In particular, it w'as argued that they have not been very demanding, and that negotiating and monitoring the Agreements was also a resource-intensive process. In contrast, empirical studies also showed that the full Levy, but not the Agreement, w'as successful in promoting energy efficiency and innovation, suggesting that there is a case for the abolition of the latter. Below, three programmes are discussed: The Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), EQIP and the Water and Waste Disposal Program. In addition, REAP can no longer provide funding for feasibility study grants, nor for blender pumps due to the exclusion of retail energy-delivery mechanisms in the modified definition of “renewable energy system”. Councils (i.e. non-profit entities or affiliates) are now eligible to apply for energy audit and renewable energy development assistance grants. Although the programme’s funding is reduced to USD 50 million in mandatory funding and USD 20 million in discretionary funding per fiscal year from 2014 through 2018, the programme continues to provide assistance to agricultural producers and small businesses in rural areas for adopting renewable energy and improving energy efficiency.