Recommended Reading
Clear SearchRevenue Regulation and Decoupling: A Guide to Theory and Application
Preparing for EPA Regulations: Working to Ensure Reliable and Affordable Environmental Compliance
This paper provides utility regulators with an outline of initial steps for developing an in-depth understanding of EPA rules and regulations. It includes a review of the EPA's proposed rules as of May 2011, with a focus on compliance flexibility. The paper looks generally at utility planning, suggesting approaches that companies might adopt as they take stock of their existing resources and preparedness to comply in the most effective and affordable manner with the EPA's health and environmental regulations. This paper also seeks to provide a broader understanding of some relevant issues related to modeling, and it sets out recommendations for commissions to consider as they engage with companies and other regulatory agencies on these issues.
- Author:
- David Farnsworth
Electricity Regulation in the US: A Guide
This 120-page guide offers a broad look at utility regulation in the US. Its intended audience includes anyone involved in the regulatory process, from regulators to industry to advocates and consumers. The chapters briefly touch on most topics that affect utility regulation, but do not go into depth on each topic as the discussion is intended to be short and understandable. A lengthy glossary appears at the end of this guide to explain utility sector terms. (Use this version of the guide for easier printing.) Hard copy requests may be sent to info@raponline.org
- Author:
- Jim Lazar
Prices and Policies: Carbon Caps and Efficiency Programmes for Europe‘s Low-Carbon Future
This paper was presented at the 2011 ECEEE Summer Study.
With the adoption of the Climate and Energy Package in 2008, European decision-makers created an integrated suite of policies to reduce carbon emissions, increase renewable energy production, and advance energy savings. As the EU ETS moves to carbon auctioning, decision-makers must continue to link carbon prices with other policy tools to meet Europe’s adopted carbon and sustainable development goals. This paper demonstrates how energy efficiency (EE) policies can help meet ETS goals at lower cost, creating space to tighten carbon caps, and/or reduce the cost of protecting high-emitting industries and new Member States. Smart “complementary policies” can directly link ETS and EE strategies, especially by using auction revenue for EE programmes. Complementary policies are also needed to support low-carbon power markets, grid expansion, and renewable power investment across Europe.
- Author:
- Richard Cowart
Clean First: Aligning Power Sector Regulation with Environmental and Climate Goals
Clean First is not a single policy, but rather a
comprehensive suite of policies that flows from the
overarching principle of aligning national power
sector policies and practices with national climate and
environmental policies.
- Author:
- Regulatory Assistance Project
Clean First: Aligning Power Sector Regulation with Environmental and Climate Goals (Chinese)
This version of the report is in Chinese. Clean First is not a single policy, but rather a comprehensive suite of policies that flows from the overarching principle of aligning national power
sector policies and practices with national climate and
environmental policies.
- Author:
- Regulatory Assistance Project
Amending China's Air Pollution Prevention and Control Law: Recommendations from International Experience
In consultation with Chinese environmental officials on air pollution law and regulation, the authors of this report have prepared an in-depth analysis of U.S. and other international air regulation experience related to thirteen key issues.
- Author:
- David Moskovitz
- Rebecca Schultz
- Richard Cowart
- Rick Weston
- Chris James
Issuesletter: Smart Grid or Smart Policies: Which Comes First?
In this Issuesletter, we examine the potential values of smart grid for consumers and recommend policies Commissions should adopt now before committing ratepayer dollars for such investments.
- Author:
- David Moskovitz
- Lisa Schwartz
- Regulatory Assistance Project
Carbon Caps and Efficiency Resources: How Climate Legislation Can Mobilize Efficiency and Lower the Cost of Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction
This article, first published in the Vermont Law Review, focuses on how cap-and-trade systems for the power sector can be designed to accelerate investments in energy efficiency, which would permit more-rapid carbon reductions at a lower cost to consumers and the American economy.
- Author:
- Richard Cowart
Issuesletter: Recent Developments Affecting State Regulation of Nuclear Power
This Issuesletter sets forth some of the challenges that new nuclear units will pose for state regulators, as well as some possible solutions.
- Author:
- Peter Bradford
