1. Regional Electricity Planning:  Unavoidable Constraints, Possible Solutions
2. “Decoupling” Sales and Profits (An IT Perspective)
3. Revenue Neutral Energy Efficiency Feebates

As part of the transformation of NRRI from a clearinghouse to a source of original research, our document library is under construction. Below is a list of selected NRRI electricity publications, dating back to the 1980s, organized by topic; text searchable and downloadable. Some articles listed are not downloadable at this time. All state commissions and their staff may send requests for these documents to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or call (301) 588-5385. Please note that we are currently unable to respond to document requests from the general public.

Title	Author	Published	File
Rate Designs to Promote Energy Efficiency	Pollack	2010
Energy Storage: Framework for Developing Regulation	Pollack, Stanton, Jester	2010
What Is an Effective Feed-In Tariff for Your State? A Design Guide	Pollock, McNamara	2010	10-07
Renewable Energy Prices in State-Level Feed-in Tariffs: Federal Law Constraints and Possible Solutions	Hempling, Elefant, Cory, Port	2010	NREL
How to Induce Customers to Consume Energy Efficiently: Rate Design Options and Methods	Pollock, Shumilkina	2010	10-03
How Can FERC Improve the Transmission Incentive Policy? Ways to Improve Clarity, Transparency, and Performance	Pollock	2009	09-12
Aligning a Utility’s Interests with the Public Interest in Cost-Effective Purchased Power Transactions	Boonin	2009	09-05
Pre-Approval Commitments: When And Under What Conditions Should Regulators Commit Ratepayer Dollars to Utility-Proposed Capital Projects?	Hempling, Strauss	2008	08-12
A Rate Design to Encourage Energy Efficiency and Reduce Revenue Requirements	Boonin	2008	08-08
Climate Change and State Utility Commissions: What is the Public Interest?	Keeler	2008	OSU
“Excessive Burden” or “Something More Than a Small Dent”? The Supreme Court Parses Mobile-Sierra	Hempling	2008	Seminar

I. Regulation in a Carbon Constrained World

A. Promoting energy efficiency through rate design
B. Valuation of carbon cap and trade credits
C. Renewable mandates - costs and benefits
D. Financing strategies
E. Links between gas and electric IRP
F. The future of nuclear generation

II. Rates

A. ROE issues
B. New metering technology and rate design
C. Incentive Ratemaking
D. Impact of distributed generation on retail regulation
E. Rate level and volatility mitigation tools
F. Positive net contribution rate design
G. Intergenerational ratemaking issues
H. Transmission closing costs
I. Transmission cost allocation
J. Rate cases as energy and economic policy arenas

III. Reliability

A. Reliability and balancing investments
B. Impact of reliability and service quality
C. Intermittent resources
D. Differentiation of service offerings

IV. IRP

A. Resource mix decision making
B. Energy efficiency standards and IRP
C. Smart Grids
D. Build vs. buy
E. Discounting for present value
F. Transmission limitations
G. Regional IRP
H. IRP decisions and their impact on a region's economy
I. Utility regulation as part of a state's economic engine
J. Impact of electricity prices on regional economies

V. Retail regulation under changing wholesale structures

A. Provider of last resort acquisition policies
B. Retail rate design within different wholesale market structures
C. Training on what wholesale market rules mean to state regulators
D. Resource evaluation under single wholesale market clearing price

VI. General

A. Improvement to commission's legislative authority
B. Mergers and acquisitions

This paper provides basic information on the U.S. electric industry. It assumes only a basic understanding of the nature and purpose of utility regulation. While it addresses issues related to ratemaking, it is not an introduction to rate setting. This section reviews the overall nature of the industry and of power production and use. Section II breaks down the industry into segments and discusses their recent and current status and organization. Section III covers regulatory jurisdiction, while Section IV identifies some of the critical issues facing the industry and its regulators.

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