Willis Energy Services Ltd. was founded as a demand side management (DSM) consultancy in 1988. Although we’ve grown and diversified since then, DSM continues to be the foundation of our business. Our DSM services are targeted to electric and gas utilities and government agencies. We have developed and worked within a variety of program funding models, both investor-owned and public utility environments, and within various regulatory frameworks, in the commercial, industrial, institutional, and residential sectors. We have experience in and fully understand utility load forecasting, government policy development and implementation, and, most importantly, customer-funded energy management and GHG programs, giving us a unique perspective on energy consumer decision-making and behaviour.

Our unique blend of engineering, economics, and marketing skills combine to deliver leading DSM programs across North America. With over 20 years of experience, we offer a full range of services that can be contracted for individually or bundled into turnkey packages. We are equally comfortable in markets with no prior DSM programs as we are in markets with second generation programs. 

Our DSM services include the following:

Conservation Potential Studies
DSM Planning and Evaluation
DSM Programming
DSM-related Regulatory Matters
DSM Reporting

Conservation Potential Studies
We conduct conservation potential studies for both utilities and industrial sites. Our services for utilities include investigating the energy savings possible in a specific sector from activities such as installing energy efficient technologies, improving the energy efficiency of existing equipment, and fuel switching. We also compare the cost of investing in conservation with the marginal cost of new supply resources. Our services for industrial sites include comparing the cost of specific efficiency improvements with electricity and natural gas rates and consumption. Projects

DSM Planning and Evaluation
We evaluate the effectiveness of a utility’s existing DSM programs and investigate the DSM programs in other jurisdictions as a basis for future DSM planning. Projects

DSM Programming
We assist utilities in developing new DSM programs to meet conservation goals or in response to environmental and regulatory factors. We tailor the programs to meet the specific needs of each market type: commercial, industrial, institutional, or residential. Projects

DSM-related Regulatory Matters
We assist utilities in completing responses to regulatory information requests (IRs), including responses to IRs as part of semi-annual DSM reports, capital plan applications, and revenue requirement applications.

DSM Reporting
We assist utilities in preparing DSM reports to meet a wide range of company requirements, such as operating results, resource accounting, and performance.