Paul De Martini, Newport Consulting; Alan Cooke, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL); and Fritz Kahrl, Berkeley Lab
This session will present best practices for integrated planning and potential improvements for New England utilities in the context of distributed energy resources, grid modernization, and wholesale markets, with implications for utility system operations
Lavelle Freeman and Juan Martinez, Eversource; Elton Prifti, National Grid; Kim Cullen, Avangrid; and Jody Londo, Xcel Energy
Utilities in New England and outside the region will present current and evolving approaches to distribution system planning, including goals and objectives, planning scenarios, and integration with other planning processes and grid modernization strategies. Additional topics include planning for load growth, reliability/resilience, aging infrastructure, distributed energy resources, and technological advances; distribution planning processes and methods, such as forecasting, power flow analysis, and cost/benefit analysis; and stakeholder engagement.
May 19, 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. Eastern: Planning and paying for distribution systems to achieve state goals
This session will cover distribution system and grid modernization planning designed to achieve state goals, and enabling cost recovery for the required investments.
- 1-1:45 p.m. Eastern - Integrated distribution system and grid modernization planning - Paul De Martini, Newport Consulting
- 1:45-2:30 p.m. Eastern - Grid modernization investment economics, and review and assessment of grid modernization plans - Tim Woolf, Synapse Energy Economics
- 2:30-3:15 p.m. Eastern - Considerations for planning for resilience and equity - Rebecca O'Neil, PNNL
- 3:15-4 p.m. Eastern - Cost allocation - Dan Boff, PNNL
Seemita Pal and Ron Melton, PNNL
This session will cover grid architecture for planning and design of electric systems to get the grid structure "right" so all the pieces fit into place, downstream decisions are simplified, and investments can be future-proofed. The session also will cover oversight of enterprise-wide efforts, including what utilities need to have in place, such as billing systems, staffing levels and experience operating systems.
Lisa Schwartz and Natalie Mims Frick, Berkeley Lab, and Juliet Homer, PNNL
This session will present the variety of ways states are engaging in electric distribution system planning, including example state requirements, regulatory practices, plan components and emerging issues.
Xiangqi Zhu, National Renewable Energy Laboratory
This session will provide utility examples, modeling methods, and best practices for planning distribution systems for electrification of transportation and buildings.