technologies
Active Incentive	Yes
Implementing Sector	State/Territory
Energy Category	Energy Efficiency Incentive Programs, Renewable Energy Incentive Programs
Electric Peak Demand Reduction	20% reduction in annual growth in demand 2010 and 2011; 25% reduction in annual growth in demand 2012; 30% reduction in annual growth in demand 2013 and beyond
Website	http://www.texasefficiency.com/
Date added to DSIRE	2011-02-09
Last DSIRE Review	2012-07-06
Last Substantive Modification to Summary by DSIRE	2011-07-22
References	DSIRE

Summary

Texas is credited with being the first state to establish an Energy Efficiency Resource Standard in the United States.* Originally, the goal called for investor owned utilities (IOUs) to meet 10% of its annual growth in electricity demand through energy efficiency. The legislature updated those standards in 2008 (HB3693) and the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) finalized the goals and provided additional guidance on how to achieve them. SB1125 (2011) amended the goals again.

Options available to the IOUs to meet the energy efficiency goals include standard offer programs or market transformation programs. Standard offer programs include programs such as commercial and industrial energy efficiency incentives or incentives for "hard-to-reach" customers (among others). Market transformation programs include programs such as incentives for retro-commissioning, incentives for ENERGY STAR New Homes, or incentives for small distributed renewable generation (among others). Each utility, in turn, must develop Energy Efficiency Plans and Reports outlining specifically how the utility is implementing its programs, in accordance with the law to meet its goal.

Between the years 2003 to 2009, the IOUs have exceeded the energy efficiency goals. The 2011 results will become available after all the utilities submit their 2011 Energy Efficiency Plans and Reports, which are due on or before April 2011 to the PUCT. See the PUCT web site (search for control number 39105) for filings.

The Texas Energy Efficiency web site includes Energy Efficiency Plans and Reports for each investor owned utility since 2007. They also complete an annual report highlighting accomplishments and provide detailed information about energy efficiency goals and implementation.

• Statistic provided by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). See ACEEE's State Energy Efficiency Resource Standard Fact Sheet for a quick reference guide comparing states with energy savings goals.

Authorities (Please contact the if there are any file problems.)

Authority 1:	Texas Utilities Code § 39.905
Date Enacted	1999 (subsequently amended)

Authority 2:	Texas PUC Electric Rules §25.181
Date Enacted	11/1999 (subsequently amended)

Authority 3:	S.B. 1125
Date Effective	2011-09-01
Date Enacted	2011-05-28

• Incentive and policy data are reviewed and approved by the N.C. Solar Center's DSIRE project staff.