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RAP Publications
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RAP has been publishing policy and research papers since its inception in 1992. We regularly publish our IssuesLetters on new or developing topics of interest to public utility regulators. In addition to our IssuesLetters, we publish a variety of significant papers analyzing and developing cutting edge regulatory policy. To find a document in our library of papers use our Search By Topic page or you can search for any word or phrase in our library by using our Full Text Search.
Our most recent significant papers include: |
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Welcome |
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RAP is committed to fostering regulatory and market policies for the electric industry that encourage economic efficiency, protect environmental quality, assure system reliability, and allocate system benefits fairly to all customers.
RAP IS HIRING!
For more information visit our RAP Employment Opportunities Page
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Introduction to RAP China | EU | India | Latin America | US
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United States Activities
Issuesletter: Clean Energy and Climate Policy in the Midwest
RAP's recently published Issuesletter reviews activity in six Midwestern states: Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin. The report provides examples of the efforts that these states have undertaken to confront the challenge of climate change and to formulate policies that will develop cleaner and more sustainable energy sectors. The discussion is organized by state and focuses primarily on legislation, climate action plans, and administrative activity related to the deployment of energy efficiency and renewable energy.
State Energy Efficiency Action Network
RAP is an advisor to this project, co-sponsored by the US DOE and US EPA, which will assist states in achieving maximum cost-effective energy efficiency improvements in homes, offices, buildings and industry by 2020. Expanding on the work of the National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency, SEE Action will provide targeted technical assistance to states, advancing consistent approaches and best practices to help meet the project goals. RAP is now finalizing a report that will summarize state energy efficiency policies in 2009. State policy summaries through 2008, based on categories in the National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency, can be found at:
Southeastern States Policy Grids Through 2008 New England States Policy Grids Through 2008 Western States Policy Grids Through 2008 Mid-Western States Policy Grids Through 2008 Mid-Atlantic States Policy Grids Through 2008. FERC-NARUC Demand Response and Smart Grid Collaborative
RAP and LBNL are assisting FERC and NARUC in ongoing discussion of policy and implementation issues pertaining to demand response and smart grid. The collaborative is scheduled to meet in February, July and November 2010. For more information on the collaborative, visit NARUC's website.
Mid-Atlantic Distributed Resources Initiative
The Mid-Atlantic Distributed Resources Initiative is a stakeholder collaborative process created to promote and accelerate cost-effective deployment of distributed resources in the Mid-Atlantic States. RAP is facilitating this project, and is providing technical assistance on several issues, including regulatory and environmental policy. Recently, MADRI has focused on smart grid and valuing energy efficiency in regional supply markets. MADRI meets roughly once every six weeks. Details about MADRI can be found on its website.
Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative
RAP is participating in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), convened by the Governors of nine Northeast states, to create a regional cap-and-trade program for greenhouse gas emissions from the region's power sector. RAP has been appointed to the Resources Panel advising the RGGI stakeholder process, and will be working on emissions allocations, regulatory and power market policies, and policy coordination with the region's utility regulators. |
International Activities
Page Under Construction Please see listings under our Publications and Presentations pages, or select from our drop-down menu at the top of this page. |
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What's New |
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New Issues and Topics |
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RAP Announces New Hires
RAP has recently hired four new staff members as it continues to expand its work in the United States, European Union, China and other regions. Barbara Wagner recently joined RAP as chief operations officer; J. Riley Allen will serve as RAP's research manager; Christopher James joins RAP as a senior associate; and Diane Derby will serve as RAP’s communications manager. Read the press release to learn more.
NARUC Winter Meetings
RAP principals and associates took part in panel discussions during the 2010 Winter Meetings of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners, held Feb. 14-17 in Washington, D.C. RAP Principal Richard Sedano moderated the joint meeting of the NARUC/FERC Smart Grid Collaborative and NARUC/FERC Demand Response Collaborative on Feb. 14. He also co-authored this demand response report. RAP Senior Associate Lisa Schwartz offered this presentation on the Smart Grid Information Clearinghouse during the session. RAP Principal Richard Cowart was one of five participants taking part in a panel discussion, “Carbon Restrictions: What Steps Will the Economy Actually Take in a Carbon Constrained World?” The panel was part of the NARUC’s National Electricity Forum.
Energy Efficiency: Ireland
RAP is assisting Sustainable Energy Ireland and the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in developing proposals for a nationwide whole-buildings retrofit program. The Energy Minister has announced a program to retrofit one million homes as part of the Program for Government in 2010. For more on the national retrofit program, read this IIEA Greenprint report.
Energy Efficiency: United Kingdom
RAP is working under a special contractual appointment to the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DCCC), advising on all aspects of program design for an effort to deliver retrofits to at least seven million homes in the UK. RAP is assisting with delivery options, supply chain and financing issues. RAP is also preparing a paper on international best practices for energy efficiency in buildings for DECC.
