Strategic Energy Management (SEM)

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Decision details

Decided

July 18, 2017

Allocate Resource to New Measure Development

Decision Details

Allocate resource to developing the following measures:

Residential Aerators
Low Elevation Spray Application

Allocate resources to scoping exercise for RTF role in addressing whole facility measures

Proposer Information

Name

Cory Read

Organization

Idaho Power

Proposer Documents

SEM UMP.pdf

SEM UMP.pdf

Description

Request for the RTF to review the following items related to SEM:

Review the “Deem- Ability” of SEM in the Northwest
Provide guidelines clarifying savings methodologies
Document SEM measure guidelines for regional power planning

SEM definition - Optimization and strategic energy management integrates best practices of system analysis, equipment improvements, and operational improvements into a sustaining energy program. A facility that implements such a practice treats its energy program in a similar manner to safety or quality control programs: an individual or team is tasked with developing and enforcing standards, goals are set, regular reports are generated and reported to management, and all plant employees are engaged and held accountable. (AEG definition, 2016 Idaho Power Potential Study) Idaho Power has expanded SEM offerings in recent years and new SEM opportunities will continue growing as capital investment projects wane due to program saturation. SEM savings introduce challenges to claiming savings that don’t exist in traditional capital investment efficiency projects and an RTF measure review will provide needed guidance. RTF SEM guidance will provide Idaho Power and other program implementers increased comfort when claiming savings and will avoid potentially unneeded investments and enhance regional program efficiencies. Research questions that may be addressed by this measure review may include;

What are the common policy and procedural characteristics of regional programs? Compare ETO, BPA, and other regional/national utility program designs.
What level of engagement is required to claim savings? Can a certain minimum level of engagement in the first year and following years allow for a level of claimed/deemable savings?
Is there a standardized modeling/savings tracking tool/methodology or best practice?
What level of treatment short of a full intervention is needed for claiming persistence beyond first year savings.
What are best practices around claiming 2nd,3rd year savings when no further intervention is offered?

Attached to the request are guidelines published recently as part of DOE’s UMP project. CEE's minimum SEM engagement documents may be useful during the review. https://library.cee1.org/system/files/library/11283/SEM_Minimum_Elements.pdf