August 26, 2025, 1 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. ET
FEMP IACET: 0.2
Level: Introductory
In U.S. states with retail choice electricity markets—also known as competitive supply—federal facilities can choose between two primary electricity and natural gas procurement options: staying with the default supply tariff from their local utility or contracting with a licensed third-party supplier. This training webinar will guide federal energy and procurement professionals through the key concepts, benefits, and considerations to help identify the most cost-effective options. Participants will gain practical knowledge to evaluate their site’s supply choices, understand market dynamics, and make informed decisions to reduce costs and manage price risk. The session will also highlight how to leverage procurement support from the General Services Administration (GSA) and the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) to streamline the contracting process and simplify access to competitively priced energy supply contracts.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this training, attendees will be able to:
- Identify where retail choice electricity and natural gas procurement options are available from third-party suppliers.
- Understand the common types of retail choice supply contracts and how rates differ from those in vertically integrated (regulated) markets.
- Become familiar with how retail choice supply contracts are structured and the process used by GSA and DLA Energy to establish contracts for federal facilities.
- Learn how to assess and manage risks associated with third-party supply contracts.
- Engage with GSA and DLA Energy to stay abreast of changes in retail choice markets and participate in Requests for Information (RFIs) and Requests for Proposals (RFPs) as new contracts become available.
Instructors
- Rick Mears, Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP)
- Jeff Gingrich, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
- William Tokash, NREL
- Jena Sushmita, NREL
About FEMP Training
The Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) provides live and on-demand training to foster and maintain a high-performance workforce that constructs, operates, and maintains cost-effective federal facilities. Choose from topics like project financing, facility and fleet optimization, fleet management, resilience, sustainable product procurement, and more.
FEMP is accredited by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) and awards IACET continuing education units (CEUs) upon the successful completion of select courses. FEMP training is provided through the National Institute of Building Sciences' Whole Building Design Guide (WBDG) learning management system.