In that climate of uncertainty the U.S. Agency for International Development opted for a cost-plus, fixed-fee deal--a contract often used by governments to exert some control over costs and give the contractor incentive to engage in open-ended work.

FORBES: Magazine Article

But within such limits there is potential for abuse, since the contractor has no incentive to contain expenses.

FORBES: The Big Dig

So if they're getting this good information from OPOWER and they see that, boy, that drafty window is costing me a couple of hundred bucks a year, they're now going to have an incentive to go to Home Depots or go to Lowes to hire a certified contractor and make the changes that will ultimately pay for themselves, improve our environment, and improve our economy.

WHITEHOUSE: Creating New Jobs in a Clean Energy Economy