Energy efficiency programs that are developed in Virginia during the restructuring should be designed to give citizens and plant owners greater control of power generation, greater protection from power interruptions and more energy information concerning the equipment they use to produce on-site energy.
Converting direct current (DC) electricity to alternating current (AC) is not efficient. The use of inverters (DC to AC) or transformers (AC to DC) is inefficient, but the citizens and plant owners are generally unaware of this because the inverters and transformers are not properly marked to show the amount of energy loss during conversion. The Direct Current Electric Association (DCEA) calls on you to require that all inverters and transformers used in Virginia be required to display their coefficient of energy conversion and loss of energy so that producers and consumers can make informed energy decisions. One of those decisions should be the option to use solar and fuel cell energy (both DC) in such appliances as computers, refrigerators, microwaves, lights, etc., which can use renewable or new technology energy sources without conversion.
The DCEA also recommends that all utilities be buried underground. Presently, poles are used for some utilities, but they are overloaded, inefficient and present traffic hazards. Reliability dictates burial of utility lines to avoid the hazards of larger storms and overcome the general failure to replace aging, weather-worn equipment. The utility companies could be given twenty (20) years or less to complete this work, but it must be done as part of restructuring, efficiency and equality. Most phone (DC), TV cable (DC) and gas systems are already buried and the technology is readily available. This energy efficiency program would be ideal for older communities where the insulation on the wiring and the poles is less than efficient and needs replacement.
All plant operators (consumers or producers) of energy should be certified under the NIULPE certificate as discussed in my earlier testimony (Utility Worker Protection). This will not only provide safety, but efficiency as well.
An energy efficiency program should be started during restructuring to insure that DC systems inside commercial buildings (phone, TV cable, fire systems, security systems, computer and audio systems) are audited to insure efficiency. We have three AC systems (440 volt, 220 volt and 110 volt) that are regularly audited, but the other systems are overlooked. DCEA feels this would lead to greater use and generation of direct current and renewable energy. We would like to offer our assistance to Virginia in these efforts.
Many of the on-site generating facilities will generate direct current (DC) electricity. This trend should be encouraged and fostered under the Utility Restructuring Act. Reliability is the greatest concern, and self-generation by citizens and production facilities at every level can generate DC electricity that can be stored and used when other forms of energy are unavailable for existing systems.
The Direct Current Electric Association (DCEA) does not see net metering as a viable energy goal, as the losses in conversion are inefficient. The Commonwealth of Virginia should look at the production and consumption of DC electricity as a site-specific event and create programs that strengthen and advance the high-tech nature of DC electricity.