I was invited by Gov. O’Malley to participate in his Energy Summit: A Roundtable on Maryland’s Energy Future. I appreciate the invitation and the information the Roundtable provided. The governor has listed 15 Strategic Energy Goals, three that speak specifically to Alternative Energy and Sustainability:
• Reduce Maryland’s statewide greenhouse gas emission by 25% by 2020
• Reduce per capita electrical consumption by 15% by 2015
• Increase renewable energy by 20% by 2022

The Problem:
While these strategic goals are laudable, it’s the “how” or the execution that is troubling and not in the best interest of the consumer.

The fundamental problem is that there seems to be a belief that saving money is somehow not enough of a motivator for consumers to institute the proposed changes.

Instead, electrical utilities in the state of Maryland have the attitude that it is their responsibility to force a change in consumer consumption through programs that allow the utilities to control how we use electricity.

Proposed controls include the “smart grid” as well as thermostats that the utilities control to cycle the homeowners air conditioner or heat pump compressor.

While this will cut power usage, it takes the control away from the consumer and puts it in the hands of a quasi-governmental utility. Further this plan is part of the State’s Cap and Trade policies, a suspect sustainability idea that does little more than lower the standard of living in the state.
Besides robbing consumers of their liberty; it simply will not work—people want to be their own decision-makers.

A Reasonable Solution:
It’s very simple solution—ironically, garnered from information distributed at the Summit by one of the utility companies—is what I call the 15% Solution.

Rather than turn your power consumption decisions over to the utilities, install (on your own) a programmable thermostat and set it to your specifications.

No need to join any quasi-governmental, utility-based program, just install a reliable thermostat, set it and forget it…and save up to 15 percent per year on your bill!