NASEO is pleased to announce the publication of the 2026 edition of the National Standard Practice Manual for Benefit-Cost Analysis of Distributed Energy Resources (NSPM). Since the 2020 edition, the NSPM has become an essential resource, improving benefit-cost analysis (BCA) practices in more than a dozen states and other jurisdictions. The 2026 edition expands guidance based on state application of the NSPM to date, rapidly evolving technologies, and changing policy and regulatory needs. Please join us for the NASEO NSPM webinar on June 16, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. ET to learn about key elements of the NSPM – register for the webinar here. We have also prepared an NSPM Summary that highlights key guidance elements.
The NSPM focuses on assessing DER benefits and costs in the context of regulatory oversight of electric and natural gas DER investments and strategies. The concepts also apply to resource investments in non-regulatory contexts (e.g., state policy, planning, programs). Importantly, the NSPM offers guidance on conducting rate and bill impact analyses alongside BCAs to address affordability and inform utility investments in DERs to meet state policy goals.
The updated NSPM and companion resources, including the Methods, Tools and Resources Handbook for Quantifying DER Impacts and the forthcoming OpenBCA tool, are available on NASEO’s National Energy Screening Project webpage at https://naseo.org/topics/nesp.