Page Menu

What is Beneficial Electrification?

What is Beneficial Electrification (BE)?

YVEA’s definition of Beneficial Electrification (BE) is:

Electrification shifts end-use energy sources from fossil fuel to electricity. The emphasis is to offer Beneficial Electrification solutions that benefit YVEA members, local communities, and the environment such that it achieves one of the following without adversely impacting others:

  • Save members money over time
  • Improves quality of life
  • Enables better grid management
  • Reduces negative environmental impact
What Changes to my Home Should I Consider?
  • Install electric water heaters
  • Drive an electric vehicle or use an electric bicycle
  • Use battery-powered lawn equipment
  • Convert your home's heating and cooling to an electric cold-climate heat pump
  • Switch from gas to electric cooking appliances
  • Install a heat pump dryer
  • Add a battery energy storage system
  • Install a smart breaker panel
  • Improve your building envelope
  • Install timers on heat tape and water heaters (and high-demand appliances)
Is all Electrification Considered Beneficial Electrification?

Not necessarily!

 Examples of electrification that are not considered BE

 

  • If the cost of installing and operating a cold climate heat pump increases your annual space heating costs it is not considered BE. Although you satisfy the 3 other rules you negatively impact your long-term costs.
  • An electric resistive boiler can have negative impacts on the grid’s capacity and potentially increase your annual costs. This would not be considered BE. Here you positively impact 2 rules but negatively impact 2 other rules.

 

Examples of electrification that are considered BE

 

  • You purchase an EV and you save over 70% on annual fuel costs and charge off the grids peak. This satisfies all 4 rules and does not negatively impact any of the rules.
  • Replacing a gas water heater with new electric water heater lowers your annual costs and improves indoor air quality. This measure satisfies all 4 rules and does not negatively impact any of the rules.