In the latest RAP webinar, Tim Woolf, Vice President of Synapse Energy Economics and author of the recent paper Energy Efficiency Cost-Effectiveness Screening, addresses some of the major issues that arise in choosing and applying cost-effectiveness screening tests. He spoke on two elements of energy efficiency program screening that are frequently treated improperly – “other program impacts” (i.e., non-energy impacts and other fuel savings) and the costs of complying with environmental regulations.

Presenter: Tim Woolf, Synapse Energy Economics
Moderator: Chris Neme, Energy Futures Group
Length: Approx. 60 minutes

Many states around the US are ramping up their energy efficiency programs, and several states have adopted policies to pursue all cost-effective energy efficiency resources. However, there is great variation across the states in the ways that energy efficiency programs are screened for cost-effectiveness. Many states apply methodologies and assumptions that do not capture the full value of efficiency resources, leading to under-investment in this low-cost resource, and thus higher costs to utility customers and society.