Under traditional regulation, utilities make more money when they sell more energy. Yet this reality is at odds with explicit public policy objectives that utility and environmental regulators are charged with achieving, including economic efficiency and environmental protection. Many utility-sector stakeholders have recognized the conflicts implicit in tradition...

Co-authors of the publication “Decoupling Case Studies: Revenue Regulation Implementation in Six States,” Janine Migden-Ostrander and Dave Lamont explored different approaches to revenue regulation programs in a webinar held on September 11, 2014. They highlight design and policy options for regulators and utilities considering revenue regulation mechanisms. ...

This paper examines revenue regulation, popularly known as decoupling, and the various elements of revenue regulation that can be assembled in numerous ways based on state priorities and preferences to eliminate the throughput incentive. This publication focuses on six utilities: Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Idaho Power Company, Baltimore Gas and Electric Co...

In this presentation at the Air and Waste Management Association’s Climate Change conference, Dave Lamont identifies energy efficiency as an inexpensive tool to deliver multi-pollutant emissions reductions. When determining whether an energy efficiency measure is cost-effective, non-energy benefits, such as increased productivity, improved health, cleaner air a...

FERC Order 1000 creates an opportunity for air regulators to ensure that regional transmission planning processes support and do not exacerbate efforts to attain national ambient air quality standards. In this presentation at the Air and Waste Management Association’s Climate Change conference, Dave Lamont describes opportunities for air regulators to proactive...

In this paper, RAP extracts information from our work in six states in the U.S. to examine state practices for integrated resource planning and energy efficiency. We examine how these state practices work together and are in some cases converging. Our analysis shows that there remain divergent practices on how IRP or a similar planning process is implemented, but...

Partnering with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Exeter Associates, RAP prepared this 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 da...

RAP's Dave Lamont gave this presentation on a case study of US tariffs at the “Asia Clean Energy Forum 2011" before an audience of policy makers, regulatory commissioners, financiers, utility personnel, and bankers. This event was hosted by the Asian Development Bank as a way to share ideas and experiences involving clean energy policies and programs in the Asi...