Modeling Energy Conservation Programs: An Application to Natural Gas Utilities

In recent years conservation received a great deal of attention from energy managers at all levels. Some conservation measures were undertaken voluntarily because they were profitable. Others were adopted to comply with regulations, many of which were intended to reduce social costs of energy production and delivery. The 1970s have been characterized as the era of natural gas shortages, and conservation represented one of many reasonable alternatives for utilities confronted by potential and actual excess demand.