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 the cost of using 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.

Policy Projects Related to Utilities

• Energy Efficiency Resource Standard Legislation
  
  
• State Clean Energy Resource Project
  
  
• State Energy Efficiency Policy Database
  
  
• Summary Table of Public Benefit Programs
  
  
• National Policy Statements and Policy Fact Sheets
  
  
• Energy Efficiency Potential Assessments

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.
  
  
• Collaboration with the Midwestern Governors Association

ACEEE Technical Reports

• Regulatory Policy

Important Resources and Links

• Alliance to Save Energy
  • State Policy Bulletin
  • State Policy Briefs
• National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners
  • Energy Portfolio Management: Tools & Resources for State Public Utility Commissions (pdf)
• Regulatory Assistance Project
  

For more information, contact:
Martin Kushler, Program Director (on sabbatical and temporary assignment with the State of Michigan)
E -mail: mgkushler at aol.com
Dan York, Senior Research Associate (Acting Director, Utilities Program)
E-mail: danwyork at aol.com
Laura Furrey, Research Associate
E -mail: lfurrey at aceee.org
Katherine Friedrich, Research Assistant
E -mail: katherineafriedrich at gmail.com

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