1. /
  2.  News and Updates /

RTF Quarterly Newsletter: Quarters No. 61 and 62 - July — December 2025

In the third and fourth quarters of 2025, the RTF focused on numerous measures that continue to be important for the region, including air conditioners, commercial dishwashers, and display cases, as well as an overview of demand response measures and for irrigation pump controls.

Contact Laura Thomas, RTF Manager with questions or comments or check out the RTF Website. 

Measure Highlights

Commercial Dishwashers

At its October meeting, the RTF approved a new Commercial Dishwashers UES measure. The RTF set the category as planning, the status as active, and the sunset date to October 31, 2028. The measure will apply to undercounter dishwashers, models that use upright doors and high temperature tanks, and rack conveyors. The measure life will last 10 years for undercounter models, 12 years for upright door types, and 17 years for rack conveyors, and will replace older, inefficient models with more efficient technologies that reduce water and energy use. The regional potential is estimated to be 13 aMW and 3 Mmtherm.

Dishwashers are a major source of energy use to serve water heating demand in commercial buildings. The RTF specified a savings shape for school and non-school buildings, recognizing that schools won’t be in session on weekends, at nighttime, or while on summer break. At its November meeting, the RTF approved a research strategy for this measure that aims to collect data to improve accuracy of operating assumptions like hours of operations and days per year of use by dishwasher type. Research will also seek to better understand market characteristics and conduct surveys as well as on-site research.

Display Cases

At its July meeting, the RTF approved updates to its Retrofit Doors to Existing Display Cases UES Measure. This planning measure is for retrofitting to add doors onto open refrigerated display cases. To be more specific, it applies to medium-temperature vertical cases, as well as horizontal cases at medium and low temperatures. Only 26% of vertical remote condensing refrigerated display cases have doors, according to 2019 NEEA data. The measure is not as simple as putting doors on the case; the refrigeration system also must be adjusted.

The updates added low temperature open vertical cases to the measure, specified that horizontal case savings are calculated per square foot, not linear foot, and reduced measure life from 12 years to 10 years. Additionally, new updates add HVAC cooling savings and updated costs. Finally, doors that use antisweat heaters have the potential to reduce – but not eliminate – energy efficiency savings. While these antisweat heaters are rare, the savings reduction is significant. For that reason, the update specifies that door frame heaters must have a controller with humidity sensing.  The measure’s estimated regional potential is 19aMW total (17aMW from medium-temperature vertical cases). The RTF extended the sunset date to July 31, 2028.

Voltage Optimization Standard Protocol

At its July meeting, the RTF approved updates to the Voltage Optimization Standard Protocol. It kept the measure’s status as active and set the sunset date to July 31, 2027. This measure applies to how utilities can optimize voltages on their distribution systems – which ultimately results in saving electric energy in the process – without compromising performance of end-use energy consumption. Under normal conditions, customer service voltages stay at certain levels, but many end uses (especially motors) use less energy at lower voltages without compromising performance. Energy is saved by reducing voltage along a voltage control zone, such as at a substation or distribution feeder, but the end of the line must remain above its minimum allowable standard set by the American National Standards Institute.

The measure has significant regional potential, Ih Is estimated to be 210 aMW for the Ninth Power Plan. The RTF’s primary update to this measure is to adjust its savings rates and to include  utility-side savings, which is estimated to be 10% of the customer side.

Residential Central Air Conditioners 

At its August meeting, the RTF approved updates to its Residential Central Air Conditioners measure, kept the category as planning, changed its status from under review to active, and set the sunset date for July 31, 2028.

The measure applies to efficiency upgrades of single- or two- speed central air conditioners in single and multi-family residences. The total estimated regional potential is 20 aMW. The RTF may place active measures under review if there are indications that the savings estimation method or data sources will need to be updated to continue to comply with quality standards, or if the sunset date is approaching. For this measure, the under review category is no longer needed, based on a review of data by RTF CATs. In 2026, the RTF will evaluate whether the measure’s category should be changed from planning to proven.

