The National Energy Screening Project (NESP) 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 (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 Certified 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