Energy Efficiency: Poland
RAP is assisting Poland's National Council on the Program for the Reduction of Emissions to develop and implement energy efficiency programs for the reduction of pollution. RAP's Richard Cowart made this presentation to the International Energy Efficiency Forum in Warsaw in October 2009.
Comparison of Energy Efficiency Programs for Existing Homes in Eleven Countries
Prepared for the Department of Energy and Climate Change of the United Kingdom, this report compiles benchmark data on the varying context and current programs addressing energy efficiency in existing homes in a selected sample of countries, and presents some of the key opportunities identified and lessons learned from these programs.
Issuesletter: Clean Energy and Climate Policy in the Midwest
RAP's recently published Issuesletter reviews activity in six Midwestern states: Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin. The report provides examples of the efforts that these states have undertaken to confront the challenge of climate change and to formulate policies that will develop cleaner and more sustainable energy sectors. The discussion is organized by state and focuses primarily on legislation, climate action plans, and administrative activity related to the deployment of energy efficiency and renewable energy.
State Energy Efficiency Action Network
RAP is an advisor to this project, co-sponsored by the US DOE and US EPA, which will assist states in achieving maximum cost-effective energy efficiency improvements in homes, offices, buildings and industry by 2020. Expanding on the work of the National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency, SEE Action will provide targeted technical assistance to states, advancing consistent approaches and best practices to help meet the project goals. RAP is now finalizing a report that will summarize state energy efficiency policies in 2009. State policy summaries through 2008, based on categories in the National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency, can be found at:
Southeastern States Policy Grids Through 2008 New England States Policy Grids Through 2008 Western States Policy Grids Through 2008 Mid-Western States Policy Grids Through 2008 Mid-Atlantic States Policy Grids Through 2008. Workshops in Support of Chinese National DSM Framework
RAP is working with the Natural Resources Defense Council Demand-Side Management Center in Beijing to hold national training workshops for Chinese officials and practitioners on how to implement electricity demand-side management (DSM) and energy efficiency projects, including construction of efficiency power plants (EPPs). RAP is also coordinating with the Beijing-based Center for Industrial Energy Efficiency in this effort. A major goal is to support an anticipated national framework for DSM, which the central government may launch later in 2010.
FERC-NARUC Demand Response and Smart Grid Collaborative
RAP and LBNL are assisting FERC and NARUC in ongoing discussion of policy and implementation issues pertaining to demand response and smart grid. The collaborative is scheduled to meet in February, July and November 2010. For more information on the collaborative, visit NARUC's website.
Transmission and Distribution Reform in China – With an Eye on Efficiency
At a recent seminar held by the State Electricity Regulatory Commission, RAP offered views on transmission and distribution issues in China. RAP emphasized the importance of making explicit plans for the delivery of energy efficiency in any power sector reform effort.
Mid-Atlantic Distributed Resources Initiative
The Mid-Atlantic Distributed Resources Initiative is a stakeholder collaborative process created to promote and accelerate cost-effective deployment of distributed resources in the Mid-Atlantic States. RAP is facilitating this project, and is providing technical assistance on several issues, including regulatory and environmental policy. Recently, MADRI has focused on smart grid and valuing energy efficiency in regional supply markets. MADRI meets roughly once every six weeks. Details about MADRI can be found on its website.
NARUC's Task Force on Climate Policy
RAP’s Richard Cowart, David Farnsworth and Edith Pike-Biegunska are providing technical and policy support to NARUC's Task Force on Climate Policy. Recent work included helping to organize a conference entitled “Utilities of the Future: Implications of a Carbon Constrained World,” which took place December 2-4, 2009 in Dallas, Tex.
The conference explored a utility sector affected by carbon imperatives. RAP provided several presentations at the conference, including Rick Weston's discussion, “Climate Change Initiatives in the Chinese Power Sector,” and Richard Cowart’s synthesis of the conference, “Climate Realities and Utility Policies: What Have We Heard Here?” RAP also assisted NARUC’s Task Force plan for the continuing education of its membership during 2010.
US-China Partnership for Climate Action
RAP is a partner in the United States Agency for International Development’s recently launched Partnership for Climate Action, which includes a major component focused on energy efficiency in China.
Clean First in China
Working with the China Electricity Council and the Chinese Academy for Environmental Planning, RAP is developing a Clean First program that seeks to align power sector regulation with environmental and climate goals, and build capacity for rigorous assessment of policy options.
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RAP Presentations |
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Many of the presentations made by RAP Principals at conferences and workshops are available for viewing and downloading in PDF format. To find a presentation in our library use our Search By Topic page or you can search for any word or phrase in our library by using our Full Text Search. Our most recent presentations are listed below: |
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