Peter Cappers

Peter Cappers

Peter Cappers is a Staff Scientist and Strategic Advisor to the Energy Markets and Planning Department at Berkeley Lab. For the past 25 years, Peter has conducted research and provided technical assistance to territorial, state, federal, and international regulators and policymakers on electric utility regulatory and business models, pricing and rate design, demand response, and energy efficiency market and policy issues. His research has been showcased in the Economist, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, New York Times, and Associated Press. Mr. Cappers received a B.A. from Syracuse University in Mathematics and Economics, and a M.S. from Cornell University in Applied Economics.

Contact Information

Phone: 315-637-0513

Curriculum Vitae

capperscv20200127.docx

Education

B.A in Mathematics and Economics, Syracuse University, 1997
M.S. in Applied Economics, Cornell University, 2005

Awards

American Real Estate Society (ARES) 2010 Award -  September 29th 2010

A conference paper, "Wind Energy Facilities and Residential Properties: The Effect of Proximity and View on Sales Prices," has won the American Real Estate Society (ARES) 2010 award for "Real Estate Sustainability" sponsored by the NAIOP Research Foundation. ARES is dedicated to producing and disseminating knowledge related to real estate decision making and the functioning of real estate markets. The paper is based on an LBNL report.

Publications

2026

Block Island’s Energy Roadmap to 2040

Authors: Cappers, Peter; Jason Ball, and Sanjana Tadepalli.
01/2026

2025

Factors Influencing Recent Trends in Retail Electricity Prices in the United States

Authors: Wiser, Ryan H; Eric O'Shaughnessy; Galen L Barbose; Peter Cappers, and Will Gorman.
10/2025

Potential Impacts of Dynamic Electricity Pricing in California: Load Shape and Customer Bill Impacts Under Elastic Customer Response

Authors: Smith, Sarah Josephine; Marius Stuebs; Samanvitha Murthy; Sunhee Baik; Peter Cappers; Brian F Gerke; Richard E Brown, and Mary Ann Piette.
07/2025

Deliberate Design: Creating Electricity Rates with Purpose

Authors: Hledik, Ryan; Sanem Sergici; Sai Shetty, and Peter Cappers.
01/2025

Different Prices for Difference Slices: A Meta-analysis of Time-based Electricity Rates

Authors: Kahn-Lang, Jenya; Yuqi Zhu; Karen Palmer, and Peter Cappers.
01/2025

Electricity Rate Designs for Large Loads: Evolving Practices and Opportunities

Authors: Satchwell, Andrew; Natalie Mims Frick; Peter Cappers; Sanem Sergici; Ryan Hledik; Goksin Kavlak, and Glenda Oskar.
01/2025

2024

Potential bill impacts of dynamic electricity pricing on California utility customers

Authors: Gerke, Brian F; Marius Stübs; Samanvitha Murthy; Aditya Khandekar; Peter Cappers; Richard E Brown, and Mary Ann Piette.
01/2024

2023

Third-Party Aggregation Rulemaking in MISO and SPP Footprints

Authors: Forrester, Sydney; Cole Triedman; Sam Kozel; Cameron Brooks, and Peter Cappers.
09/2023

A Snapshot of EV-Specific Rate Designs Among U.S. Investor-Owned Electric Utilities

Authors: Cappers, Peter; Andrew Satchwell; Cameron Brooks, and Sam Kozel.
04/2023

Assessing the Current State of U.S. Energy Equity Regulation and Legislation

Authors: Hanus, Nichole L; Jay Barlow; Andrew Satchwell, and Peter Cappers.
02/2023

Quantifying the Financial Impacts of Electric Vehicles on Utility Ratepayers and Shareholders

Authors: Satchwell, Andrew; Juan Pablo Carvallo; Peter Cappers; James Milford, and Hadi Eshraghi.
02/2023

2022

EVGrid Assist Webinar: Electric Vehicle Rates and Incentives

Authors: Cappers, Peter, and Andrew Satchwell.
10/2022

EV Retail Rate Design 101

Authors: Cappers, Peter, and Andrew Satchwell.
07/2022

Puerto Rico Grid Resilience and Transitions to 100% Renewable Energy Study (PR100): Six-Month Progress Update

