Estimating the impact of efficiency standards on the uncertainty of the Northwest electric system

The uncertainty of the Northwest electric system was the subject of a recent study for the Bonneville Power Administration. System uncertainty was described along two dimensions over a twenty year planning period. One dimension was uncertainty in the demand for electricity; the second dimension was uncertainty in the price of electricity. The study focused on the impact of efficiency standards that would reduce the electricity used in new buildings and appliances. Many planners expect that the standards would reduce the long-term uncertainty in electricity demand. Some planners have come to realize that the standards could also reduce the long-term uncertainty in the price of electricity. This paper explains the case study approach to estimating the magnitude of these reductions in uncertainty. The author describes the analytical approach and the key findings of the study, and concludes with a discussion of the study’s impact on decision making in the region.