éco21. Stabilisation of electricity consumption in Geneva: a project driven by a strong political will and the skills and dynamism of a public service utility

Panel: 2. Current energy efficiency policies: On stage and backstage

This is a peer-reviewed paper.

Authors:
Cédric Jeanneret, Services Industriels de Genève - SIG, Switzerland
Pascale Le Strat, APOGEE, France
Guy Wuilleret, SIG-Services, Switzerland

Abstract

This article presents the éco21 programme implemented in the Canton of Geneva (electricity consumption of 3 TWh/year for 460,000 inhabitants) by the Services Industriels de Genève (SIG), the largest multi-utility company in Switzerland. SIG is a State-owned company which provides electricity, water, gas, thermal energy, recycles waste, offers fiber optic and a range of local services to residents and companies in the Canton of Geneva.

éco21 is an ambitious Programme of Demand Side Management (DSM) of electricity consumption which aims to save 150 GWh/year by the end of 2013. This program is managed in a pragmatic way of a professional electric engineer with clear investment process and significant commitment to results and resources. The éco21 budget for the period 2007 to the end of 2013 is 53 millions of Swiss Francs (MCHF) or 40 millions euros (40 M€).

The éco21 plans are the result of interaction between the strict legislative Swiss context, the pro-active Geneva policy and SIG’s dynamism. éco21 is based on 10 action-plans, each one dedicated to a specific category of clients, implemented, involving three different types of drivers:

• Financial incentive,

• Consultancy / training,

• Information / event.

éco21’s structure is based on a thorough analysis of electricity demand characteristics to identify targets for DSM actions. The éco21 programme is based on a bottom-up energy and power analysis, supported by feasibility indicators, energy footprints and the analysis of financial impacts, both for SIG and consumers.

Three years from the end of the programme, 20% of the éco21 electricity savings objectives (30 GWh/year) have been achieved thanks to 20,000 participants.