Cycle 6 + 2024 Annual Report
NEEA’s Cycle 6 (2020–2024) + Annual Report highlights the alliance’s role in catalyzing energy efficiency and innovation across the Northwest.
Letter to the Region
NEEA’s sixth business cycle (2020–2024) proved to be a pivotal chapter in the organization’s ongoing efforts to expand efficiency options and opportunities for Northwest consumers and businesses.
By bridging the gap between evolving efficiency demands and the need to find innovative solutions that benefit Northwest consumers, the alliance leveraged its market data and research, technical expertise and trusted relationships throughout the supply chain to expand consumer choices and support a more resilient, secure energy system for our region.
Among our many accomplishments in Cycle 6, the alliance explored 77 new and emerging technologies to validate the most efficient solutions for our region’s homes and businesses, collaborated on the advancement of six new electric and dual-fuel programs that bring the benefits of efficiency to all Northwest consumers, empowered the region with the first detailed Northwest energy use data in more than 30 years, and launched the first regional end-use load flexibility collaboration with 10 Northwest utilities.
As we look back on the end of this business cycle, we celebrate an era of collaboration, innovation and revelatory data. Moving into our next cycle, NEEA will continue to serve the region as a neutral, unbiased support to the market, helping the private sector find innovative ways to sharpen their competitive edge while reducing energy waste, supporting grid reliability, and bringing the benefits of energy efficiency to all residential and commercial Northwest utility customers.
Becca Yates
Executive Director,
Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance
Jamae Hilliard Creecy
Vice President of
Energy Efficiency,
Bonneville Power Administration
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Expanding Consumer Choice through Energy Innovation
By partnering with manufacturers to encourage innovation and accelerate the adoption of efficient technologies, NEEA catalyzes efficiency on a new scale.
Throughout Cycle 6, the alliance continued its work to identify and vet emerging technologies and bring forward new products that are proven to perform well and save energy. NEEA works with a wide range of manufacturers, helping them develop and differentiate efficient products that support their competitive advantage nationally and internationally. These efforts demonstrate the strong business case for efficiency by signaling to manufacturers that a market exists for more efficient products. The result is expanded private sector investment in emerging technology that multiplies and improves efficient product options for Northwest consumers.
As a dual-fuel alliance, NEEA accelerates the development of affordable, reliable energy options for both electric and natural gas customers, ensuring that all Northwest consumers benefit from proven energy-efficient technologies and innovative solutions.
Over the course of Cycle 6, NEEA made significant progress working with manufacturers and the supply chain to expand investment in emerging efficient technologies, ensuring that they perform well and meet the needs of all Northwest consumers. Highlights include:
77 new and emerging technologies evaluated for performance and energy savings potential.
3.4 TWh of energy savings potential nationwide due to the adoption of ENERGY STAR® v9.1 for televisions, the equivalent of 108,000 MWh savings for the Northwest.
7 manufacturers producing 100+ models of high-efficiency energy/heat recovery ventilation systems (up from 1 manufacturer and 1 product in 2019).
80% increase in number of qualified LLLC products from 30 manufacturers. Corresponding sales of LLLC in the Northwest grew by 360%.
1.6 million incremental efficient electric products realized across the region during Cycle 6.
Learn More About NEEA’s Work to Innovate Energy Efficiency:
Expanding Options for Affordable, Efficient TVs
In Cycle 6, NEEA expanded on its long-term efforts to improve TV efficiency by developing new test methods to better differentiate performance and gaining buy-in from manufacturers to voluntarily update their testing methods. This work helped increase the availability of efficient, more accurately labeled TVs, empowering consumers to make informed purchasing decisions.
Dual-Fuel Solutions to Optimize Energy Infrastructure
In Cycle 6, NEEA used its unique status as a dual-fuel organization to begin identifying and validating technologies that offer flexible and resilient solutions to meet the growing demands of the Northwest’s energy system. By efficiently integrating natural gas and electricity, dual-fuel residential heating and cooling systems provide a path toward optimizing regional energy use, leveraging existing infrastructure, balancing peak loads, and enhancing consumer comfort.
