State Public Utility Commissions\u27 Powers to Advance Energy Efficiency

Improving energy efficiency is widely acknowledged as the most economical way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the other adverse environmental impacts of fossil fuel use. Indeed, efficiency measures often yield net cost savings over a fairly short period of time. The United States lacks a comprehensive regulatory program for energy efficiency. The Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Transportation set fuel economy standards for motor vehicles (and on Aug. 28, 2012, finalized a major tightening of those standards). The Department of Energy sets many appliance standards and administers certain grant and research programs. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has the primary role for, among other things, wholesale electricity transmission