Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0000266

  • The National Energy Technology Laboratory in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Stimulating Energy Efficiency Action from State Public Utility Commissions" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.122 Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability, Research, Development and Analysis.
  • This funding opportunity was created on Apr 28, 2010 and posted on Apr 28, 2010.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 7, 2010. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
  • The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
  • Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
  • In accordance with 10 CFR 600.6(b), eligibility for award is restricted to Public Utility Commissions (or equivalent state regulator agency) of the 50 U.S. States and the District of Columbia (hereinafter States ).
Apply for DE FOA 0000266

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Opportunity Summary:

The grant opportunity "Stimulating Energy Efficiency Action from State Public Utility Commissions" (Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0000266) was issued by the U.S. Department of Energy through the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) on behalf of the Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability (OE). Its core purpose is to help state public utility commissions (PUCs), or equivalent state regulatory agencies, build and strengthen the policy, program, and market foundations needed to treat energy efficiency as a long-term, reliable resource. In practical terms, DOE is looking to support regulatory action that can lower customer energy bills, improve energy and climate security, and encourage job creation by increasing sustained investment in cost-effective energy efficiency.

The focus of this funding is not on installing equipment or running a single short-term efficiency campaign, but on the upstream regulatory and planning work that makes energy efficiency durable and scalable over time. The FOA is designed to help commissions develop an energy efficiency resource goal (often understood as a formal target or standard for savings) and to design the associated policies and programs needed to actually deliver those savings. That typically includes building the rules, incentive structures, evaluation approaches, and utility business-model changes that allow efficiency to compete alongside generation and grid investments as a dependable way to meet demand. The overall theme is "stimulating" action, meaning the federal support is meant to accelerate or unlock state-level regulatory frameworks that can persist after the grant period ends.

Awards were to be made as cooperative agreements, which generally means DOE expects substantial involvement during the project, such as collaborating on milestones, providing guidance, and monitoring progress more closely than under a standard grant. The opportunity was categorized as discretionary funding within the energy activity area, tied to CFDA 81.122 (Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability, Research, Development and Analysis). DOE anticipated making about five awards under this announcement. The published award floor and ceiling were both listed as 0 in the source record, which usually indicates that specific dollar ranges were not captured in that summary entry and would have been detailed in the full FOA.

Eligibility was tightly limited. In line with 10 CFR 600.6(b), only public utility commissions or equivalent state regulatory agencies from the 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia could apply. This restriction signals that DOE intended the funding to directly support decision-makers with authority over utility regulation, rather than utilities, cities, universities, or nonprofits applying independently. The aim was to put resources in the hands of the entities that can set binding expectations, approve or require utility programs, establish performance incentives, and adopt rules that normalize efficiency investment for the long term.

Key dates show this was a time-limited competitive funding round in 2010. The opportunity was posted and created on April 28, 2010, with an application deadline (original and final) of June 7, 2010, and it was archived on July 7, 2010. The funding opportunity listing points applicants to FedConnect for the full announcement and application materials. For technical difficulties accessing the announcement, the contact listed was Sue (Susan) Miltenberger, Contract Specialist at NETL, reachable by phone at 304-285-4083.

In summary, this FOA was essentially a federal push to help state utility regulators set clear energy efficiency goals and put the regulatory machinery in place to meet them, with the broader national objectives of reducing energy costs, supporting jobs through efficiency-related activity, and strengthening energy and climate security.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the name of this grant opportunity?

The opportunity is titled "Stimulating Energy Efficiency Action from State Public Utility Commissions."

What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA number)?

The Funding Opportunity Number is DE-FOA-0000266.

Which federal agency issued this opportunity?

The opportunity was issued by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) through the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) on behalf of the Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability (OE).

What is the core purpose of this funding?

The purpose is to help state public utility commissions (PUCs), or equivalent state regulatory agencies, build and strengthen the policy, program, and market foundations needed to treat energy efficiency as a long-term, reliable resource.

What outcomes is DOE trying to support through this FOA?

DOE is aiming to support regulatory action that can lower customer energy bills, improve energy and climate security, and encourage job creation by increasing sustained investment in cost-effective energy efficiency.

Is this funding meant for installing energy-efficient equipment?

No. The focus is not on installing equipment or running a single short-term efficiency campaign. The emphasis is on upstream regulatory and planning work that makes energy efficiency durable and scalable over time.

What kinds of activities were this grant designed to support?

The FOA was designed to help commissions develop an energy efficiency resource goal (often understood as a formal target or standard for savings) and design the associated policies and programs needed to actually deliver those savings. This can include rules, incentive structures, evaluation approaches, and utility business-model changes that enable efficiency to compete alongside generation and grid investments.

What does it mean that the FOA is about "stimulating" action?

It means the federal support is intended to accelerate or unlock state-level regulatory frameworks that can persist after the grant period ends, rather than supporting one-off activities that end when funding ends.

What type of award was DOE planning to make?

Awards were to be made as cooperative agreements, which typically involve substantial DOE involvement during the project (for example, collaborating on milestones, providing guidance, and closely monitoring progress).

How is a cooperative agreement different from a standard grant (based on this listing)?

This listing indicates DOE expected substantial involvement during the project under a cooperative agreement, including collaboration on milestones, guidance, and monitoring, which is generally more hands-on than a standard grant.

What funding category and activity area did this opportunity fall under?

It was categorized as discretionary funding within the energy activity area.

What CFDA program is associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is tied to CFDA 81.122: Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability, Research, Development and Analysis.

How many awards did DOE anticipate making?

DOE anticipated making about five awards under this announcement.

What were the minimum and maximum award amounts?

The source record lists both the award floor and the award ceiling as 0, which usually indicates the specific dollar ranges were not captured in that summary entry and would have been provided in the full FOA.

Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was limited to public utility commissions (PUCs) or equivalent state regulatory agencies from the 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia.

Could utilities, cities, universities, or nonprofits apply directly?

No. The eligibility restriction indicates the funding was intended for PUCs or equivalent state regulatory agencies, not for utilities, cities, universities, or nonprofits applying independently.

Why was eligibility limited to PUCs or equivalent state regulatory agencies?

The stated intent was to put resources in the hands of decision-makers with authority over utility regulation, including setting binding expectations, approving or requiring utility programs, establishing performance incentives, and adopting rules that normalize long-term efficiency investment.

What regulation is referenced for eligibility?

The eligibility limitation is noted as being in line with 10 CFR 600.6(b).

When was this funding opportunity posted?

The opportunity was posted (and created) on April 28, 2010.

What was the application deadline?

The application deadline (original and final) was June 7, 2010.

When was the opportunity archived?

The opportunity was archived on July 7, 2010.

Where were applicants directed to find the full announcement and application materials?

The listing points applicants to FedConnect for the full announcement and application materials.

Who should be contacted for technical difficulties accessing the announcement?

The contact listed for technical difficulties was Sue (Susan) Miltenberger, Contract Specialist at NETL.

What phone number was provided for the technical contact?

The phone number provided was 304-285-4083.

What is the main theme of what DOE wanted to achieve through state regulators?

The main theme is establishing clear energy efficiency goals and the regulatory "machinery" (policies, incentives, evaluation, and utility business-model changes) needed to treat efficiency as a dependable long-term resource on par with generation and grid investments.

Is this opportunity still open?

No. Based on the dates provided, this was a time-limited competitive funding round in 2010 and it was archived on July 7, 2010.

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