Energy Efficiency Resource Standard

September 27, 2023

Summary

In May 2007 the New York Public Service Commission (PSC) issued an order instituting a proceeding to develop an Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard (EEPS). The order set a goal of reducing electricity usage in New York by 15% from projected electricity usage in 2015. In February 2015, the PSC published a framework for NY Reforming Energy Vision (REV)* with a broad aim of reorienting the electric market in the state. As the EEPS savings targets ended in 2015, the commission declined to renew savings targets, instead providing a framework to evolve utility efficiency programs into more flexible market transformational programs to support the goals envisioned in the REV*. 

In December 2018, the PSC adopted an accelerated energy efficiency goal of 31 trillion British Thermal Units (BTu) of customer level energy reduction by 2025. This target is inclusive of annual reduction of 3% electricity sales by 2025, as well a subsidiary target of at least 5 trillion BTU in reduction through heat pump deployment. 

As of September 2023, utilities are in the process of developing post-2025 ratepayer funded portfolios as required by the July 2023 order.

Program Description

In January 2016, the PSC authorized energy efficiency budgets and targets for the investor-owned electric and gas utilities in the state. These utilities include- Central Hudson Gas and Electric, Consolidated Edison, New York State Electric and Gas (NYSEG), National Grid, Orange and Rockland (O&R), Rochester Gas and Electric (RG&E), KeySpan Gas East (KEDLI), Brooklyn Union Gas (KEDNY), and National Fuel Gas Distribution (NFG).
The utility savings targets were designed to be implemented in coordination with the state's overall clean energy targets provided in the Clean Energy Fund (CEF). The portfolio for 2016-2018 included annual combined targets of 548,687 MWh and 1,737,607 Dth. Targets set for 2019-2020 included combined targets of 1,399,010 MWh and 3,948,790 MMBtu over the two year period. The 2021-2025 annual base targets are displayed below. Incremental targets set by the utilities for 2021-2025 will set additional combined targets of 3,675,584 MWh and 12,912,583 MMBtu over the four year period.


UtilitiesElectric budget
(millions)
MWh TargetGas Budget
(millions)
MMBtu Target
Central Hudson$9.7753,262$1.1858,016
Con Edison$86.18199,008$14.53303,462
NYSEG$17.0459,508$2.0494,486
Niagara Mohawk$63.90319,383$14.01870,798
Orange & Rockland$9.9053,076$0.7022,853
RG&E$10.4835,307$2.72141,246
KEDLI  $7.16166,821
KEDNY  $12.77282,740
NFG  $10.04385,468
Total $197.27719,544$65.192,325,890

Program Administration and Design

Utility energy efficiency programs under previous EEPS (2008- 2015) were oriented towards providing direct rebates and subsidies to encourage individual customers to employ more efficient end-use equipment and systems. The Commission noted that while these programs have been successful to acquire energy savings as a resource, it envisioned the post 2015 utility efficiency programs to be focused on market transformation efforts which would allow wide scale penetration and market acceptance of efficiency measures which would eventually eliminate the need for customer funded subsidies. 

The Commission provided increased responsibility and flexibility to the utilities to design and implement the programs. Beginning 2016, utilities are required to develop more innovative approaches to energy efficiency programs, which may include rebates, but are more focused on market transformational efforts.

Cost Effectiveness and Program Evaluation

While implementing the energy efficiency programs, utilities must track their MWh and Btu savings targets, but will also track CO2 emission reductions, customer bill reductions, reductions, and private investment in energy efficiency technology and solutions as to measure the success of the program in terms of broad statewide energy policy goals provided in the Clean Energy Fund (CEF). The NY Technical Resource Manual (TRM) provides a standardized and transparent approach for calculating energy and demand savings from the energy efficiency programs. 

In January 2016, the PSC provided a framework to develop new Benefit Cost Analysis (BCA) as a part of REV that would be applied to energy efficiency and distributed energy resources, however, the PSC has retained that the total resource cost (TRC) test be the primary cost effectiveness test for energy efficiency. While the TRC can be applied to varying levels of granularity, the Commission requires the TRC to exceed 1.0 at a portfolio level analysis.

Utility Cost Recovery Provisions

The costs for the programs are recovered through Energy Efficiency Tracker (EE Tracker) system benefit surcharge. However, a transition in cost recovery is included in the 2015 REV Order, so that rather than being recovered through a surcharge, efficiency programs will be integrated into the utilities’ businesses and costs will be recovered through rates like other ordinary components of the revenue requirement. In more recent rate orders, the Commission has approved expanded energy efficiency activities by several utilities and provided for alternative cost recovery mechanisms for spending. For example, the Commission approved increased energy efficiency levels for Niagara Mohawk and Central Hudson, including recovery of associated costs through base delivery rates as opposed to the EE Tracker surcharge.

