Potential Analysis and Initial Program Planning
Optimal provides technical and economic assessments of the potential for demand-side resources and distributed renewable energy generation to quantify cost-effective energy efficiency resources and opportunities for savings.
An important first step in launching clean energy initiatives, potential studies provide vital data needed to evaluate efficiency as an alternative to supply side resources. They help set goals and funding levels and are fundamental to the design of programs and policies.


Optimal’s potential assessments typically involve:
- Technical, economic, and feasibility estimates of efficiency opportunities
- Characterization of costs and performance of efficiency and renewable technologies
- Forecasting market penetration and savings levels
- Integration of efficiency and renewable resources in long term plans
Optimal Energy also provides independent critique of previous potential studies to help clients understand their value and/or shortcomings.
Our economic modeling tools are based on industry standards and have been refined and improved over many years. We employ state-of-the-art programming tools and techniques, such as software developed by the R-Project.
Recent studies include:
- Pennsylvania’s Public Utility Commission Phase IV of Act 129, and Completed EE study and accompanying DR study. Our team led the work to estimate the potential for energy efficiency in Pennsylvania.
- New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, Energy Efficiency Potential in New Jersey – statewide; ten year; electric and natural gas efficiency, demand response, CHP.
- City Council of the City of New Orleans, Study of Potential for Energy Savings in New Orleans – citywide, twenty-year, electric efficiency and demand response.
- Potential for Energy Savings in Affordable Multifamily Housing. Covering nine states - Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
- Minnesota Division of Energy Resources Energy Efficiency Potential Study: 2020-2029. statewide, ten year; electric and natural gas efficiency; carbon reduction.