At the August 14th meeting of the Northwest Power and Conservation Council, the Council voted unanimously to release a white paper for public comment, which details how the Regional Technical Form (rtf.nwcouncil.org) generates estimates of energy savings from efficiency measures. This paper also provides information on how those estimates support the work performed by organizations throughout the region, including the Council itself, the region’s public and investor owned utilities, and the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance.
RTF estimates of the energy savings associated with improved energy efficiency are derived from data and technical analysis created via a transparent public review process. However, though transparent, that process and the work products it creates can be complex. All of the RTF’s work starts with key guidelines documents that help direct decision making and orient the work products to be consistent and correct. This process, and those guidelines, are based in the methods of the Council that are used for formulating the Power Plan. Though these processes and methods have changed some over time to reflect improved understanding of the nature of energy savings, they continue to balance accuracy with achievability and understandability.
This paper was drafted by Council and RTF staff with the intent to clarify these processes, and to provide greater detail about the rationale behind them. The content of the paper was discussed with the RTF members, through briefings to the full RTF and discussion in subcommittee meetings, as well as the RTF’s Policy Advisory Committee. Now, the stakeholders of the region will have their chance to digest this report and offer any comments that they see fit to express, potentially helping to improve the RTF’s transparency even further.
The comment period for this document will close October 13, 2018. All comments can be sent directly to comments@nwcouncil.org
Questions about the paper can be sent to Jennifer Light, RTF Manager
