Regulatory Policy

There is a considerable body of evidence that clearly demonstrates that energy efficiency programs can save electricity and natural gas at much lower costs than new sources of supply. Yet under traditional regulation, utilities do not pursue customer energy efficiency because it is not in their best economic interests to do so. To overcome this inherent disincentive, it is necessary to have policies supporting and requiring utility energy efficiency programs for customers. Well designed legislative and regulatory policies are critical to create the administrative structures and funding mechanisms that establish and maintain utility-sector energy efficiency programs. ACEEE’s Utilities Program researches, analyzes, recommends and helps design regulations and policies that create and promote effective utility-sector energy efficiency programs.

Activities

• Invited testimony before Michigan House Energy and Technology Committee (May 2, 2007) PPT (382 KB)
  
  
• Technical analysis and support for implementation of an "energy efficiency resource standard" in several additional states, including Minnesota, Illinois, and Ohio.

ACEEE Technical Reports

• Regulatory Policy

Important Resources and Links

• Alliance to Save Energy
  • State Policy Initiatives
• National Association of Utility Regulatory Commissioners, Committee on Energy Resources and the Environment
  • Energy Portfolio Management: Tools & Resources for State Public Utility Commissions (pdf)
• Regulatory Assistance Project
  

For more information contact:
Martin Kushler, Program Director
Dan York, Senior Research Associate

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