All Chittenden County residents depend on energy to carry out their work and conduct their lives. As a northern New England county with cold winters, warm summers, and a rural and semi-rural landscape in many locations, residents need space heat in the winter, cooling in the summer, and electricity and transportation fuels year round. As such, a significant proportion of the income of many Vermont households goes to paying energy bills, and energy is a significant expense for businesses, industries, and government as well. 

Chittenden County has a long history of electrical and natural gas energy efficiency programs, dating back to 1990, which have provided significant energy savings and economic benefits to the state and County. These programs along with improvements in federal standards have led to a reduction in per household and per employee energy consumption of electricity and natural gas. Reduction in energy consumption directly results in a reduction in energy bills. 

Additionally, Chittenden County has many non-fossil fuel based, renewable energy production sites owned by utilities, private parties, and municipalities. Reliable, cost effective, and environmentally sustainable energy availability is critical to support the economy and natural resources of Chittenden County.