Peter Darbee, CEO of Pacific Gas and Electric, has given a great online interview.

Peter highlights that the utilities like PG&E that have reversed the paradigm of how they reach their authorized rates and aggressively targeted efficiency measures have been able to keep their per capita energy use flat for 30 years while costing consumers nothing. This is in contrast to per capital energy use that has risen across the United States by 50% and in Europe by 20%.

Since energy efficiency measures cost utilities one half of the cost of new coal fired power plants, this kind of creative thinking is a golden opportunity for businesses and a great way for families to reduce their energy use and keep their utility bills down.