Advanced Energy United Reports

Our energy system is going through a transformational change. Evolving consumer preferences, dynamic new technologies, and aging infrastructure are causing the energy system as we have known it to modernize. And with this change, comes opportunity.

In addition to supporting more than 119,000 jobs in Illinois and 3.3 million jobs across the United States, the advanced energy industry is poised to provide the technology and know-how to bring in a new era of secure, clean, and affordable energy.

In its filed comments, Virginia Advanced Energy Economy supported the Va. Dept. of Environmental Quality's proposed regulations to implement a carbon trading system to reduce emissions to meet  Governor McAuliffe's Executive Directive 11, highlighting positive economic impact, including significant in-state investment (up to $4.6 billion) and adding 30,000 to 40,000 jobs. 

AEE released this policy paper recommending five ways to modernize American’s energy infrastructure, driving private investment in advanced energy technologies for consumer and economic benefits.

The report examines potential for savings from reducing peak demand using three different market strategies: curtailing commercial and industrial electricity demand; installing more smart thermostats across Indiana’s residential sector; and deploying energy storage technologies.

Examining the impact of these strategies under scenarios representative of avoided costs in Indiana, the analysis shows that net benefits for electric ratepayers (total savings minus costs) range from $448 million to $2.3 billion over 10 years.

Throughout the economy, companies are finding efficiencies and operational benefits through services provided by third parties instead of physical assets that they own and manage.

However, under prevailing cost-of-service regulation, electric utilities may be discouraged from using such services, since they do not generate profits the way that investments in capital assets do.

The paper identifies key challenges, best practices, and strategies for consideration by state and federal policymakers and regulators, as well as utilities and technology providers, to keep the evolving energy system safe from cyberattack.

Intended to inform decision makers about ways to make a power grid (characterized by widespread introduction of advanced and intelligent energy technologies) secure against cyberattack, the paper highlights: cybersecurity threats; eight cybersecurity best practices; policy and regulatory frameworks; seven specific protective measures and protocols for grid operators; and six overall recommendations.

Nationally, the advanced energy industry now supports more than 3 million U.S. jobs — twice as many as building construction.

These jobs are made possible by the growth of markets for these products and services in this country. AEE’s Advanced Energy Now 2017 Market Report found that total U.S. revenue from the wide range of advanced energy goods and services was $200 billion in 2016, more than pharmaceutical manufacturing in this country.

On Sept. 30, the U.S. Dept. of Energy announced a proposed rulemaking for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission under its authority in Section 403 of the Federal Power Act to urge FERC to provide out-of-market financial support to uneconomic coal and nuclear power plants.

On Sept. 26, 2017, AEE Vice President for Federal Policy Arvin Ganesan testified before the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee's Energy Subcommittee, in its "Powering America" hearing series.

The U.S. utility sector has entered a period of foundational change, not seen since the restructuring of the late 1990s. Change is being driven by new technologies, evolving customer needs and desires, environmental imperatives and an increased focus on grid resiliency.

With these developments come challenges, but also new opportunities to create an energy system that meets the changing expectations of consumers and society for the coming decades. We call this the 21st Century Electricity System: a high-performing, customer-focused electricity system that is efficient, flexible, resilient, reliable, affordable, safe, secure and clean.