Since Thomas Edison’s first power plant lit up 800 light bulbs in New York City on the evening of September 4, 1882, electricity has become our most prevalent energy form. It drives our nation’s economy and powers the technologies that enhance our quality of life.

Today electricity use is at an all-time high. Population growth and an expanding digital economy will drive U.S. electricity demand at least 30 percent higher by 2030. Worldwide, electricity demand is expected to double during the same timeframe. That’s a lot of power!

Electric efficiency is—and will continue to be—a critical part of the solution to meeting growing demands for electricity and addressing climate change and other environmental issues associated with the generation of electricity. Energy efficiency also helps to mitigate the rising costs of electricity generation and the demand for new power plants. In fact, it is projected that the electric utility industry can offset one-third of the growth in new electricity demand and 14 percent of the growth in summer peak demand through energy efficiency and demand response measures alone.

America’s electric utilities are leaders in promoting energy-efficiency programs, products, and services to help their customers. And these are making a difference. Yet, there is much more work to be done and a vast, untapped potential for realizing energy savings and efficiency.

The Institute for Electric Efficiency is committed to working with the nation’s electric utilities to find better and more effective ways to achieve and exceed energy efficiency goals. By sharing information, databases, business processes, technological advances, and best practices, the Institute for Electric Efficiency and the nation’s utilities can help the United States lead the way on electric efficiency.