Energy Policy: DOE's Policy, Programs and Issues Related to Electricity Conservation.

The report provides information on the Department of Energys DOE energy policy and programs as they relate to electricity conservation. As a component of the administrations overall sustainable energy strategy, DOE integrates electricity efficiency into its energy efficiency and renewable energy policy and programs. However, neither the administration nor DOE has an explicit electricity conservation policy. For fiscal year 1998, the administration requested a budget for DOEs Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy of about 1.02 billion, which represents a 27-percent increase over the Offices appropriation for fiscal year 1997. In the recent past, the Congress passed legislation to facilitate greater competition among wholesale suppliers of electricity. Currently, the Congress is considering, and several states have passed, legislation that would restructure the electric utility industry to facilitate greater competition among retail suppliers. Restructuring may result in lower electricity prices, on average thus, some consumers may be less willing to invest in energy efficiency technologies. If electricity prices are lowered and consumption and generation subsequently increase, restructuring could possibly lead to greater power plant emissions and affect environmental quality. At this time, it is uncertain whether DOEs current energy efficiency and renewable energy programs are the most cost effective means for addressing environmental damages.