Why does Western have Energy Services?

Western maintains the Energy Services under authority of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (42 USC 7275) and Western's Energy Planning and Management Program (10 CFR Part 905).

The Energy Policy Act states,

[Western] may provide technical assistance to customers to, among other things, conduct integrated resource planning, implement applicable integrated resource plans, and otherwise comply with the requirements of this title [EPAct]. Technical assistance may include publications, workshops, conferences, one-to-one assistance, equipment loans, technology and resource assessment studies, marketing studies, and other mechanisms to transfer information on energy efficiency and renewable energy options and programs to customers. [Western] shall give priority to providing technical assistance to customers that have limited capability to conduct integrated resource planning.

Western's EPAMP states,

Western shall establish a program that provides technical assistance to customers to conduct integrated resource planning, implement applicable IRPs and small customer plans and otherwise comply with the requirements of [the IRP Procedures.]

Western's Energy Services helps customers find the resources to improve energy efficiency, use renewable energy and improve their competitive positions. We help meet the present and changing needs of Western's long-term, firm power customers for competitively priced, reliable, and quality energy services that:

• Encourage energy efficiency activities which reduce the inefficient use of electricity;
• Improve the generation, transmission, and end-use efficiencies of electrical power to enhance the role of electricity in the energy market; and,
• Ensure that the benefits of energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies are sufficiently evaluated to enable a fair comparison with conventional power sources

History of Western's Energy Services

Since 1981, Western's Energy Services representatives have worked with customers to develop energy services programs that meet various legislative and programmatic requirements, including the Energy Policy Act of 1992 and Western's Energy Planning and Management Program. Western's Energy Services grew from the Conservation and Renewable Energy Program, formalized in Title II of the Hoover Powerplant Act of 1984. The Act required customers who entered into new firm power contracts with Western to develop approved C&RE programs within one year of the contract date. The number of C&RE activities depended on the type and size of the customer.

With the passage of the Energy Policy Act of 1992, Western modified its C&RE Program, which became the Energy Services program. Western strives to offer the best energy resource information, technology transfer and technical assistance services for customers--to sharpen customers' competitive edge in light of the changing electric utility industry.

Today, Western offers technical assistance and related services that enable our customers to perform integrated resource planning and remain competitive in the changing utility industry. This Web site highlights these services and activities.

Regional Management

Western's energy services are managed regionally from Western's four customer service regions (Upper Great Plains, Rocky Mountain, Desert Southwest, and Sierra Nevada and the Colorado River Storage Project Customer Service Center), while support is provided from the Power Marketing Support Office at Western's Corporate Services Office. Each customer service region works directly with its customers to provide the most appropriate energy services assistance for those customers. Contact your regional representative for more information.