Pennsylvania Drops Slightly in State Energy Efficiency Ranking

Pennsylvania is ranked 22nd of the 50 states for energy efficiency in a recent report that looks at each state’s policy and program efforts to promote energy savings.

The 2025 State Energy Efficiency Scorecard is published by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy. The ACEEE, a nonprofit organization, aims to reduce energy waste and combat climate change. “Energy efficiency remains our nation’s least-cost energy resource while also delivering additional benefits such as grid reliability and resilience,” a release states.

The ACEEE uses the State Energy Efficiency Scorecard to rank states based on their progress in adopting policies aimed at advancing energy efficiency. It evaluates six primary policy areas in which states are pursuing energy efficiency, ranging from transportation to building efficiency.

California ranked as the most energy efficient state for the seventh time, and the top five also included Massachusetts, New York, Vermont, and Maryland due to their continued efforts across all sectors to increase energy efficiency in areas such reducing pollution from the transportation and utility sectors. Colorado, New Jersey, and Louisiana are among states that have made the most improvement. This was done through adoption of policies that will improve the reduce energy consumption in buildings and make vehicles cleaner.

Pennsylvania earned 38 out of a possible 100 on this scorecard, notably scoring a 5.5/29 in the utility and public benefits sector and 9.5/24 in the building efficiency sector. The state has fallen slightly in the rankings in recent years. In 2024, it ranked 21st, tied with Nevada. In 2020, Pennsylvania was ranked 19th and in 2019, it was ranked 18th. According to both the 2019 and 2025 reports, Pennsylvania has a downward trend in the building efficiency sector.

The report noted that efficiency programs in states invested more than $2 billion annually to help low-income households reduce utility bills – a big jump since 2021. However, that most of that increase was concentrated in just four states, while other states seem to be stagnating.

The ACEEE recommends that state policymakers and regulators continue to focus on improving energy efficiency standards to help keep utility bills affordable, reduce costs for businesses and homeowners, while also reducing carbon emissions.