Utilities get serious about efficiency

US experiments that promise enormous energy savings are discussed. Utilities and state officials in California, New York. and and New England have adopted regulations enabling utilities to profit as much or more by convincing their customers to cut their electricity use by relying on more technologically advanced, energy-efficient lighting, equipment, and appliances. It is estimated that state regulations and mechanisms will result in energy-use reductions of about 8.5% by the year 2000. Utility efficiency programs could account for another 3%, trimming summer demand by 45 GW (about 6.7%) and saving an estimated US $45 billion by the turn of the century. The program being pursued by Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) Co., the eighth largest utility in the United States in kilowatthour sales and the leader in pursuing conservation, is examined.<>