Authors: Burton, Robin; Murali Baggu; Jill Rhodes; Nate Blair; Tom Harris; Manajit Sengupta; Clayton Barrows; Haiku Sky; Jaemo Yang; James Elsworth; Paritosh Das; Patrick Duffy; Gabriel Zuckerman; Jeremy Stefek; Prateek Joshi; Lawrence Paul Lewis; John Murphy; Peter Cappers; Jeff Deason; Margaret Pigman; Yilu Liu; Bandana Kar; Shih-Chieh Kao; Marcelo Elizondo; Xiaoyuan Fan; Patrick Maloney; Vishvas Chalishazar; Patrick Royer; Fernando BeretaDos Reis; Amanda Wachtel; Matthew Lave; Olga Epshtein Hart; Christian Birk Jones; James Ellison; Cody Newlun; Michele Chait; Harvey Cutler, and Martin Shields.
07/2022

2021

Opportunities and Challenges to Capturing Distributed Battery Value via Retail Utility Rates and Programs

Authors: Forrester, Sydney, and Peter Cappers.
12/2021

Heterogeneity in Own-Price Residential Customer Demand Elasticities for Electricity under Time-of-Use Rates: Evidence from a Randomized-Control Trial in the United States

Authors: Cappers, Peter, and Annika Todd-Blick.
10/2021

Disaggregating Future Retail Electricity Rate Growth

Authors: Cappers, Peter; Sydney Forrester, and Andrew Satchwell.
09/2021

Default Effects and Follow-On Behaviour: Evidence From an Electricity Pricing Program

Authors: Fowlie, Meredith; Catherine Wolfram; Patrick Baylis; C Anna Spurlock; Annika Todd-Blick, and Peter Cappers.
04/2021

Expanding the Scope of Commercial Opportunities for Investor-Owned Electric Utilities

Authors: Brooks, Cameron; Peter Cappers, and Andrew Satchwell.
02/2021

The Distribution of U.S. Electric Utility Revenue Decoupling Rate Impacts from 2005 to 2017

Authors: Cappers, Peter; Andrew Satchwell; Max Dupuy, and Carl Linvill.
02/2021

2020

Winners are not keepers: Characterizing household engagement, gains, and energy patterns in demand response using machine learning in the United States

Authors: Todd-Blick, Annika; C Anna Spurlock; Ling Jin; Peter Cappers; Sam Borgeson; Daniel Fredman, and Jarett Zuboy.
12/2020

A Handbook for Designing, Implementing, and Evaluating Successful Electric Utility Pilots

Authors: Cappers, Peter, and C Anna Spurlock.
09/2020

A Conceptual Framework to Describe Energy Efficiency and Demand Response Interactions

Authors: Satchwell, Andrew; Peter Cappers; Jeff Deason; Sydney Forrester; Natalie Mims Frick; Brian F Gerke, and Mary Ann Piette.
07/2020

2019

Financial Impacts of Net-Metered DPV on a Prototypical Western Utility’s Shareholders and Ratepayers

Authors: Satchwell, Andrew; Peter Cappers; Javier Reneses; Will Gorman, and Greg Leventis.
09/2019

Spillover as a cause of bias in baseline evaluation methods for demand response programs

Authors: Todd-Blick, Annika; Peter Cappers; C Anna Spurlock, and Ling Jin.
09/2019

Unpacking the Disconnect Between Wholesale and Retail Electric Rates

Authors: Cappers, Peter, and Sean Murphy.
08/2019

Current Developments in Retail Rate Design: Implications for Solar and Other Distributed Energy Resources

Authors: Satchwell, Andrew; Peter Cappers, and Galen L Barbose.
07/2019

2018

Uses for Smart Meter Data Webinar Series

Authors: Cappers, Peter; Annika Todd-Blick, and Greg Leventis.
11/2018

Evolving Grid Services, Products, and Market Opportunities for Regulated Electric Utilities

Authors: Satchwell, Andrew, and Peter Cappers.
05/2018

Barriers and Opportunities to Broader Adoption of Integrated Demand Side Management at Electric Utilities: A Scoping Study

Authors: Potter, Jennifer; Elizabeth Stuart, and Peter Cappers.
02/2018

Customer bill impacts of energy efficiency and net-metered photovoltaic system investments

Authors: Satchwell, Andrew; Peter Cappers, and Charles A Goldman.
02/2018

2017

Demand Response Advanced Controls Framework and Assessment of Enabling Technology Costs