The utilities in the previous EEPS program (2008-2015) were allowed a two-step utility performance incentive for reaching energy efficiency targets. The first portion of the incentive was based on the achievement of the utilities’ specific goals, and the second was based on collective utilities and NYSERDA’s achievement of reaching statewide efficiency targets.

Self Direct Programs

In its February 2015 NY REV order, the PSC required the utilities to implement a “Self-Direct” Program for large commercial and industrial customers that allows large customers to self direct funds that would otherwise support the utility’s energy efficiency programs. In August 2015, the Commission approved the Self-Direct Program Guidance document which provides a framework for utilities to develop their Self-Direct programs for qualifying customers. 

To be eligible for the Self-Direct Program, the customer must have a 36 month average demand of 2 MW or greater. Customers with an aggregated 36 month average demand of 4 MW or greater are also eligible, as long as one or more of the accounts being aggregated has at least a 36 month average demand of 1 MW.

Qualifying large industrial and commercial customers who pay the Energy Efficiency (EE) Tracker surcharge will have the opportunity to self-direct a majority of their contributions to qualifying projects, with up to 15% allocated to support program administrative and evaluation, measurement and verification expenses. The utility must allocate at least 50% of the three-year average annual of EE Tracker surcharges from qualifying customers for each year of the three-year cycle. All projects implemented within the Self-Direct Program must be cost-effective, utilities may count the energy savings towards their savings goals. The MWh target for this program should be calculated based on a program-only dollar per MWh that is at least 7.5% lower than the total authorized program-only dollar per MWh of the company’s energy efficiency portfolio, excluding the Self-Direct Program.

Low Income Programs

Energy efficiency programs for low income customers are administered by NYSERDA through the EmPower program, funded by the Systems Benefits Charge. While NYSERDA is the default provider of low income programs, utilities may also have programs that provide energy efficiency services to low income communities in concert with NYSERDA programs.

*The PUC initiated the REV proceedings on April 2015 following Governor Cuomo’s vision towards a comprehensive reform in the State’s power industry with a broad goal to align electric utility practice and the regulatory paradigm with the technological advances. The REV initiative seeks to create next generation of utility business models that is customer centric and is driven by technological innovation and private investments to provide resilient, affordable, and clean energy in the State. Other initiatives that are part of the REV include the Green Bank, NY Sun, and BuildSmart NY. 

Program Overview

Implementing Sector: State
Category: Regulatory Policy
State: New York
Incentive Type: Energy Efficiency Resource Standard
Web Site: https://dps.ny.gov/clean-energy-initiatives#:~:text=New%20York%20is%20committed%20to,funding%20targets%20the%20LMI%20customer
Administrator: New York Public Service Commission
Start Date:
Eligible Renewable/Other Technologies:
Electric Sales Reduction: annual reduction of 3% of electricity sales by 2025.
Electric Peak Demand Reduction: Not specified
Natural Gas Sales Reduction: See summary
Rate Impact Parameters: None specifically identified, but PSC establishes collections and approves utility programs

Authorities

Name: Case 14-M-0101 Order Adopting Regulatory Policy Framework and Implementation Plan
Date Enacted: 02/26/2015
Effective Date: 02/26/2015
Name: Case 15-M-0252 Order Authorizing Utility Administered Energy Efficiency Portfolio Budgets and Targets for 2016-2018
Date Enacted: 01/22/2016
Effective Date: 01/22/2016
Expiration Date: 01/22/2018
Name: Case 15-M-0252 Order Authorizing Utility Administered Energy Efficiency Portfolio Budgets and Targets for 2019-2020
Date Enacted: 03/15/2018
Name: Case 18-M-0084 Order Adopting Accelerated Energy Efficiency Targets
Date Enacted: 12/13/2018
Name: Case 18-M-0084 Order Authorizing Utility Energy Efficiency and Building Electrification Portfolios Through 2025
Date Enacted: 01/16/2020

Contact

Name: New York DPS
Address: Empire State Plaza Agency Building 3
Albany NY 12223
Phone: (518) 474-6530
Email: web.questions@dps.ny.gov

This information is sourced from DSIRE; the most comprehensive source of information on incentives and policies that support renewables and energy efficiency in the United States. Established in 1995, DSIRE is operated by the N.C. Clean Energy Technology Center at N.C. State University.