
Upstream Utility Incentive Programs: Experience and Lessons Learned
May 12, 2014
Authors
Maureen Quaid & Howard Geller
Upstream incentive programs, which work through manufacturers and distributors, have the potential to dramatically increase the market penetration of efficient technologies, at a significantly reduced unit cost, compared to downstream incentive programs which directly engage the consumer. This paper reviews the experience of investor-owned electric utilities with upstream incentive programs across the U.S. and provides some conclusions and program design recommendations.