Authors: Potter, Jennifer, and Peter Cappers.
08/2017

Financial Impacts of a Combined Energy Efficiency and Net-Metered PV Portfolio on a Prototypical Northeast Utility

Authors: Satchwell, Andrew; Peter Cappers, and Charles A Goldman.
04/2017

2016

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009: Final Report on Customer Acceptance, Retention, and Response to Time-Based Rates from Consumer Behavior Studies

Authors: Cappers, Peter, and Rich Scheer.
11/2016

Experiences of Vulnerable Residential Customer Subpopulations with Critical Peak Pricing

Authors: Cappers, Peter; C Anna Spurlock; Annika Todd-Blick, and Ling Jin.
09/2016

The Financial Impacts of Declining Investment Opportunities on Electric Utility Shareholders

Authors: Kihm, Steve; Andrew Satchwell, and Peter Cappers.
07/2016

Time-of-Use as a Default Rate for Residential Customers: Issues and Insights

Authors: Cappers, Peter; C Anna Spurlock; Annika Todd-Blick; Patrick Baylis; Meredith Fowlie, and Catherine Wolfram.
06/2016

Future Opportunities and Challenges with Using Demand Response as a Resource in Distribution System Operation and Planning Activities

Authors: Cappers, Peter; Jason S MacDonald; Janie Page; Jennifer Potter, and Emma M Stewart.
01/2016

Go for the Silver? Evidence from field studies quantifying the difference in evaluation results between “gold standard” randomized controlled trial methods versus quasi-experimental methods

Authors: Spurlock, C Anna; Peter Cappers; Ling Jin; Annika Todd-Blick, and Patrick Baylis.

2015

The Effects of Rising Interest Rates on Electric Utility Stock Prices: Regulatory Considerations and Approaches

Authors: Kihm, Steve; Andrew Satchwell, and Peter Cappers.
12/2015

A Framework for Organizing Current and Future Electric Utility Regulatory and Business Models

Authors: Satchwell, Andrew; Peter Cappers; Lisa C Schwartz, and Emily Martin Fadrhonc.
06/2015

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009: Interim Report on Customer Acceptance, Retention, and Response to Time-Based Rates from the Consumer Behavior Studies

Authors: Cappers, Peter; Liesel Hans, and Richard M Scheer.
06/2015

Insights from Smart Meters: Ramp-up, dependability, and short-term persistence of savings from Home Energy Reports

Authors: Todd-Blick, Annika; Michael Perry; Brian Smith; Michael J Sullivan; Peter Cappers, and Charles A Goldman.
06/2015

Considerations for State Regulators and Policymakers in a Post-FERC Order 745 World

Authors: Cappers, Peter, and Andrew Satchwell.
02/2015

2014

Spatial Hedonic Analysis of the Effects of US Wind Energy Facilities on Surrounding Property Values

Authors: Hoen, Ben; Jason P Brown; Thomas Jackson; Mark A Thayer; Ryan H Wiser, and Peter Cappers.
07/2015

Insights from Smart Meters: Identifying Specific Actions, Behaviors and Characteristics that drive savings in Behavior-Based Programs

Authors: Todd-Blick, Annika; Michael Perry; Brian Smith; Michael J Sullivan; Peter Cappers, and Charles A Goldman.
12/2014

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009: Experiences from the Consumer Behavior Studies on Engaging Customers

Authors: Cappers, Peter, and Richard M Scheer.
09/2014

Financial Impacts of Net-Metered PV on Utilities and Ratepayers: A Scoping Study of Two Prototypical U.S. Utilities

Authors: Satchwell, Andrew; Andrew D Mills; Galen L Barbose; Ryan H Wiser; Peter Cappers, and Naïm R Darghouth.
09/2014

Insights from Smart Meters: The Potential for Peak-Hour Savings from Behavior-Based Programs

Authors: Todd-Blick, Annika; Michael Perry; Brian Smith; Michael J Sullivan; Peter Cappers, and Charles A Goldman.
03/2014

2013

Demand Response for Ancillary Services

Authors: Ma, Ookie; Nasr Alkadi; Peter Cappers; Paul Denholm; Junqiao Han Dudley; Sasank Goli; Marissa Hummon; Sila Kiliccote; Jason S MacDonald; Nance Matson; Daniel Olsen; Cody Rose; Michael D Sohn; Michael Starke; Brendan J Kirby, and Mark O'Malley.
12/2013

