Review of demand-side data needs for least-cost utility planning

Least-cost utility planning is a new way for utilities and state regulatory commissions to assess consistently a variety of demand and supply resources that cost-effectively meet customer energy-service needs. This new planning paradigm 1.(a) explicitly includes conservation and load-management programs as energy and capacity resources;2.(b) includes consideration of environmental and social factors, as well as of direct economic costs;3.(c) involves public participation; and4.(d) includes careful analysis of the uncertainties and risks posed by different resource portfolios and by external factors. The relative paucity of data on demand-side resources, particularly when compared to the information available on supply resources, poses a significant barrier to integrating these options into utility resource plans.