The Delaware Municipal Electric Corporation (DEMEC) is the state’s first utility to have third party verified savings for energy efficiency initiatives accepted by the Delaware Energy Efficiency Advisory Council (EEAC). DEMEC previously submitted the report, detailing over $3.1 million in total savings, before the state’s Evaluation, Measurement, and Verification (EM&V) Subcommittee, where it also received unanimous support. 

In 2014, DEMEC initiated a streetlight conversion project to provide its members with LED streetlights at a group discounted price. Installations began in 2016 after a full RFP process to find the best vendor for the project. Upon completion, DEMEC hired Vermont Energy Investment Corporation (VEIC) as an independent third party to verify and evaluate the savings achieved. State contractor Optimal Energy also verified the report and that it meets standards set by Regulation 2105 as administered by the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s (DNREC) Division of Energy and Climate.

Five of DEMEC’s nine members participated in the program: Lewes BPW, Newark, Seaford, Smyrna, and Dover. Nearly 2,500 LED streetlights were installed, saving almost 1.1 million kilowatt hours (kWh) each year with a total savings of over 19.6 kWh over the course of the streetlights’ estimated lifetime. 

“We may pass streetlights without thinking much about what keeps them running – but now we know that they are running more efficiently for DEMEC members,” said DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin. “DEMEC’s success in monitoring and reporting these savings shows that energy efficiency continues to be a viable investment. This project brought together a utility, municipalities, the state and stakeholders working across sectors, and DNREC applauds the partnership and is happy to be part of it.” 

Through the streetlight conversion project, 768 metric tons of CO₂ emissions are avoided each year within the state of Delaware. This equates to taking 162 passenger vehicles off the road or eliminating the emissions from over 86,000 gallons of gasoline.

“DEMEC is pleased to voluntarily submit our verified energy savings report before the EEAC and be the first utility to receive state recognition of our savings,” stated DEMEC Vice President of Asset Development, Scott Lynch. “We are proud to not only save energy but save our members millions of dollars in energy costs.”