Ensuring that energy efficiency is affordable and accessible to all Montanans is a top priority. By collaborating with the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, utilities in Montana are supporting and delivering energy-efficient technologies that both save energy and meet the unique needs of our climate and customers.”
Ben Brouwer | Energy Bureau Chief
Montana Department of Environmental Quality
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Partnering With the Market to Reduce Energy Waste and Create Lasting Market Change
As the energy sector evolves to meet growing demands and ensure resource adequacy during peak times, NEEA’s long-term, proven framework is more relevant than ever.
NEEA works with the market to influence both the supply and demand of energy-efficient products by increasing consumer awareness, influencing product availability through retail and wholesale channels and priming the market to support broader adoption. NEEA leverages its trusted relationships with manufacturers, distributors, retailers and other market actors to improve and promote new technologies, and create training and educational opportunities for Northwest builders, designers and contractors. By helping regional professionals effectively sell and install the technologies that reduce the most energy waste and best support the lives of consumers, the alliance helps create more efficient, comfortable and affordable homes and commercial buildings.
In Cycle 6, NEEA built upon long-term partnerships with market actors to accelerate the development and adoption of energy-efficient products that save energy and reduce demand on the grid during peak load times. This work includes supporting manufacturers to develop efficient heat pump water heaters that can communicate with the grid and be strategically controlled to shift energy use away from peak times, delivering heightened consumer benefits, reducing energy waste and easing the strains of load growth.
Throughout Cycle 6, NEEA influenced the supply chain to remove market barriers for a variety of energy-saving products, including heat pump water heaters (HPWHs), efficient clothes dryers and other efficient consumer products sold through the retail channel and bundled together in the Retail Product Portfolio (RPP) program. Highlights include:
5 of the top 7 major appliance retailers in the U.S. now participate in NEEA’s ENERGY STAR Retail Products Platform.
22% increase between 2020–2024 in efficient electric dryer sales from both ENERGY STAR and heat pump products.
445 aMW of potential first year energy savings for the Northwest resulting from the HPWH federal standard.
40% increase in regional smart pump sales between 2020–2024.
Learn More About NEEA’s Work to Advance the Adoption of Energy-Efficient Products in the Northwest:
Lighting the Path to Operational Efficiency and Occupant Comfort
NEEA collaborates with manufacturers, distributors and regional utilities to accelerate adoption of luminaire level lighting controls (LLLC) products in the market. By providing education, resources, and support, NEEA’s efforts help business owners understand and embrace this technology that significantly reduces energy waste, increases occupant comfort and improves their bottom line.
Supporting the Supply Chain to Build Scale for Retail Product Efficiency
NEEA engages with national utility organizations and mid- and upstream market partners to encourage the stocking, promotion and sales of more efficient and affordable appliances and home-electronic options for Northwest consumers. Access to full-category sales data allows NEEA to identify the most promising efficiency opportunities and gain insights to support energy efficiency innovations.
Driving Efficient Solutions for Any Fuel Choice
In Cycle 6, NEEA evolved key products and approaches to expand efficient HVAC options, including gas, electric and hybrid technologies. By leveraging heat pump expertise and longstanding HVAC supply-chain relationships, NEEA continued its work making all types of Northwest buildings more comfortable and affordable to power.
Through our participation in the alliance, NW Natural pools resources, shares risk and leverages the power of the region to accelerate the development of new and innovative efficient gas technologies. Together, we’re not just meeting the energy needs of today but paving the way for the safe, resilient and affordable energy future of tomorrow.”
Kellye Dundon | Environmental Policy Manager
NW Natural
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Aligning the Market through Insightful Data and Neutral Expertise
By filling information gaps and identifying and removing barriers to efficiency, NEEA aligns the market to meet evolving energy efficiency needs.
Over the last 30 years, NEEA has proven itself to be an unbiased third party with a track record of providing actionable data, analysis and insights into consumer needs and purchasing preferences to promote greater efficiency. In Cycle 6, NEEA continued this legacy by supporting the Northwest through research and evaluation, data and regionwide studies that provide an up-to-date, representative characterization of existing building stock and energy trends. These efforts not only inform NEEA’s Market Transformation programs, but they also help identify opportunities for utility and energy efficiency programs and private sector investments that match the needs of Northwest consumers.
