Energy Sources, Vol.16, No.1, 161-176, 1994
DSM-IRP COLLABORATIVES - WHAT HAVE THEY ACCOMPLISHED
The collaborative process involves utilities and nonutility parties (NUPs) in a joint effort to address issues of common concern and achieve mutually advantageous results. The outcomes of these collaborative efforts can be divided into two general categories: (1) product-related outcomes that are related to the demand-side management (DSM) plans or other products developed by the collaborative groups and (2) participant-related outcomes that are related primarily to the participants and their organizational needs. Each of these general outcome areas can be further subdivided into individual measures of collaborative success. Among the 14 cases of utility-NUP collaboration that were studied, consensus was reached more frequently on the content of DSM programs than on any of the related policy issues that were addressed DSM budgets and energy savings projected to result from the collaborative-developed programs were substantially greater than those associated with earlier utility efforts. In addition, relations among collaborative participants generally improved in terms of mutual trust, understanding, communication, and personal contact. Product-related objectives were widely satisfied in early collaboratives, but it was still too early to tell about this in many of the more recent cases.