Putting a Floor on Energy Savings: Comparing State Energy Efficiency Resource Standards

Resources for the Future DP 12-11

45 Pages Posted: 25 Jul 2013

See all articles by Karen L. Palmer

Karen L. Palmer

Resources for the Future

Samuel Grausz

Senior Adviser

Blair Beasley

Resources for the Future

Timothy J. Brennan

Resources for the Future

Date Written: February 27, 2012

Abstract

Energy efficiency resource standards (EERS) refer to policies that require utilities and other covered entities to achieve quantitative goals for reducing energy use by a certain year. EERS policies generally apply to electricity and natural gas sales and electricity peak demand, though they also cover other energy sources in Europe. Our study aggregates information about the requirements of existing EERS policies for electricity sales in the United States. We convert quantitative goals into comparable terms to compare the nominal stringency of EERS programs across states. EERS programs also differ in their nonquantitative requirements, including flexibility measures, measurement and verification programs, and penalties and positive incentives. We compare the U.S. policies to similar policies in the European Union and discuss important policy issues, including exogenous changes in fuel prices and issues with utility management of energy efficiency programs.

Keywords: energy efficiency, electricity, energy efficiency resource standards, state regulation

JEL Classification: L94, L95, L51

Suggested Citation

Palmer, Karen and Grausz, Samuel and Beasley, Blair and Brennan, Timothy J., Putting a Floor on Energy Savings: Comparing State Energy Efficiency Resource Standards (February 27, 2012). Resources for the Future DP 12-11, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2014279 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2014279

Karen Palmer (Contact Author)

Resources for the Future ( email )

1616 P Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
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Samuel Grausz

Senior Adviser ( email )

1616 P St. NW
Washington, DC 20036
United States

HOME PAGE: http://www.climateadvisers.com

Blair Beasley

Resources for the Future ( email )

1616 P Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
United States

Timothy J. Brennan

Resources for the Future ( email )

1616 P Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
United States

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