With caveats that planning scenario analyses are still draft and subject to change, a recent meeting of the Council’s Resources Strategies Advisory Committee (RSAC) reviewed interesting preliminary results of model runs supporting the development of the 7th Power Plan. A somewhat surprising preliminary finding was in all scenarios tested to date, least cost resource strategies rely heavily on conservation to meet both winter capacity and energy needs. While there is little surprise in energy efficiency contributions to energy, its effect on meeting winter peaking needs was surprising large. While the Council’s process continues and more modeling work will be completed over the coming months, this result tends to bolster the value to the region for conservation achievements over the next decade. To see the material presented at the RSAC meeting of June 5th, visit here.