DEER (Database for Energy Efficient Resources)
DEER, the Database for Energy Efficient Resources, provides energy savings estimates for typical energy efficient technologies and measures. The database contains information and data, such as unit energy savings, effective useful life values, and net to gross ratios for measures that are commonly installed in the marketplace. DEER is currently managed by the Energy Division, with funding provided by California ratepayers. The DEER website, www.deeresources.com, contains the database and all supporting documentation. Data can be accessed and downloaded through the database interface Remote Ex Ante Database Interface (READI) on the DEER website.
The DEER Update Plan outlines the process for updates for the 2014 and 2015 cycles.
BACKGROUND
D.05-01-055 directed the Energy Division to provide oversight of research and analysis of the energy efficiency values. The Commission placed the updates to DEER under the management of regulatory staff.
In D.05-04-051, the Commission determined that DEER shall be the source of assumptions used to estimate load impacts to the extent possible.
D.12-05-015 adopted the DEER2011 release for use in planning the 2013-14 energy efficiency program cycle. In R.09-11-014, the Commission also determined that the codes and standards that will become effective in 2014 should be used to update the baseline values during the 2013-14 energy efficiency program cycle.
UPCOMING AND CURRENT EVENTS
DEER2013 Update Follow-Up Webinar
To All Parties in R.09-11-014 and A.12-07-001 et al:
One of the actions that came out of the 9/18 webinar for DEER2013 Update it to provide the IOUs with flat Excel workbooks of the two different version of DEER2013.
The workbooks can be downloaded here: http://www.deeresources.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=72&Itemid=63 under DEER2013 Documentation and Resources.
Please compare the two versions and provide recommendations on the update scope.
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Meeting information
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Topic: DEER2013 Update Final Draft
Date: Thursday, October 3, 2013
Time: 2:00 pm, Pacific Daylight Time (San Francisco, GMT-07:00) to 4:00 pm
Meeting Number: 276 001 779
Meeting Password: deer
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To start or join the online meeting
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Go to https://van.webex.com/van/j.php?ED=31194063&UID=491292852&PW=NYzMyYmNjYzM2&RT=MiM0
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Teleconference information
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1-866-621-8358
Participant passcode: 62224559#
DEER2013 Update Webinar
To All Parties in R.09-11-014 and A.12-07-001 et al:
The final draft version for DEER2013 mid cycle updates are now posted on www.deeresources.com.
You can also click here to access the model and supporting documentation.
Two DEER2013 version are published currently.
1. DEER2013 is an update draft that integrates all code changes.
2. DEER2013 Alternate is an update draft that integrates all code changes EXCEPT weather file updates.
Supporting documentation for both versions and an HVAC interactive effects workbook are posted as resources.
In addition, the new READI tool can now open DEER2011, DEER2013, and DEER2013 Alt. for comparing values.
The final DEER2013 update draft is open to commenting and the commenting period will be from 9/10/2013 to 10/10/2013.
Please post your follow-up comments, concerns, and issues with regards to the DEER2013 updates at http://www.energydataweb.com/cpuc/home.aspx. Go the Search tab on the above website and type in “DEER2013 Update Final Draft” into the Search Text box to find the document for commenting.
Please only submit comments on the public document website.
The DEER team will be holding a webinar to summarize the draft update, provide instructions on how to comment, and take questions on Wednesday (9/18) from 3 to 5 pm PST.
Stakeholder Workshop
To All Parties in R.09-11-014 and A.12-07-001 et al:
On July 17, 2013, the CPUC will hold a workshop to present the DEER 2013 and DEER 2014 update process and present proposed methodologies and values for the DEER 2013 update.
DEER Workshop Agenda
DEER 2013 Update Draft
DEER 2014 Update Draft
Non-DEER Workpaper Values for Energy Efficiency Measures
Program administrators and implementers develop non-DEER workpapers for measures or that are not captured in DEER. Potential energy savings estimates are calculated based on best available information and extrapolation from DEER values or methods, as appropriate. Program administrators submit workpapers to the Energy Division for review on specific non-DEER measures. The Energy Division reviews a sub-selection of the submissions and releases dispositions with adjusted values, if needed.
