Oregon Energy Efficiency Obligation

In 2010, the government of Oregon introduced an energy efficiency obligation for residential, commercial and industrial sectors. The obligation concerns electricity and gas. Obligated parties include investor-owned electricity companies (retail). The obligation seeks to achieve 55.1 MW of electricity in 2016, save at least 6 million annual therms of natural gas in 2016. For 2015-19, save 240 MW of electricity and 24 million annual therms of natural gas. To be eligible for funding under the obligation (that is, funding from the Energy Trust), measures must generally meet two cost-effectiveness tests -- Utility Cost Test and Total Resource Cost Test. Measures for buildings must meet Energy Trust energy efficiency specifications. Measure categories in 2015 included: existing buildings (C&I, residential multi-family, new buildings, production efficiency (industry and agriculture), existing and new homes, products. Statute requires independent review of the public purpose charge to develop recommendations for the legislature. A report was released in 2006 that recommended developing more consistent M&V procedures for public purpose charge funds. M&V is done by the Energy Trust of OR. The Energy Trust of OR has a robust programme for process and impact evaluations and a robust quality control and quality assurance process to make sure M&V is done well.

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