AESP Brown Bag Webinar: Collaborative Groups: Harnessing the Power of Many

Demand Side Management (DSM) policies and infrastructures are continually evolving. This shifting dynamic makes developing, governing, and assessing DSM opportunities and initiatives more complicated than ever, creating a need for increased stakeholder collaboration. 
 
DSM collaborative groups have been in existence in some jurisdictions for many years, but we see increasing emphasis on the need for and value of these groups across the country. Energy efficiency collaborative groups bring individuals together to work as a team; pooling their knowledge, as well as their resources and skills, to reach an overall goal. Collaborative groups may consist of utility program administrators, evaluators, regulators, consumer groups and other stakeholders that support the long-term success of energy efficiency programs.
 
Although some states still do not have collaborative groups, their frequency is increasing nationally as energy efficiency funding increases and energy efficiency programs gain visibility. Collaborative groups come in all shapes and sizes, varying by its impetus, number of stakeholders, frequency of meetings and mission. However, discussions with key stakeholders have found one common theme: jurisdictions with collaborative groups typically improve energy efficiency programs, achieve support of stakeholders, and mitigate controversy in the end.
 
This Brown Bag will provide insight into best practices and lessons learned from collaborative groups via a panel discussion with representatives from a sample of states. 


Speakers:
Steve Hobson, Director, BC Hydro Power Smart
Matt Nelson, Senior Research Analyst, Northeast Utilities
Billy Berny, Manager EE/DR Programs, American Electric Power


Moderator:
Lynn Westerlind, Manager Policy & Evaluation, National Grid