Door Sweeps

At its September meeting, the RTF approved updates to its Door Sweeps UES measure. This measure installs a strip of flexible material on doors that open from conditioned spaces to unconditioned spaces in a home or building. The strip must fully cover gap between bottom of door and threshold/floor. These strips decrease heating and cooling losses from air infiltration. The total regional potential is estimated to be 11 aMW. The RTF approved updates to measure identifiers, specification, delivery verification, and cost, while also correcting estimated savings. The new updates require the strip to be mechanically installed; stick-and-peel strips will no longer qualify because of the likelihood that they would fall off the doors.

Demand Response – Agricultural Irrigation

At its November meeting, the RTF approved updates to its workbook for the Ag Irrigation Demand Response measure, and set the sunset date for October 31, 2028. The measure applies to irrigation systems whose owners contract with Idaho Power and PacifiCorp to participate in their demand response program. During a demand-response event, utilities remotely signal on-site controllers to power down irrigation pumps. Participants are notified in advance and have the option to over-ride. At end of the DR event, the utilities signal for controllers to restore power to pumps.

The updated workbook specifies that the measure will be used in July during two types of days, a peak irrigation day and a weekday. The events typically begin at 4-5pm and can last up to four hours. Events that extend beyond 9 pm can cause challenges for irrigators if an operator is no longer on site to observe system restarts. The measure caps use at up to 20 events per year for each participant, although usage has typically been 11 events or fewer annually. The number of events per week is also limited to allow irrigators time for make-up.

Non-Measure Work

Demand Response

At the October meeting, RTF Manager Laura Thomas and Contract Analyst Josh Rushton provided an overview of the scope of the RTF’s demand response efforts, analysis, and products. Given the overlap in technologies between energy efficiency and demand response, in 2019 the RTF explored if there was a potential role for supporting the region in demand response. As a result, from 2019-2025 the RTF expanded its charter, budget, and work to support new and growing DR products in the region.

The existing efforts have focused on standardizing resources, including developing a workbook template to ensure better consistency across DR products. The next phase will entail integrating demand response into the RTF’s existing energy efficiency resources and workload more consistently. This may also include the RTF considering energy efficiency measures and demand response products at the same time and determining process for that. A later phase of work will entail identifying new DR products to develop, along with other emerging and evolving focus areas.

 

Subcommittee Roundup

The Distribution Efficiency subcommittee met in July to discuss updates to the standard protocol for voltage optimization. 

In August, the Residential HVAC and Connected Thermostats committees met together to provide feedback on the RTFS residential connected thermostat measure. This measure was placed under review due to concerns around energy savings in recent evaluations. 

The Small and Rural Utilities committee met in September to discuss upcoming RTF topics and discuss possible future items.

The Residential HVAC and Water Heating subcommittee discussed a specification for centrally ducted heat pumps in October. Discussing a new possible measure and related topics like heating zones.

In October the Implementer's Group met to go over recent RTF activity and upcoming measure updates. 

The New Homes subcommittee discussed the New Homes Standard Protocol in November and related updates ahead of upcoming RTF meetings.

In December the Small and Rural Utilities committee closed out the year with discussions of upcoming measures and how they relate to their territories. 

Measure Updates Approved in Q3

  • Deactivated the School Weatherization UES
  • Approved updates as presented to Voltage Optimization Standard Protocol and kept the status as active. Modified the customer-side CVR-f by a factor of 0.86 and added default savings for utility-side savings, 10% of customer-side savings. Set the sunset date to July 31, 2027
  • Approved updates as presented to the Retrofit Doors on Existing Display Cases UES and kept the caterogry as planning and the status as active and set the sunset date to July 31, 2028. Review the heating interactions load shape and add track lighting changes to research strategy. 
  • Approved updates as presented to the Residential Heat Pump Water Heaters and Consumer Heat Pump Water Heater in Commercial Applications UES. Changed the status for both to active and sent the sunset date to January 31, 2026
  • Approved updates as presented to the High Efficiency Residential Central Air Conditioners UES and kept the category as planning and changed the status to active. Set the sunset date to August 31, 2027
  • Approved the updates to the Commercial DHP in Existing Buildings UES as presented and keep the category as planning and the status as active. Update the measure eligibility to 4 tons maximum capacity. Set the sunset date to August 31, 2028. 
  • Approved the updates to ENERGY STAR Commercial Refrigerators and Freezers as presented to update the current practice from 50% to 34%. 
  • Approved the measure updates and change the status of the Connected Thermostats UES. Change the status to active. Deactivate the CDHP direct install with resistance optimization applications. Set the savings fro CDHP retail and direct install without electric resistance optimization applications to zero. Change the Category to Planning for the SF/MH, Gas-heated homes, HZ 1, retail & direct install applications. Keep the category at planning for all other active applications. Take the average of the Intermountain and Avista Evaulations and set as HZ2 gFAF savings and the remaining three evaluations for HZ 1. Deactivate the CDHP direct install with resistance optimization applications. Set the savings for CDHP retail and direct install without electric resistance optimization applications to zero.  Set the sunset date to September 30, 2026
  • Approved measure updates as presented for Door Sweeps UES, keep the status as active and the category as planning. Update the research strategy and set the sunset date to September 30, 2028
  • Approved measure updates and change measure status for Residential Electronic Line Voltage Thermostats UES. Extend the sunset date to September 30, 2028 to allow time for review of the upcoming Bonneville evaluation, set measure status to under review, update labor rates to align with the current SIW, set savings to zero.
  • Deactivate the Residential Gas Fireplaces UES measure.