By systematically gathering market-specific information and data, NEEA deepens energy efficiency’s reach and impact to help build an expansive, energy-efficient economy in which all Northwest residents can thrive. Highlights include:
90+ research studies conducted and reports published.
2,000+ homes surveyed
for over 100 building characteristics in the 2022 Residential Building Stock Assessment (RBSA).
900+ commercial buildings studied for the Commercial Building Stock Assessment (CBSA).
Billions of 1-minute data points collected for the
End-Use Load Research (EULR) project.
Learn More About NEEA’s Comprehensive Research and Data Analysis:
Long-Term Studies Drive Lasting Efficiency in the Northwest
In 2024, NEEA and project partners released the data from the 2022 RBSA, a long-term study on the Northwest’s residential buildings that provides crucial energy insights. The region’s utilities and stakeholders use this data to identify efficiency opportunities, inform programs and align efforts with the region’s real-world needs.
Providing Unprecedented Insight Into Northwest Electricity Use
The first of its kind in more than 30 years, NEEA’s Northwest EULR Project is a large-scale study providing insight into how Northwest utility customers use electricity. This study plays an important role supporting energy efficiency programs, reducing peak-demand electricity use and improving demand forecasting to help the region save millions of dollars on future energy investments.
Discover the Most Pivotal Research and Analysis From Cycle 6
Cycle 6 marked a period of extensive research, evaluation and deep insights that increased and improved efficiency options for Northwest homes and businesses. Dive into the valuable analysis that provides critical support to the region’s program design, planning and performance tracking.
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Representing Real-World Northwest Needs in the Regulatory Process
NEEA bridges the gap between efficiency and innovation, guiding product advancements and helping align industry efforts to serve the real-world needs of the Northwest.
During Cycle 6, NEEA delivered primary research, product-testing results and critical market data, along with insights, analysis and experience gained through Market Transformation programs. These insights support alignment efforts with a variety of groups to advance energy efficiency through voluntary specifications, as well as local, state and federal codes, policies and standards. This alignment helps manufacturers and other market actors assess opportunities and develop new technologies and features that make homes safer, more efficient and more comfortable.
Energy codes informed by NEEA’s work ensures that Northwest consumers’ needs are met by improving construction quality and best practices, resulting in quieter, better-ventilated, and more comfortable and durable homes and buildings. In Cycle 6, more than 25,000 above-code homes were built in the region, demonstrating the value and effectiveness of above-code construction, and paving the way for future improvements in energy code. The alliance’s BetterBuiltNW platform provides builders in the region with resources and trainings to help them build high-performance, above-code homes. Highlights include:
156 federal rulemakings commented on, informing 68 product specifications and standards.
32,700 people supported with code training and technical assistance.
25,000+ above-code homes built in the region.
43 code proposal submissions and 29 adopted proposals for the 2024 IECC.
Learn More About How NEEA’s Efforts Have Improved the Efficiency and Comfort of Homes and Buildings in the Northwest:
National Guidance for Regional Value
NEEA’s role as a long-trusted resource to national industry, trade, manufacturing and efficiency organizations resulted in key achievements in Cycle 6. Learn how NEEA provides data and technical guidance to support federal efficiency standards in ways that benefit Northwest consumers.
Advanced Efficiency Training Gives Homebuilders a Competitive Edge
In Cycle 6, NEEA continued its work providing extensive in-person and online training to homebuilders and contractors across the region, including in rural, suburban and urban areas. By providing education on advanced technologies and supporting code compliance, NEEA helps to reduce the region’s energy waste, improve building resiliency and give local businesses a competitive edge by helping them expand the energy-efficient products in their buildings.
Giving Northwest Consumers the Power of Choice
NEEA collaborates on a national level to inform energy efficiency voluntary standards and specifications, which encourage the development of innovative, high-quality and reliable products that reduce energy waste. Learn more about some of that work in Cycle 6 and how these standards and specifications help consumers make informed, cost-effective choices about the efficiency levels of the products they buy.
