The National Standard Practice Manual for Energy Efficiency (NSPM for EE)

The precursor to 2020’s National Standard Practice Manual for Benefit-Cost Analysis of Distributed Energy Resources (NSPM for DERs), the National Standard Practice Manual for Assessing Cost-Effectiveness of Energy Efficiency Resources was published in 2017. The NSPM for EE provides a comprehensive framework for cost-effectiveness assessment of energy resources, with a focus on energy efficiency.

Note: The NSPM for DERs incorporates and expands upon the NSPM for EE. Therefore, the NSPM for EE will no longer be updated or maintained. NESP recommends that users of the NSPM framework or process refer to the NSPM for DERs going forward.

Important changes in nomenclature and concepts were made in the 2020 NSPM for DERs, including: an updated BCA framework (including the principles and multi-step NSPM process) and new terminology as provided in the comparison table below.

A full comparison of how the NSPM for EE content was incorporated into the NSPM for DERs is provided here.

The NSPM for EE was authored by:

Tim Woolf, Synapse Energy Economics
Chris Neme, Energy Futures Group
Marty Kushler, American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy
Steve Schiller, Schiller Consulting
Tom Eckman, Consultant (formerly with Northwest Power & Conservation Council)

The NSPM for EE was informed by an Advisory Committee which provided input and comment on draft versions of the manual. The NSPM for EE development was funded by E4TheFuture, which manages NESP’s publications.