Measure Updates Approved in Q4

  • Approved new measure Commercial Dishwashers UES as presented and set the category to planning and the status to active. Update 90/10 non-condensing/condensing water heaters split. Adjust school savings shape to reduce June and August operation by half for 180 days total. Set the sunset date to April 20, 2027.
  • Deactivate the Commercial Secondary Glazing Systems UES.
  • Approved measure updates as presented for the Irrigation Hardware Ugrades UES. Keep the category as planning and the status active. Average of 2013 and 2018 F&R survey hours of use for Montana. Average of 2018 and 2022 F&R survey for lift, operating pressure, and % surface water. Change high pressure sprinkler efficiency to 65% and MDI to 97%. Set the sunset date to October 31, 2028.
  • Approved demand response product workbook and set new sunset date for Irrigation Pump Controls. Set the review date for October 31, 2028
  • Approved the Commercial Boiler Systems Standard Protocol as presented and keep the status as active. Set the sunset date to November 30, 2030. Update current practice to 90% condensing where non-condensing is an option. Refine methods of using CBECs data for EUIs and benchmark to CBSA. Change binning method in consumption analysis. Improve functionality of demonstration calculator. 
  • Approved the research strategy for the Commercial Dishwashers UES. 
  • Extended sunset date for Commercial Boilers to December 31, 2025
  • Approved measure updates as presented for Commercial Boilers UES and kept the category as small saver and the status as active.  Add measure identifier for Project Type. Update savings estimates to align with updates to Standard Protocol. Set the sunset date as November 30, 2030.
  • Approved measure updates for the Residential Clothes Washers UES as presented and kept the category as proven and the status as active. Update current practice to newest NEEA RPP data. For fuel shares - mix of gas and electric dryers and hot water heaters for the Any Dryer Any Hot Water measure application: update to RBSA 2022. For Savings Shapes - Washer, Water Heater, and Dryer: update using HEMS v7 dryer shape and offset. For incremental cost: update to new online retail review. For incremental repair cost: update to new DOE TSD. For measure life: update to new DOE TSD. Set the sunset date to December 31, 2030.
  • Extended sunset date of the New Homes Standard Protocol to April 30, 2026. 
  • Extended the sunset date of the Residential Dryers UES to April 30, 2026
  • Extended the sunset date for the Centrally Ducted Air Source Heat Pumps Upgrades and Conversation UES measure to December 31, 2026.

 

Upcoming at the RTF

In the next quarter the RTF will discuss:

January

  • Ninth Power Plan Update
  • Residential Induction Cooktops and Ranges UES
  • Level 2 AC Electric Vehicle Charger Demand Response Product
  • REEDR Orientation

February

  • Commercial Clothes Washers UES
  • Discussion of Centrally Ducted Heat Pumps With No/Limited Electric Resistance Back Up New Measure Strawman

March

  • Irrigation Hardware Maintenance UES
  • Commercial EV Market Characterization Discussion
  • Refrigerated Warehouse Controls and Commercial Lighting Controls Demand Response Products Discussion
  • VBDD Orientation