Madison, WI - Wisconsin’s state-wide energy efficiency program, Focus on Energy, helps electric customers achieve cost-savings through energy conservation measures. On the latest episode of the Electric Wire podcast, we discuss more about the program, why it was created, what’s in it for customers, costs and benefits, the program’s four-year planning process, and more. We are joined by Lisa Stefanik, Managing Director, Focus on Energy, and Jolene Sheil, Portfolio Manager for Focus on Energy, Public Service Commission of Wisconsin. Matthew Spencer, Director of Government Relations, Madison Gas and Electric, and Board Member for the Statewide Energy Efficiency and Renewable Administration (SEERA), co-hosts.

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Key Moments from this Episode

4:43 – What is the Focus on Energy program?

5:50 – When, how, and why was Focus on Energy created?

7:15 – More on the roles of the program’s administrator, APTIM; the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin; and, the Statewide Energy Efficiency and Renewable Administration

9:55 – How is Focus on Energy funded and what is the relationship between the state’s electric utilities and Focus on Energy?

14:35 – What does Focus on Energy do for Wisconsin’s electric customers?

17:30 – How does the program reach out to customers about available offerings?

18:48 – How are decisions made about what energy efficiency programs to offer?

22:50 – What are the costs and benefits of the program?

23:40 – More on the benefits of the program (bill savings, grid improvements, environmental, and economic benefits)

29:10 – What are the top performing programs? (Industrial projects; discussion of LED lightbulbs)

39:00 – Related federal funding from the Inflation Reduction Act

43:50 – The Quadrennial Planning Process

48:30 – Renewable energy funding

50:29 – Issues that arose during COVID-19 pandemic

Links from Episode

Focus on Energy
https://focusonenergy.com/

Focus on Energy Success Stories
https://focusonenergy.com/success-stories-1

Online Home Assessment Tool Walkthrough
https://focusonenergy.com/home-assessment

Focus on Energy Annual Reports
https://focusonenergy.com/evaluation-reports/categories/annual-reports

Public Service Commission of Wisconsin
https://psc.wi.gov/Pages/Home.aspx

APTIM (Focus on Energy Program Administrator) 
https://www.aptim.com/