Efficiency Services Group (ESG) is more than an energy efficiency company. For us, serving your energy efficiency needs is our daily mission and passion. While our roots trace back to Portland General Electric (PGE) in the 1990s, where the initial conservation program was born, the heart and soul of who we are today began with the vision of three former PGE employees who saw an opportunity to take what PGE had started, and with PGE’s blessing, create a company that offered efficiency programs and services tailor-made for utilities like yours.

In 2005, PGE laid off most of their conservation staff. Jim Brands, Ted Haskell, and Mark Gosvener met around a coffee table in Mark’s living room to ponder ways to help small to mid-size utilities with their energy programs, and the “new” ESG was born. Miranda Boutelle was one of ESG’s first employees, and her first office was at Mark’s dining-room table.  As we began to grow quickly and add staff, we upgraded our offices to Mark’s barn (it had Wi-Fi), to an office in an industrial park, and finally to the beautiful offices we share with Pioneer Utility Resources in Hillsboro, where we are headquartered.

Over the years, we have been fortunate to have high-quality individuals join the ESG team who are determined to provide utility customers with great service. We are grateful to now serve over 40 utilities as members of the energy efficiency team. We’ve worked with some utility partners for over 20 years, reflecting the high value of developing strong relationships with the utilities we serve and bringing value to each and every one.

In 2013, ESG was acquired by Ruralite Services, now Pioneer Utility Resources, a marketing and communications cooperative focused on consumer-owned utilities. Pioneer partners with 245 community-owned utilities and state associations in 34 states.