National Energy Screening Project

The National Energy Screening Project (NESPTM) seeks to improve cost-effectiveness screening practices for distributed energy resources (DERs). NESP works with stakeholders to improve cost-effectiveness assessment — also referred to as benefit-cost analysis (BCA) — of DERs and other energy resources.

NESP’s main products include the National Standard Practice ManualTM (NSPM), the Methods, Tools, and Resources Handbook (MTR Handbook), and the OpenBCA Tool. NESP also provides technical assistance to states, along with specialized training and certification on BCA topics.

Originally a project of the non-profit E4TheFuture, NESP is now managed by the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO). This transition provides states with expanded access to a range of resources and tools necessary to support rigorous, transparent, and comprehensive BCAs.

Staff Contacts:
Julie Michals, Senior Fellow
Josh Owens, Program Manager

NASEO NESP Advisory Group

Coming Soon

NESP Products

NESP Event Recordings

NASEO National Energy Screening Project Webinar: Introduction to NESP Resources and Tools (Recording, Presentation Slides)

BCA Resources

Database of State Efficiency Screening Practices, (DSP), ACEEE

Identifying and Accounting for Transfers in Benefit-Cost Analysis of Distributed Energy Resources: Supplemental Guidance to the National Standard Practice Manual^TM. Prepared for NESP by Synapse Energy Economics, 2025

State Benefit-Cost Analysis Practices: Accounting for Non-Utility System Impacts of Select Distributed Energy Resources. Prepared for NESP by AnnDyl Policy Group, 2025

Benefit-Cost Analysis for Utility-Facing Grid Modernization Investments: Trends, Challenges, and Considerations. Grid Modernization Laboratory Consortium Report and Presentation, 2021

Measuring Three Rs of Electric Energy Efficiency: Risk, Reliability, and Resilience ACEEE Topic Brief, 2020

Guidance on Measuring the Economic Development Benefits of Energy Efficiency ACEEE Topic Brief, 2019

Training and Certification

The National Energy Screening Project (NESP^TM) offers a two-day, in-person training course at locations across North America on Conducting Benefit-Cost Analysis (BCA) for Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) using the National Standard Practice Manual^TM (NSPM).

Description: This course is for staff from states, utilities, consultants, regulators, consumer advocates and others involved in planning, assessing or evaluating investments in DERs. The course covers a full range of topics on BCA – also referred to as “cost-effectiveness testing” – of both single and multiple DER investments, including energy efficiency, demand response, distributed storage and solar, and building and transportation electrification. Attendees will delve into the practical application of key BCA concepts following guidance from the NSPM and supporting resources developed by NESP and will learn about real world applications of the NSPM.

Objectives: Attendees who complete the course will leave with a solid foundation of BCA core principles, an understanding of how BCA fits within a broader regulatory decision-making framework, and hands-on experience delving into hypothetical BCA exercises for example DER use cases.
By earning the NSPM CertifiedTM credential, attendees will be well positioned to apply NSPM guidance to their work, and to differentiate themselves from other practitioners as jurisdictions increasingly reference and use the NSPM to guide DER evaluations.

Certification: The training is followed by an IACET accredited exam, which if passed by an 80% grade, will provide an NSPM CertifiedTM credential to help advance the participant’s skill set in evaluating DERs.

Upcoming NSPM Certified Trainings
2026 Trainings Coming Soon!

Past NSPM Certified Trainings
October 2025: Denver, CO
September 2025: Waltham, MA
December 2024: Washington, D.C.
July 2024: Toronto, Canada