BPA and the Sixth Power Plan
The Northwest Power and Conservation Council (the Council) is expected
to adopt the Sixth Power Plan by no later than December 31, 2009. BPA
anticipates that many of the changes associated with the Sixth plan may
have implications for energy efficiency program offerings. These
implications will remain uncertain until the final plan is adopted. Because
it is anticipated that energy efficiency targets in the Sixth Power Plan
may more than double from those called for in the Fifth Power Plan, BPA
is working with utilities and regional stakeholders to minimize operational
disruption related to the transition between plans.
Pre-draft plan Demand Side Management (DSM) supply curves from the Council
suggest that certain measures that were previously not considered cost-effective
may now pass total resource cost tests. This will have the effect of expanding
the number of qualifying measures that BPA will need to consider for utility
reimbursement. The draft version of the plan may also exclude some current
measures, such as lower-efficiency appliances or various Compact Fluorescent
Light (CFL) measures which may impact some current BPA reimbursement levels
in multiple sectors. And several technologies that may be included in the plan
will require research prior to approval by the Regional Technical Forum (RTF).
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Sixth Power Plan approval schedule
The Council has provided BPA with the following tentative schedule for
adoption of the Sixth Power Plan:
- Draft plan released (September 2009)
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Public comment period (60 days)
- Revised draft plan based on public comment released
(November or December 2009)
- Final plan adopted (December 2009)
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How BPA is working with the Council and utilities
During the last several months, BPA Energy Efficiency planning, program
and engineering staff have been reviewing and analyzing DSM supply
curves provided by the Council. Once the details of the supply curves
were readily understood, BPA Energy Efficiency staff engaged utility
customers and regional stakeholders to assess the readiness of
numerous technologies and discuss the many facets of an appropriate
implementation strategy. From these collaborative discussions, BPA
provided feedback to the Council for consideration in subsequent Sixth
Power Plan revisions.
BPA is working with the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance to identify,
assess and develop emerging energy efficiency technologies that can be
developed and implemented within the next one to five years. Read more
about BPA's Energy Efficiency Emerging Technologies
initiatives.
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Changes to the Planning, Tracking and Reporting (PTR) system
Because the RTF, not BPA, determines the final measure set included in
the PTR, the following tentative schedule following adoption of the plan is
provided, with the understanding that dates may change.
For current measures in the PTR system:
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The RTF reviews the measures and updates for cost
effectiveness based on new assumptions and inputs from the
Sixth Power Plan. Utilities provide feedback through the
established RTF process. (December 2009 - March 2010)
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BPA reviews and assigns reimbursement levels for the new
measure set, updates specifications and requirements and
uploads into the PTR system. If there is a reduction in
reimbursement levels because savings or incremental cost
assumptions have been reduced by the RTF, six-months
notification will be provided to customers. Measures excluded
from the regional target under the Sixth Power Plan (such as
some lower- efficiency appliances) will be removed
January 1, 2010. (January - March 2010)
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BPA issues Implementation Manual. (April 1, 2010)
For new measures included in the Sixth Power Plan:
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The RTF processes to verify cost effectiveness and approve
savings for new measures could require substantial time, such
as months or even years.
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Based on review and research, the RTF will deem savings and
incremental cost values.
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As measures become available from the RTF, BPA will
determine reimbursement levels and upload into the PTR
system.
For more information on the RTF process, see the
RTF Charter.
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What BPA is pursuing to achieve increased targets
BPA program marketing and program staff are actively pursuing new
strategies to help achieve energy efficiency targets. See what each sector
is planning:
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