The REEI/Energy District Approach

REEI/Energy District approach has merit for communities, cities, and the State of California as an alternative model for the delivery of energy efficiency. While I realize your need to boil down our proposal to specific measures in specific cities with specific costs - and information is presented herein that fulfills this need - flexibility and the ability to custom tailor efficiency services to our constituents is the essence of the community-based approach that we have developed over the past three years in Irvine and Santa Monica and which we now propose to extend, expand, and mentor in Irvine and Santa Monica; Moreno Valley and Palm Desert; and Brea and West Hollywood.

As presented in the proposal, and specifically on page 41: "...the [REEI] process is based on flexibility, adaptability, and the ability to hear what people want in the communities we serve want and need to chart their sustainable energy futures." On page 45: "...If a certain set of anticipated activities appear unlikely to deliver results, the REEI with Executive Committee authorization, is able to adeptly withdraw funds from one planned activity and reapply those funds in another more likely to succeed area...." It is this responsive attribute that provides for cost effectiveness and programs that squarely address community interests while tapping community assets and channels for success.

One of the most interesting aspects of the past REEI works in Irvine and Santa Monica has been the interaction between the cities, and a natural "one-ups-man-ship" that has occurred. We've found that early success with one specific program activity in one customer segment in one city often is taken as a challenge/opportunity for the other... and this has created a ratcheting effect between the two that we expect will occur in the proposed Six Cities initiative. For instance, when we exchanged 6,000 halogen torchiere lamps with safe and efficient fluorescent models in Irvine, Santa Monica quickly got on board and attempted to top that mark with 7,500 exchanged lamps. Unfortunately Santa Monica did not reach its target, but the program there was a rave success there nevertheless. This form of cross-pollination underscores the value of multiple cities engaging in the REEI process and the fluid ability with which the REEI/Energy District approach has functioned to realize results beyond our expectations. The REEI experience over the past two years strongly suggests that being attuned to the needs of the people, and applying and reapplying resources to them in unique ways, is at the core of the success of the approach.