HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Improved energy efficiency will help keep electricity use flat in New England in the next decade, allowing customers to save on utility bills and power companies to scrap costly transmission upgrades, the grid operator said Wednesday.

The region’s six states spent $1.2 billion from 2008 to 2011 to boost energy efficiency, ISO-New England told reporters in a briefing. Spending on energy efficiency is expected to increase to $5.7 billion from 2015 to 2021.