Indiana’s Core and Core Plus Energy Efficiency Programs

The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (Commission) opened an investigation into Indiana Demand Side  Management (DSM) activities in 2004 (Cause No. 42693), and in 2006 directed Commission staff to assess the current state of DSM activities in the state through two phases. DSM in this context broadly refers to the implementation of activities designed to encourage consumers to reduce their electricity use. During the first phase, the Commission reviewed the status of current DSM efforts in Indiana, identified alternative models for DSM program administration and delivery, and developed recommendations for enhancing Indiana DSM efforts. Primary findings from Phase I were that, …

Standardization Roadmap: Energy Efficiency in the Built Environment

Selling an Energy Efficiency Loan Portfolio in Oregon: Resale of the Craft3 loan portfolio to Self-Help Credit Union

Under the Clean Energy Works (CEW) program, Craft3 developed a loan product that widened access to financing for homeowners, offered long term funding, and collected repayments through the customer’s utility bill. The program’s success led Craft3 to pursue the sale of the loan portfolio to both mitigate its own risks and replenish funds for lending. This sale breaks new ground for energy efficiency finance and is notable as it was completed even with many novel program design elements. It replenished Craft3’s program capital and uncovered some valuable lessons that may facilitate future transactions. However, the lack of data history and …

Energy Efficiency Indicators: Essentials for Policy Making

Energy Efficiency Indicators: Fundamentals on Statistics

World Energy Perspective: Energy Efficiency Technologies

Energy Efficiency Financing: Frequently Asked Questions

The Program Administrator Cost of Saved Energy for Utility Customer – Funded Energy Efficiency Programs

Efficiency Rules: The Case for End-Use Energy Efficiency Programs in the Section 111(d) Rule for Existing Power Plants

EPA has proposed New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for cutting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from new fossil-fuel burning power plants.  In parallel or directly following promulgation of new source standards, Section 111(d) of the Clean Air Act directs EPA to issue guidelines for States to follow when implementing performance standards from existing power plants.

Existing power plant guidelines could drive significant GHG reductions in the electricity sector. However, due to the relatively small universe of pollutants covered by Section 111(d), EPA has triggered this provision infrequently. Therefore, EPA has not explored the full potential of options for setting an existing …

Incorporating Energy Efficiency into Western Interconnection Transmission Planning

The Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) conducts transmission planning studies through its Transmission Expansion Planning and Policy Committee (TEPPC). In recent years, WECC’s transmission planning process has been substantially expanded and enhanced with funding from the U. S. Department of Energy provided under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. This expanded effort, designated the Regional Transmission Expansion Planning (RTEP) project, entails the development of biennial 10- and 20-year transmission plans that serve to identify future transmission expansion needs and options for meeting those needs. The analysis conducted for each plan evaluates numerous stakeholder driven “study cases” (i.e., …