Technical Reference Manuals Best Practices - Informing the Creation of the California Electronic Technical Reference Manual (eTRM)

Oct 22, 2026

This paper reports findings from a best-practices analysis of more than 20 Technical Reference Manuals (TRMs) used across the United States. TRMs support deemed energy efficiency measure values used in planning, reporting, cost-effectiveness analysis, and evaluation. The authors review TRM technical content, structure, and development processes for public manuals and conduct interviews in leading jurisdictions. Results identify effective frameworks emphasizing transparent measure narratives, public peer review, regulatory approval, and regular parameter updates using evaluation research.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages14

Reading Time35 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Introduction

The History of DEER

Challenges with DEER and the Need to move to a new eTRM

Technical Reference Manuals Best Practices from Across the Nation to Inform the Creation of the California Electronic Technical Reference Manual (eTRM) Annette Beitel, California Technical Forum Tim Melloch, California Technical Forum Bruce Harley, Bruce Harley Energy Consulting Alejandra Mejia, California Technical Forum ABSTRACT This paper presents the findings of a best practices analysis of over 20 Technical Reference Manuals (TRMs) currently in use across the United States.1 TRMs are a commonly used tool for compiling deemed energy efficiency measure values that are used in planning, reporting, cost effectiveness analysis, and evaluation. The authors of this paper reviewed the technical content, form and organization (referred to in this paper as structure), and process by which energy efficiency values are developed for the all public TRMs in the US and conducted in-depth interviews with key actors in several leading jurisdictions.2 This work revealed that the most successful jurisdictions use clear, written technical guidelines and effective processes concurrently to address complex technical questions and create effective frameworks for creating deemed values. Key best practices that were repeatedly found in leading jurisdictions and are described in this paper include clear, concise, publically available measure narratives directly linked to all parameters and sources (well-documented and transparent measure information), measure review through a public peer review process that includes regulatory staff, regulatory Commission approval of final values, and regular measure parameter updates using the results of evaluation research. The conclusions presented in this paper were used as the foundation of the California Technical Forum’s (Cal TF) Database for Energy Efficiency Resources (DEER) Alternative initiative for the creation of an Electronic Technical Reference Manual (eTRM) . Introduction Throughout much of California’s long history as the standard bearer of energy efficiency (EE), DEER has provided the state’s deemed savings estimates and other measure parameters used in cost effectiveness analysis.3 However, DEER no longer conforms to the California Public Utilities Commission’s longstanding policy goals (Mejia 2014a): The repository of values is not transparent, source documentation is not easily available, and the value development process isnot collaborative. This paper presents key ex ante best practices that are being used to inform anew, best in class Electronic Technical Reference Manual (eTRM) alternative to DEER. The History of DEER DEER was initially developed through a collaborative process under the auspices of the California Energy Commission (CEC) . In 1990, the CEC convened a broad coalition of 1 The TRMs considered in this analysis, and the version of each TRM used (some may have been updated since the analysis was done) are contained in the reference section in this paper. 2 The term “leading jurisdictions” in this context refers to jurisdictions with well-developed, long-standing TRMs. 3 [http://www.energy.ca.gov/deer/](http://www.energy.ca.gov/deer/) ©2016 ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings 6-1 stakeholders, known as the California Conservation Inventory Group (CCIG), and tasked that initial collaborative with identifying the energy efficiency data and methodologies to be developed and tracked in California.4 The initial CCIG dataset became the framework for DEER. For years, much of the analytical and consensus-building work to populate and build the database was performed through public collaboratives: CADMAC, Calmac, and the California Board for Energy Efficiency. Throughout this time, technical questions concerning DEER methods, values and assumptions were discussed and debated in an open, peer review process.(Mejia 2014b). The CEC transferred responsibility for DEER to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) in 2005. Challenges wit

FAQs

What is the paper’s main purpose regarding TRMs and California’s eTRM?

The paper identifies best practices from existing Technical Reference Manuals to inform an Electronic Technical Reference Manual (eTRM) alternative for California’s DEER.

Which best practices are repeatedly found in leading jurisdictions?

The paper emphasizes clear public measure narratives linked to parameters and sources, public peer review including regulatory staff, regulatory Commission approval, and regular updates informed by evaluation research.

Why does the paper argue that DEER needs to be replaced or reworked?

It states DEER lacks transparency and collaborative development, has poorly organized documentation across a large set of measure combinations, and does not clearly link measure parameters to the elements needed for cost-effectiveness analysis.

Oct 22, 2026

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