In November 2010, China joined many other countries around the world in placing an energy efficiency obligation on the two large grid companies that supply electricity to end-use customers. The obligation, known as the DSM Rule, defines energy efficiency as a resource and states that efficiency should be given priority over supply-side investments to meet electri... Read More

In comments, filed in August 2012, with the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) in its Project 40000, Proceeding to Ensure Resource Adequacy in Texas, RAP recommends that the state consider adjusting its wholesale market rules to value flexible resources. With the state’s high concentration of variable resources, the adjustments will drive investments to... Read More

Innovative power, innovative regulation Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP) supports the Polish regulator The Polish Energy Regulatory Office (URE) intends by 2015 to introduce changes to existing investment support mechanisms, including support for investments of considerable importance for the innovation of the power system. Quality-based regulation will ... Read More

Partnering with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Exeter Associates, RAP prepared a paper for the Western Governors’ Association that explores approaches for reducing costs to integrate wind and solar in the Western U.S., barriers to adopting these cost-saving measures, and possible state actions. Drawing from existing studies and experience to date,... Read More

  RAP Europe prepared this advisory note to help frame the issues to be addressed in developing European guidelines and codes on electricity balancing.  In particular, it highlights the need for these rules to enable and encourage: Balancing products and services with the necessary flexible, dynamic capabilities, Balancing actions across all time... Read More

Richard Cowart was invited by the European Union’s Danish Presidency, as the only outside speaker, to address a special meeting of the EU’s Energy Ministers at the end of April 2012 in Horsens (DK). He delivered a presentation on global experiences with Efficiency Obligations, and design options that could satisfy a range of Member State concerns with the EU�... Read More

In partnership with the International Energy Agency (IEA), RAP supported a new work programme focused on energy efficiency and energy providers. Formulated under the auspices of the International Partnership on Energy Efficiency Cooperation (IPEEC) and led by the UK’s Department of Energy and Climate Change, the Policies for Energy Provider Delivery of Energy E... Read More

Delivering a reliable power supply to consumers has always been a central objective of power market design and various solutions to this challenge have been adopted in Europe and elsewhere. In the context of wholesale power markets, these solutions have generally taken the form of market rules to pay for firm capacity, alongside energy-only prices. A closer look ... Read More

In 2003, RAP first developed the concept of the efficiency power plant (EPP), a set of integrated energy efficiency programs whose savings mirror the output of a conventional power plant. This portfolio approach enables cost comparison with conventional electricity generation, allowing energy efficiency resources to be integrated into power sector planning and fi... Read More

RAP works with the Western Governors’ Association on the Western Renewable Energy Zones (WREZ) project, which is funded by the US Department of Energy. The overall goal of the project is to develop areas in the Western US with vast, high-quality renewable resources and create a critical mass of transmission needs in the same timeframe for an efficient build-out... Read More