In a webinar earlier this year, the Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP) called for a fresh look at standby rates for combined heat and power (CHP) systems, illustrating how poorly-designed standby rates can impede the adoption of CHP resources, while well-designed rates can encourage these efficient, clean resources.
Christine Brinker, Director of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Southwest Combined Heat and Power Technical Assistance Partnership (CHP TAP) joined RAP on Friday, June 27th for a free webinar taking a deeper look at utility standby rates for CHP. RAP’s Carl Linvill and Rich Sedano provided insight on how standby rates for CHP can be structured to provide adequate financial protection to utilities, without creating disincentives to CHP adoption. The speakers also examined:
- Detailed case studies of standby rates in Colorado and Ohio, as well as general guidance relevant for all states;
- The efficacy of well-designed standby tariffs for CHP applications in Colorado and Ohio;
- Steps to improve rate design in these states and throughout the U.S., with the goal of encouraging deployment of cost-effective CHP resources; and
- How these lessons are replicable in other states.
The webinar draws from the paper Standby Rates for Combined Heat and Power Systems, prepared by RAP and Brubaker and Associates, Inc., for Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
