Evaluation, Measurement & Verification

The Company has considerable experience in evaluating energy efficiency programs. Frontier staff has performed program evaluations of AEP-Texas Central and Xcel (SPS) Energy low-income programs, and in 2006 completed an in-depth process and impact evaluation of a large Xcel Energy Minnesota’s Business Lighting Program. Details to the right. Most recently, Frontier completed evaluation of Xcel Energy’s three Texas demand-side management solicitation programs.

Program evaluation constitutes an important component of the technical services Frontier provides. Collectively, the Frontier Team has decades of experience evaluating energy efficiency programs. Mr. Brooks, Mr. Audet, and Dr. Zarnikau were all actively involved with program evaluation activities at Planergy prior to the establishment of Frontier Associates.

Case Study

Xcel Energy
Minnesota Business Lighting Evaluation

Team Lead: Jay Zarnikau

Date of Conduct/Completion: May 2006

Scope of Assessment: This study provided both a process evaluation and an impact evaluation of the Minnesota Business Lighting Efficiency Program. The process evaluation:

  • Determined customer satisfaction with the Business Lighting Efficiency Program
  • Characterized participants and non-participants, and identify the factors driving or impeding participation in the program
  • Determined factors affecting lighting equipment decisions

The impact evaluation:

  • Estimated the rate of free-riders and free-drivers
  • Determined the equipment usage patterns affecting energy savings
  • Gathered customer data and produced an analysis of cost-effectiveness