March 13, 2002—California Gov. Gray Davis recently released an assessment of the most aggressive and comprehensive statewide energy conservation effort in California history, which helped Californians save money and cut overall energy use by 6.7 percent and summer peak use by 10 percent in 2001.
The study, “Summer 2001 Conservation Report,” analyzes the extent to which California met its goals last summer for reducing peak electricity demand by 5,000 megawatts—the anticipated summer of 2001 electricity shortfall. Aided by the rapid implementation of a variety of programs, including consumer rebates, a statewide media campaign, improved building and appliance energy efficiency standards, significant outreach efforts, and voluntary curtailment, California achieved an estimated 5,570 megawatts of demand reduction, with an additional 3,200 megawatts of reduction available by voluntary curtailments when necessary by June 2001.
“Many experts doubted that conservation alone could make a crucial difference,” Gov. Davis said. “Californians truly flexed their power, conserved at unheard of levels and saved money. Energy conservation and improved efficiency made a crucial difference in 2001.”
A PDF version of the “Summer 2001 Conservation Report” is available from the California Energy Commission.
