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Energy and Environment Guide to Action - Chapter 4.1: Energy Efficiency Resource Standards

This document is 'Chapter 4.1: Energy Efficiency Resource Standards' of the Energy and Environment Guide to Action. Energy Efficiency Resource Standards (EERSs) require obligated parties—usually retail distributors of electricity—to meet a specific portion of their electricity demand through energy efficiency (NCSL 2014).

As of March 2015, 27 states have some type of energy efficiency requirement or goal. Twenty-three states have mandatory energy efficiency requirements, two states have voluntary targets, and two states allow energy efficiency as a compliance option for their renewable portfolio standard (RPS)15 (ACEEE 2014d; DSIRE 2015).

EERS designs vary considerably across the states. They vary in terms of:

•  The target type—incremental or annual, relative (percent) or absolute (gigawatt-hour, or GWh), rolling or fixed.
•  Responsible entities.
•  The portion of load covered.
•  The stringency of targets.

  • Chapter 4.1 Energy Efficiency Resource Standards (pdf) (1.38 MB)

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Last updated on December 2, 2024
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