The National Standard Practice Manual (NSPM)
The National Standard Practice Manual for Benefit-Cost Analysis of Distributed Energy Resources (NSPM for DERs) provides a comprehensive framework for cost-effectiveness assessment of DERs. The manual offers a set of policy-neutral, non-biased, and economically-sound principles, concepts, and methodologies to support single- and multi-DER benefit-cost analysis (BCA) for: energy efficiency (EE), demand response (DR), distributed generation (DG), distributed storage (DS), and (building and vehicle) electrification. It is intended for use by jurisdictions to help inform which resources to acquire to meet their specific policy goals and objectives.
- Download the NSPM for DERs Summary
- Download the most recent NSPM for DERs Overview Presentation
- View Webinars and Events
- See companion guidance document to the NSPM, the Methods, Tools and Resources Handbook
- Online BCA training using the NSPM is available here
The NSPM is a product of the National Energy Screening Project (NESP), guided by an Advisory Group and coordinated by E4TheFuture. The NSPM was authored by:
- Tim Woolf, Synapse Energy Economics (Lead Author)
- Chris Neme, Energy Futures Group
- Mike Alter, ICF
- Steve Fine, ICF
- Karl Rábago, Pace Energy and Climate Center
- Steve Schiller, Schiller Consulting
- Kate Strickland, Smart Electric Power Alliance
- Brenda Chew, Smart Electric Power Alliance
NOTE: The NSPM for DERs incorporates and expands upon the 2017 National Standard Practice Manual for Assessing Cost-Effectiveness of Energy Efficiency Resources (NSPM for EE). Jurisdictions and interested stakeholders are encouraged to refer to the NSPM for DERs to guide BCA efforts in their jurisdiction, whether for a single DER type (including EE) or multiple DER types. The NSPM for EE included co-authors Marty Kushler (ACEEE) and Tom Eckman (Independent Consultant). For a comparison of the NSPM for EE to the NSPM for DERs, click here.
Application of the manual in jurisdictions is undertaken directly by interested stakeholders. In some cases, E4TheFuture, in coordination with other funding sources, helps to provide technical support to states that implement or apply the manual.
Questions? Contact NSPM@nationalenergyscreeningproject.org.