An assessment of market and policy barriers for demand response providing ancillary services in U.S. electricity markets

Authors: Cappers, Peter; Jason S MacDonald; Charles A Goldman, and Ookie Ma.
11/2013

Residential Photovoltaic Energy Systems in California: The Effect on Home Sales Prices

Authors: Hoen, Ben; Ryan H Wiser; Mark A Thayer, and Peter Cappers.
10/2013

A Spatial Hedonic Analysis of the Effects of Wind Energy Facilities on Surrounding Property Values in the United States

Authors: Hoen, Ben; Jason P Brown; Thomas Jackson; Ryan H Wiser; Mark A Thayer, and Peter Cappers.
08/2013

Quantifying the Impacts of Time-based Rates, Enabling Technology, and Other Treatments in Consumer Behavior Studies: Protocols and Guidelines

Authors: Cappers, Peter; Annika Todd-Blick; Michael Perry; Bernard Neenan, and Richard Boisvert.
07/2013

Residential Customer Enrollment in Time-based Rate and Enabling Technology Programs: Smart Grid Investment Grant Consumer Behavior Study Analysis

Authors: Todd-Blick, Annika; Peter Cappers, and Charles A Goldman.
06/2013

Summary of Utility Studies: Smart Grid Investment Grant Consumer Behavior Study Analysis

Authors: Cappers, Peter; Annika Todd-Blick, and Charles A Goldman.
06/2013

Utility Business Models in a Low Load Growth/High DG Future: Gazing into the Crystal Ball?

Authors: Goldman, Charles A; Andrew Satchwell; Peter Cappers, and Ian M Hoffman.
04/2013

Market and Policy Barriers for Demand Response Providing Ancillary Services in U.S. Markets

Authors: Cappers, Peter; Jason S MacDonald, and Charles A Goldman.
03/2013

2012

Demand Response Providing Ancillary Services A Comparison of Opportunities and Challenges in the US Wholesale Markets

Authors: MacDonald, Jason S; Peter Cappers; Duncan S Callaway, and Sila Kiliccote.
12/2012

An assessment of the role mass market demand response could play in contributing to the management of variable generation integration issues

Authors: Cappers, Peter; Andrew D Mills; Charles A Goldman; Ryan H Wiser, and Joseph H Eto.
09/2012

Do PV systems increase residential selling prices? If so, how can practitioners estimate this increase?

Authors: Hoen, Ben; Ryan H Wiser; Mark A Thayer, and Peter Cappers.
06/2012

Residential Photovoltaic Energy Systems in California: The Effect on Home Sales Prices

Authors: Hoen, Ben; Ryan H Wiser; Mark A Thayer, and Peter Cappers.
03/2012

2011

Carrots and sticks: A comprehensive business model for the successful achievement of energy efficiency resource standards

Authors: Satchwell, Andrew; Peter Cappers, and Charles A Goldman.
12/2011

Mass Market Demand Response and Variable Generation Integration Issues: A Scoping Study

Authors: Cappers, Peter; Andrew D Mills; Charles A Goldman; Ryan H Wiser, and Joseph H Eto.
10/2011

Do Photovoltaic Energy Systems Affect Residential Selling Prices? Results from a California Statewide Investigation

Authors: Hoen, Ben; Ryan H Wiser; Peter Cappers, and Mark A Thayer.
05/2011

An Analysis of the Effects of Photovoltaic Energy Systems on Residential Selling Prices in California

Authors: Hoen, Ben; Peter Cappers; Ryan H Wiser, and Mark A Thayer.
04/2011

An Analysis of the Effects of Residential Photovoltaic Energy Systems on Home Sales Prices in California

Authors: Hoen, Ben; Ryan H Wiser; Peter Cappers, and Mark A Thayer.
04/2011

Carrots and Sticks: A Comprehensive Business Model for the Successful Achievement of Energy Efficiency Resource Standards

Authors: Satchwell, Andrew; Peter Cappers, and Charles A Goldman.
03/2011

2010

Benefits and Costs of Aggressive Energy Efficiency Programs and the Impacts of Alternative Sources of Funding: Case Study of Massachusetts

