Kick-off presentation by Dr. Fredrich Kahrl, Berkeley Lab/3rdRail, Inc., and Paul De Martini, Newport Consulting Group
PUC presenters:
- Grace Relf, Senior Utilities Analyst, Hawaii Public Utilities Commission
- Joy Wang, Manager of Distribution Planning, Michigan Public Service Commission
The kick-off presentation will provide guidance for commissions on approaches to evaluating the cost-effectiveness of grid modernization investments, including when to use benefit-cost analysis versus least-cost best-fit methods. The presentation will draw on examples related to electrification, distributed generation, and resilience and reliability. Commission presenters will share experiences in their states on analytical methods and cost-effectiveness evaluation for investments in assets and systems to modernize utility grids.
Forecasting Loads and Distributed Energy Resources
Kick-off presentation by Sean Morash, Telos Energy
PUC presenters:
- Caitlyn Edmundson, Principal Economist, Office of Regulatory Economics, New York Public Service Commission
- Gabe Petlin, Supervisor, Grid Planning and Reliability, California Public Utilities Commission
The kick-off presentation will discuss long-term forecasting of loads and distributed energy resources (DERs) for distribution system planning, including lessons learned by utilities and regional grid operators in planning for transportation electrification as well as distributed PV. Commission presenters will discuss experiences, lessons learned, and challenges regarding forecasting loads and DERs for distribution planning. The New York PSC will address the impact of higher levels of DERs on forecasting electricity loads for the utilities' Distributed System Implementation Plans. The California PUC will focus on results of an innovative 2023 Electrification Impacts Study for the High DER Grid Planning proceeding, highlighting: (1) distribution grid cost and load impacts projected through 2035 for the three largest regulated utilities; (2) utility and non-utility datasets, including terabytes of 8,760 Advanced Metering Infrastructure data; (3) bottom-up forecasting methods, including premise-level and circuit-specific analytics and propensity for adoption modeling; and (4) study limitations and an updated study planned for completion early 2024.
Kick-off presentation by Tim Woolf, Synapse Energy Economics
PUC presenters:
- Brad Borum, Director of Research, Policy, and Planning Division, Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission
- Joy Wang, Manager of Distribution Planning, Michigan Public Service Commission
The kick-off presentation will provide an overview of key issues for commissions to consider when reviewing utility distribution system plans, including scope, filing requirements, integration of non-wires alternatives, cost-effectiveness assessment, and approaches for commission action on the plan. PUC presenters will share their experiences with reviewing distribution system plans filed by regulated electric utilities.
Kick-off presentation by Jennifer Yoshimura, Energy Justice and Equity Leader, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
PUC presenters:
- Sarah Hall, Resource and Programs Development Manager, Oregon Public Utility Commission
- Tera Dornfeld, Public Engagement Regulatory Specialist, Minnesota Public Utilities Commission
The kick-off presentation will cover energy equity, justice tenets (recognition, distributive, procedural, and restorative), metrics, and how equity can be applied in distribution system planning. PUC presenters will use an equity lens to discuss current distribution systems, metrics under development, engagement of community-based organizations, a stakeholder advisory group, analytical approaches for procedural and distributional equity, equity in resilience programs, and other equity elements in distribution system investments and related programs.
Kick-off presentation by Josh Bode, Demand Side Analytics
PUC presenters:
- Commissioner Megan Gilman, Colorado Public Utilities Commission
- Robert Peterson, Analyst, California Public Utilities Commission
The kick-off presentation will discuss best practices for evaluating energy efficiency, demand response, distributed generation and storage to defer the need for some traditional investments at locations where distribution capacity is insufficient to meet expected future requirements. Commission presenters will share their states' requirements and oversight for utility analysis of these non-wires alternatives.
Kick-off presentation by Lisa Schwartz, Berkeley Lab
PUC presenters:
- James Lester, Policy Advisor, Colorado Public Utilities Commission
- Nick Sayen, Senior Utility Analyst, Oregon Public Utility Commission
The kick-off presentation will review the variety of approaches states have used for developing requirements for utility distribution plans and highlight example best practices. Commission presenters will discuss how their states established their regulations, including public engagement and education, a staff white paper, questionnaires for utilities and stakeholders, and formal proceedings.
Register at: https://lbnl.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJckde2gqD8iGtLgxfn5b-JbRNQsS9arQ3Nn