Through our collaboration with the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, Seattle City Light is advancing innovative technologies that reduce load across the region’s energy system, including during peak events. This partnership supports our mission of safely delivering affordable, reliable, and environmentally responsible energy services to our customers.”
Joe Fernandi | Director, Customer Energy Solutions
Seattle City Light
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Collaborating to Deliver Lasting Energy Solutions for the Northwest
NEEA partners with utilities and energy efficiency organizations to pool resources, share risks and collectively advance energy efficiency for the benefit of all Northwest consumers.
Facilitating collaboration to foster long-term, market-based changes that benefit Northwest consumers and businesses has always been central to NEEA’s Market Transformation approach. By convening a variety of regional and national natural gas and electric stakeholders, NEEA promotes knowledge sharing, addresses barriers and aligns strategic directions, ensuring that energy efficiency improvements are coordinated with key partners and aligned to benefit the entire region. This collaborative effort results in increasingly available and affordable energy-saving products and a stronger energy future for Northwest consumers and businesses. Highlights include:
90 utilities, government offices and efficiency organizations represented at 12 alliance SEM workshops, with 300+ attendees participating.
~50 aMW of energy savings delivered through regional SEM programs in Cycle 6.
1,718 attendees across 5 Efficiency Exchange conferences.
10 utilities collaborated to launch the first regional end-use load flexibility effort to develop solutions for a more secure, affordable and reliable Northwest energy system.
Learn How NEEA Collaborates Regionally and Nationally to Drive Impactful Results:
Driving Strategic Energy Management Practices Through Regional Collaboration
For nearly two decades, NEEA has facilitated the adoption of strategic energy management (SEM) in partnership with Northwest utilities and energy efficiency organizations. This whole-building approach to eliminating commercial and industrial building energy waste delivers tangible energy savings and improved building performance. After many years of convening utilities and practitioners in and outside the region to develop new tools and resources, NEEA’s SEM program was successfully handed off to the market in 2024. Moving forward, regional practitioners will continue this important work by leading a Northwest sub-chapter of the North American SEM Collaborative.
A Continent-Wide Collaborative to Advance Efficient Natural Gas Solutions
In 2022, NEEA helped form the North American Gas Heat Pump Collaborative, a group comprised of 17 utilities and energy efficiency administrators that works to innovate efficient natural gas solutions. Representing more than 37% of North American households that use natural gas, this large-scale, cross-regional collaborative is committed to advancing options for natural gas efficiency for consumers in the Northwest and across the continent.
Idaho Power’s participation in the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance aligns with our commitment to provide affordable energy by producing cost-effective energy efficiency savings throughout our service area.”
Quentin Nesbitt | Customer Research & Analysis Leader
Idaho Power
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Cycle 6 Energy Savings Results
Market Transformation is a long-term process. As depicted below, alliance activities create permanent market changes that deliver energy savings returns long after the 5-year investment period has ended. The following graphs and charts show energy savings associated with market change that the alliance influenced in Cycle 6 (i.e., current investments), as well as savings from investments made during NEEA’s previous business cycles that continue to deliver returns (i.e., previous investments) as a result of continued market progress and sustained market changes.
2024 Co-Created Electric Savings
NEEA estimates that the region achieved more than 43 average megawatts (aMW)2 of co-created1 energy savings in 2024.
2024 Co-Created Natural Gas Savings
NEEA estimates that the alliance achieved more than 887,000 Therms of co-created1 natural gas savings in 2024. The majority of these savings are from residential code advancements.
Co-Created Energy Savings (Progress to 5-year Goals – Electric)
In Cycle 6, alliance activities delivered 148 aMW of co-created1 electric energy savings, meeting its business plan estimate. This is equivalent to the amount of energy needed to power more than 108,000 Northwest homes each year.
These energy savings are thanks to decades of alliance work in key markets like space and water heating, combined with new product specifications and standards development, as well as work advancing new building codes. To pave the way for future streams of energy savings, the alliance also launched new initiatives in Cycle 6 in areas such as efficient pumps, televisions and heat pump dryers ensuring a balanced portfolio for Cycle 7.