Authors: Cappers, Peter; Andrew Satchwell; Charles A Goldman, and Jeff Schlegel.
08/2010

Financial Impact of Energy Efficiency under a Federal Renewable Electricity Standard: Case Study of a Kansas “super-utility”

Authors: Cappers, Peter, and Charles A Goldman.
08/2010

Demand Response in U.S. Electricity Markets: Empirical Evidence

Authors: Cappers, Peter; Charles A Goldman, and David Kathan.
04/2010

2009

The Impact of Wind Power Projects on Residential Property Values in the United States: A Multi-Site Hedonic Analysis

Authors: Hoen, Ben; Ryan H Wiser; Peter Cappers; Mark A Thayer, and Gautam Sethi.
12/2009

Wind Energy Facilities and Residential Properties: The Effect of Proximity and View on Sales Prices

Authors: Hoen, Ben; Ryan H Wiser; Peter Cappers; Mark A Thayer, and Gautam Sethi.
12/2009

Empirical Assessment of Shareholder Incentive Mechanisms Designs under Aggressive Savings Goals: Case Study of a Kansas “Super-Utility”

Authors: Cappers, Peter, and Charles A Goldman.
08/2009

Financial Analysis of Incentive Mechanisms to Promote Energy Efficiency: Case Study of a Prototypical Southwest Utility

Authors: Cappers, Peter; Charles A Goldman; Michele Chait; George Edgar; Jeff Schlegel, and Wayne Shirley.
03/2009

2008

Quantitative Financial Analysis of Alternative Energy Efficiency Shareholder Incentive Mechanisms

Authors: Cappers, Peter; Charles A Goldman; Michele Chait; George Edgar; Jeff Schlegel, and Wayne Shirley.
08/2008

2007

A Methodology for Estimating Large-Customer Demand Response Market Potential

Authors: Goldman, Charles A; Nicole C Hopper; Ranjit Bharvirkar; Bernard Neenan, and Peter Cappers.
08/2007

Customer Response to RTP in Competitive Markets: A Study of Niagara Mohawk's Standard Offer Tariff

Authors: Boisvert, Richard; Peter Cappers; Charles A Goldman, and Bernard Neenan.
01/2007

Estimating Demand Response Market Potential among Large Commercial and Industrial Customers: A Scoping Study

Authors: Goldman, Charles A; Nicole C Hopper; Ranjit Bharvirkar; Bernard Neenan, and Peter Cappers.
01/2007

2006

Letting the Sun Shine on Solar Costs: An Empirical Investigation of Photovoltaic Cost Trends in California

Authors: Wiser, Ryan H; Mark Bolinger; Peter Cappers, and Robert Margolis.
01/2006

2005

Customer Strategies for Responding to Day-Ahead Market Hourly Electricity Pricing

Authors: Goldman, Charles A; Nicole C Hopper; Ranjit Bharvirkar; Bernard Neenan; Richard Boisvert; Peter Cappers; Donna Pratt, and Kim Butkins.
08/2005

2004

Industrial and Commercial Customer Response To Real Time Electricity Prices

Authors: Boisvert, Richard; Peter Cappers; Bernard Neenan, and Bryan Scott.
12/2004

Does Real-Time Pricing Deliver Demand Response? A Case Study of Niagara Mohawk’s Large Customer RTP Tariff

Authors: Goldman, Charles A; Nicole C Hopper; Osman Sezgen; Mithra M Moezzi; Ranjit Bharvirkar; Bernard Neenan; Donna Pratt; Peter Cappers, and Richard Boisvert.
08/2004

Customer Response to Day-ahead Wholesale Market Electricity Prices: Case Study of RTP Program Experience in New York

Authors: Goldman, Charles A; Nicole C Hopper; Osman Sezgen; Mithra M Moezzi; Ranjit Bharvirkar; Bernard Neenan; Richard Boisvert; Peter Cappers, and Donna Pratt.
06/2004

2003

How and Why Customers Respond to Electricity Price Variability: A Study of NYISO and NYSERDA 2002 PRL Program Performance

Authors: Neenan, Bernard; Donna Pratt; Peter Cappers; James Doane; Jeremey Anderson; Richard Boisvert; Charles A Goldman; Osman Sezgen; Galen L Barbose; Ranjit Bharvirkar; Michael Kintner-Meyer; Steve Shankle, and Derrick Bates.
01/2003