Demand-Side Management Data Collection Activities: The Role of A National Government

The availability of comparative information about the true costs and benefits of DSM programs greatly increases the prospects for successful implementation of utility-sponsored demand-side management (DSM) programs. National governments have an important role to play in providing these data in a neutral and unbiased fashion. The beneficiaries include utilities, regulators, policymakers, equipment vendors, manufacturers, and researchers. This paper describes four DSM data collection programs, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy's Integrated Resource Planning Program and include: (1) the Database on Energy Programs (DEEP), (2) the Center for Electric End-Use Data (CEED), (3) annual DSM program reports by U.S. utilities, and (4) a triennial survey of residential, commercial, and manufacturing energy users. The last two data collection programs are carried out in conjunction with DOE's Energy Information Administration. The descriptions include types of data collected, intermediate analysis activities, and methods for disseminating information to users.