The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners lauded the Energy Department’s new report on state and regional energy efficiency policies for recognizing the important role state regulators have in developing energy efficiency programs.

NARUC and the National Association of State Energy Officials, through the National Council on Electricity Policy, contributed heavily to the report, which was mandated under Section 139 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005.

The report, available from the Energy Department and online from the National Council on Electricity Policy (www.ncouncil.org), offers a list of recommendations for states, industry groups, and other stakeholders to consider when implementing energy efficiency programs.

“As this report makes clear, state regulators play a critical role in implementing and designing energy efficiency programs,” said NARUC President Jim Kerr of North Carolina. “We have long been active and pioneering supporters of energy efficiency and many states are already heavily engaged on this issue. This report correctly acknowledges the importance of embracing energy efficiency as electricity demand grows and we are thankful for our colleagues at DOE, the National Council on Electricity Policy, and the National Association of State Energy Officials for their work.”

“As state regulators, we know the value of energy efficiency programs,” said NARUC First Vice President and Co-Chair of the National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency Marsha Smith of Idaho. “But we also know that much work remains to educate the public as a whole on the value of such programs. This report is an important step in our outreach efforts and I know my colleagues and I will continue doing all we can to promote energy efficiency across all customer classes.”