1. Building Sustainable Efficiency Businesses (Sept. 2008) 
    This report, prepared by the Edison Electric Institute for its member companies, illustrates how to evaluate the rate and financial impacts of alternative business models for electric efficiency.  It explains why rapid, cost-effective efficiency improvement has become a priority for the industry, why regulated utilities are uniquely positioned to move electricity markets towards these improvements, and the major criteria for sustainable efficiency businesses.  The report analyzes the rate and financial impacts of four business models currently approved or under consideration by state regulators: the Shared Savings Model, the Capitalization / Bonus ROE Model, the Virtual Power Plant Model, and the Regulated ESCo Model.

  2. Assessment of Achievable Potential for Energy Efficiency and Demand Response in the U.S. (2010-2030) (Aug. 2008)
    Using assumptions from the Energy Information Administration’s 2008 Annual Energy Outlook, this report estimates achievable energy savings through energy efficiency and demand response programs.  The report looks at realistic achievable savings nationally and by census region, and aims to inform utilities, policy makers, and other stakeholders in their efforts to develop actionable savings targets for such programs.  This report also estimates the reduction in usage and summer peak demand that can be achieved through energy efficiency and demand response.  This paper is part of a larger report sponsored by the Electric Power Research Institute and the Edison Electric Institute on the savings potential of energy efficiency and demand response programs.  The primary authors are Global Energy Partners and The Brattle Group.

  3. Energy Efficiency Planning Guidebook (Jun. 2008)
    This extensive guidebook from the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) reviews and explains how to plan, design, execute and evaluate energy efficiency and demand response programs.   By drawing input from experienced professionals and EPRI studies from the 1980s and 1990s the report reviews key steps of the energy efficiency process from setting objectives and forecasting to implementation and monitoring. The guidebook also addresses emerging efficiency and demand response technologies and market trends.

  4. State Legislative Update: Energy Efficiency (Jun. 2008)
    This update from the Edison Electric Institute provides a summary and trend analysis of state legislative action on energy efficiency including analysis of implications and drivers of newly enacted legislation and pending bills.  Major trends identified include: a strong push towards higher efficiency standards for government buildings, increased gubernatorial initiative in enacting energy efficiency legislation, continuing utility use of third-party administrators for efficiency programs, the uncertainty of legislative implications of recession, and the increasing use of cap-and-trade proceeds to fund energy efficiency.

  5. Highlights of EEI Member and Non-Member Residential/Commercial/Industrial Efficiency and Demand Response Programs for 2008 (March 2008)
    This Edison Electric Institute report provides an extensive (but not comprehensive) listing of active utility-sponsored programs promoting energy efficiency, conservation, and demand response for residential, commercial, and industrial customers.  Program listings are broken down alphabetically by sponsoring utility and include the state(s) served by the utility, generalized explanations of the programs, and current links to the programs’ websites for further information.

  6. State Regulatory Update: Energy Efficiency (Feb. 2008)
    This report from the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) provides a review of regulatory decisions affecting energy efficiency programs.  The report identifies and analyzes state regulatory trends based on these decisions, including trends related to: balancing energy efficiency and new generation and transmission capacity needs, regulatory frameworks for cost recovery, shareholder incentives, decoupling, measurement and evaluation tools, and advanced metering infrastructure.

  7. Quantifying the Benefits of Dynamic Pricing in the Mass Market (Jan. 2008)
    Prepared by The Brattle Group for the Edison Electric Institute, this report lays out a methodology for quantifying the benefits to customers (i.e.,  bill savings) and to utilities (i.e.,. the capacity, energy and transmission and distribution benefits) resulting from  dynamic pricing programs such as Critical Peak Pricing, Peak-Time Rebate, and Time of Use rates.  The report also includes extensive appendices that review dynamic pricing pilot programs, examine impacts on low income customers, and explain the model’s elasticity estimates.

  8. Pricing Impact Simulation Model Suite (Jan. 2008)
    The benefits estimation methodology in “Measuring the Benefits of Dynamic Pricing in the Mass Market” is illustrated by the companion Pricing Impact Simulation Model (PRISM) Suite, which extends models based on the 2003-2005 California Statewide Pricing Pilot to estimate the change in consumption per customer resulting from dynamic pricing programs.  The PRISM Suite allows the user to input a dynamic rate structure, load shapes, weather data, and CAC saturations, then estimates customer bill savings and as well as utility benefits such as capacity cost savings, energy cost savings, and transmission and distribution cost savings.  The PRISM Suite is a powerful tool for evaluating the benefits of dynamic pricing programs to both the customer and the utility.  These benefits are inputs to the standard benefit-cost tests for evaluating programs.

  9. Aligning Utility Incentives with Investment in Energy Efficiency (Nov. 2007)
    This Report describes the financial effects on a utility of its spending on energy efficiency programs, how those effects could hinder aggressive and continual investment in energy efficiency by utilities, and how adoption of various regulatory mechanisms that can reduce or eliminate these obstacles.  This Report covers cost recovery, lost margin recovery, and performance incentives.  The Report also provides a number of examples of such methods drawn from the experience of utilities and states.  It is another report in the series aiming to assist utilities in the implementation of the National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency.

  10. Model Energy Efficiency Program Impact Evaluation Guide (Nov. 2007)
    This guide is part of a series of documents that aim to assist regulators and gas and electric utilities in the implementation of the National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency (NAPEE).  Through examples of best practices and consistent procedures, this report describes approaches for calculating energy, demand, and emissions savings resulting from energy efficiency programs.  

  11. Rising Utility Construction Costs: Sources and Impacts (Sept. 2007)
    Given current industry trends of electricity rate increases, driven by high fuel and purchased-power costs, and the ongoing need to expand investment in generation, transmission, distribution, and environmental infrastructure, recent increases in the construction cost of utility infrastructure may have serious implications for future rates and utility investment plans.  This report, prepared for the Edison Foundation by The Brattle Group, documents the increases in construction costs for utility infrastructure, identifies the underlying causes of these increases, and explains how the increased costs will translate into higher rates that consumers might face as a result of required infrastructure investment.

  12. Retail Electricity Pricing and Rate Design in Evolving Markets (July 2007)
    Prepared by Christensen Associates Energy Consulting for the Edison Electric Institute, this report reviews the critical role that efficient pricing and rate design can play in today’s electricity markets, and suggests practical strategies for overcoming historical barriers to implementing such rates.  The need to link wholesale and retail power markets as well as the introduction of advanced metering and control technologies has increased both the importance and the feasibility of efficient pricing.   This report provides a framework for efficient pricing and strategies for implementation.

  13. Deciding on “Smart” Meters
    This guide, prepared by Plexus Research for the Edison Electric Institute, provides practical guidance on how to build a business case for evaluating the cost-effectiveness of advanced metering infrastructure applications.  The Report includes valuable lessons learned regarding the effective organization and management of AMI applications, and best practices for purchasing, installation, and integration.

  14. Assessment of Demand Response & Advanced Metering  (Aug. 2006, update Sept. 2007)
    Prepared by FERC staff to comply with EPAct 2005, the report presents a comprehensive nationwide survey of demand response resources available to all customer classes.  Topics analyzed include: market penetration of advanced metering infrastructure, existing demand response and dynamic pricing programs, annual contribution of demand resources, potential for demand response, and regulatory barriers to improved customer participation in demand response and peak reduction programs.  This report is due to be replaced by another comprehensive survey by FERC in the fall of 2008.