BACKGROUND
Development, review and approval of non-DEER workpapers has evolved through several decisions. D.09-09-047 gave Energy Division authority to review and approve non-DEER workpapers and required Energy Division to develop a process for submittal, review and freezing of non-DEER measures. During the 2010-2012 program cycle, an administrative law judge ruling dated 11/18/2009 in A.08-07-021 provided a standardized review and approval process for Phase 2 non-DEER workpapers including:
- Requirements for utilizing DEER values and methods in the development of non-DEER measures.
- A timeline for workpaper review that required Commission staff to perform a preliminary review for additional information within 15 days and the final review within 25 days of receiving the additional review.
- A requirement for consideration of the latest evaluation, measurement and verification published studies in the development of ex ante values including energy impacts, cost data, effective useful life, remaining useful life, and net-to-gross ratios.
- Provision for retrospective staff reviews of frozen and workpapers not reviewed if the measures covered by a workpaper eventually become high-impact measures, measures with the largest amount of energy savings claimed by investor-owned utilities.
- D.10-04-029 approved Application 08-07-021 and required investor-owned utilities to cooperate with energy division to allow upfront consultation regarding workpapers. D.11-07-030 approved all of Application 08-07-021 in regards to Phase 2 review, except the provision for retrospective staff review, which was then removed.
D.12-05-015 is the guidance decision covering 2013-2014 energy efficiency applications and includes a process for workpaper review that builds upon the process established in the previous decisions. D.12-05-015 included the following requirements:
- Ex ante values shall be updated in consideration of 2006-2008 evaluation results.
- Utilities shall include workpapers in their initial 2013-2014 applications for all measures that are not specifically included in the DEER database. (NOTE: Staff and utilities refer to workpapers submitted with the initial 2013-2014 applications as “Phase 1” workpapers.)
- Update and review of workpapers shall be given to High Impact Measures.
- If Staff is unable to review all workpapers submitted with the initial 2013-2014 workpapers, the un-reviewed workpapers shall receive “interim approval,” and Staff may review any of these in the future, with revisions applied prospectively.
- A mid-cycle review is included that prescribes a process for reviewing any workpapers that have interim approval as well as any Phase 2 workpapers that are submitted during the cycle.
- New non-DEER measures may be added during the program cycle. Staff may assign new non-DEER measures “interim approval” prior to the completion of any necessary research.
- A Phase 2 submission and review process is included that limits the time for staff review of workpapers and does not allow the use of the disposition of “conditional approval” that was previously allowed under D.11-07-030.
- Every six months Commission Staff will develop a draft resolution covering any disputed workpapers that will be subject to a Commission vote.
Custom Measures and Projects
Custom measures and projects are site-specific energy efficiency projects. Custom projects require unique calculations for each project, as they do not rely on fixed DEER or workpaper values. For custom measures and projects the ex ante values cannot be forecasted in advance since the preliminary ex ante values are not known until the project is identified. Final ex ante values are not developed until the project is completed. Commission Decision 11-07-030 establishes a clear process by which ex ante energy savings estimates from custom measures and projects are reviewed.
BACKGROUND
D.11-07-030 approves that the Energy Division custom project ex ante review process is reasonable and should be adopted. Attachment B of the filing details how the investor-owned utilities’ energy savings claims will be reviewed:
- Under the General Review process, the Energy Division will review tools, measures, and projects, as well as inputs to the tools for selected projects. The tool reviews will be done on a prospective basis.
- The Pre-Installation Review process allows the Energy Division to perform a parallel review process with the investor-owned utilities, and then allows for the Energy Division to provide inputs and recommendations.
- The Post-Installation Review process is used to provide the Energy Division with opportunity to review the accuracy of energy savings claims assumed by the investor-owned utility prior to the utility making its final incentive payment to its customer.
- Under the Investor-Owned Utility Claim Review process, the Energy Division conducts a review of energy savings for custom projects to ensure that recommendations made by Energy Division were accurately reflected in the claim.