Incremental to this achievement is an additional nearly 50 aMW of energy savings achieved through local efforts in Strategic Energy Management (SEM) programs. Throughout Cycle 6, NEEA supported the region’s SEM efforts, building on the developmental work that NEEA designed in the early 2000’s through partnerships in the food processor industry. Today, SEM has been expanded across the region by numerous utilities to provide high-touch local customer engagement programs across several sectors, including commercial, industrial, schools and healthcare.
Total Regional Energy Savings (Progress to 5-year Goals – Natural Gas)
In Cycle 6, alliance activities delivered 4.7 MM Therms of total regional savings3 through NEEA’s natural gas Market Transformation portfolio.
NEEA began Cycle 6 with a nascent natural gas portfolio primarily focused on emerging technology work and early program development. As a result of NEEA’s efforts to identify and advance commercialized technologies, NEEA added two new programs to the portfolio, (Advanced Commercial Water Heating and Efficient RTUs), demonstrated significant progress in market characterization, and forged critical relationships within the region and with extra-regional partners.
Although NEEA did not meet its business plan forecast for natural gas savings, due to changes in Washington code that caused a shift away from gas appliances and unexpected delays in advancing natural gas measures in Oregon code, the alliance enters Cycle 7 with a continued commitment to advancing gas efficiency options for consumers in this evolving landscape. Looking ahead, the alliance is focused on advancing several dual-fuel opportunities into the portfolio.
Additive* Co-Created Savings
While NEEA is funded in 5-year increments, Market Transformation programs play out over a longer period, often realizing their full potential over a period of 15 years or more. The following charts depict how NEEA’s electric and natural gas investments for each business cycle resulted in permanent market change that led to continued long-term energy savings.
Working together, the region has achieved:
- More than 1,004 aMW of co-created electric energy savings since 1997. This is equivalent to enough energy to power more than 732,000 Northwest homes each year.
- 4MM Therms of co-created natural gas savings since 2019.
Electric (1997 – 2024)
Natural Gas (2019 – 2024)
20-Year Benefit Cost-Ratio:
Reflects the 20-year value5 of the regional investment in Market Transformation efforts. The alliance expects all programs to meet a benefit-cost ratio threshold of 1 or better.
- Electric benefit-cost ratio: 2.0
- Natural gas benefit-cost ratio: 1.1
Electric Regional Peak Demand:
NEEA’s analysis uses a regional peak hour definition of 6pm weekdays in December, January and February for winter peak and 6pm weekdays in July and August for summer peak.
Winter:
- 2024: 86 MW
- Cycle 6: 402 MW
Summer:
- 2024: 67 MW
- Cycle 6: 304 MW
Avoided CO2 Emissions (tons):
Electric:
- 2024: 200,000
- Cycle 6: 859,000
Natural Gas:
- 2024: 5,900
- Cycle 6: 23,800
Glossary of Savings Terms:
- Co-created energy savings include all savings above an estimated baseline that occur in the market due to the combined efforts of NEEA and its partners, including the utilities and program administrators who make up the alliance. Totals may be rounded to the nearest whole number or 0.1 decimal place.
- Average megawatt (aMW) is the continuous output of a resource with one megawatt of capacity over a period of one year. This equates to 8,760 (the number of hours in a year) MW hours or 8,760,000 kilowatt hours. 1 aMW = equivalent to enough energy to power about 730 Northwest homes per year.
- Total regional savings include energy savings associated with all market changes. They represent the trackable adoption in the market of the efficient product or service, calculated above the pre-intervention market starting point, due to the combined efforts of NEEA and its partners. Due to the developmental stage of the natural gas portfolio at the start of Cycle 6, NEEA’s 2020–2024 Business Plan did not have a co-created savings forecast for its natural gas efforts.
- *Additive energy savings are defined as the sum of new first-year savings occurring each year across multiple years.
- 20-year natural gas benefit-cost ratio reflects the 20-year value of the regional investment in Market Transformation efforts. The alliance expects all programs to meet a benefit-cost ratio threshold of 1 or better.
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2024 Investments
$20.2 Million
Electric Market Development
+ Transformation
$6.9 Million
Electric Analytics, Research
+ Evaluation
$7 Million
Business Administration
$2.7 Million
Stakeholder Engagement, Corporate Strategy + Communications
$3.5 Million
Natural Gas
Total for Market Development + Transformation and Analytics Research + Evaluation natural gas activities
$.86 Million
End-Use Load Research
$.56 Million
End-Use Load Flexibility
Balance Sheet
As of December 31, 2024
| Assets | |
| Cash and cash equivalents | $959,770 |
| Short-term investments | $13,514,128 |
| Funder and other receivables | $204,764 |
| Prepaid expenses | $965,171 |
| Property and equipment | $1,618,572 |
| Operating Lease Right-of-Use Asset | $3,474,889 |
| Total Assets | $20,737,294 |
| Liabilities and net assets | |
| Accounts payable and other liabilities | $5,686,580 |
| Advances from funders | $7,583,430 |
| Operating Lease Liability | $4,379,832 |
| Total liabilities | $17,649,842 |
| Net Assets | |
| Without Donor Restrictions | $3,051,657 |
| With Donor Restrictions | $35,795 |
| Total Net Assets | $3,087,452 |
| Total Liabilities and Net Assets | $20,737,294 |
Statement of Activities
Year ending December 31, 2024
| Revenues | |
| Electric contributions | $34,274,396 |
| Natural Gas contributions | $4,351,875 |
| End-Use Load Research Contributions | $395,421 |
| Special fund contributions | $1,881,394 |
| Interest and other income | $236,386 |
| Total Revenue | $41,139,472 |
| Expenses | |
| Compensation and benefits | $15,660,972 |
| General administration | $4,803,744 |
| Direct project costs | $21,312,199 |
| Total Expenses | $41,776,915 |
| Change in net assets | $(637,443) |
NEEA Board of Directors
Gilbert Archuleta
NEEA Board Vice Chair
Puget Sound Energy
Director, Customer Energy Management
Holly Braun
(left Board in 2024)
NW Natural
Manager of Energy Efficiency and Innovation
Brittany Broyles
Tacoma Power
Manager, Customer Energy Programs Operations Team
Michael Colgrove
Energy Trust of Oregon
Executive Director
Debbie DePetris
Clark Public Utilities
Energy Services Manager
Kellye Dundon
(joined Board in 2025)
NW Natural
Environmental Policy Manager
Joe Fernandi
Seattle City Light
Director, Customer Energy Solutions
Suzanne Frew
Snohomish County PUD
Senior Project Manager
Andrew Grassell
(left Board in 2024)
Chelan PUD
Manager, Energy Development and Conservation
Jamae Hilliard Creecy
NEEA Board Chair
Bonneville Power Administration
Vice President, Energy Efficiency
Nicole Hydzik
Avista Utilities
Director of Energy Efficiency
Chris Johnson
(joined Board in 2025)
Benton PUD
Director of Power Management
Josh Mitchell
(joined Board in 2025)
Chelan PUD
Customer Energy Solutions Manager
Clay Monroe
(joined Board in 2025)
Pacific Power
Managing Director of Customer Solutions
Quentin Nesbitt
Idaho Power
Customer Research + Analysis Leader
Elizabeth Osborne
Washington Governor’s Office
Senior Energy Policy Advisor
Eileen Quigley
Clean Energy Transition Institute
Executive Director
Caleb Reimer
Cascade Natural Gas
Manager, Energy Efficiency Programs
Kyle Roadman
NEEA Board Treasurer
Emerald PUD
General Manager
Bonnie Rouse
Montana Governor’s Office
Section Supervisor, Energy Efficiency and Compliance Assistance
Ruchi Sadhir
Oregon Governor’s Office
Associate Director, Strategic Engagement + Development
Cory Scott
(left Board in 2024)
Pacific Power
Director, Customer Solutions
Richard Stover
(left Board in 2025)
Idaho Office of Energy Mineral Resources
Administrator
Jim White
(left Board in 2025)
Chelan PUD
Energy Program Manager
Danie Williams
NEEA Board Secretary
NorthWestern Energy
Manager, Energy Efficiency/DSM Services