Advanced Energy Perspectives

A successful transition to a 21st Century Electricity System requires careful consideration of a range of issues that will ultimately redefine the regulatory framework and utility business model while creating new opportunities for third-party providers and customers to contribute to the operation of the electricity system. In this first of a seven-part series published by Utility Dive, AEE looks at the transformative impact of advanced metering infrastructure. Commonly defined as an integrated network of smart meters, communication networks, and data management systems, AMI has the potential to transform how utilities, customers, and third-party providers manage electricity generation, delivery, and use.

Back in December, we published a list of the top 10 public utility commission actions of 2016. With 2017 halfway elapsed, we check in on the top public utility commission (PUC) actions so far this year. Not surprisingly, the challenges PUCs are grappling with are scattered widely: sweeping changes in rate design, utility business model reforms, grid modernization investments, distribution system planning, electric vehicle charging infrastructure and rates, renewable energy tariffs, and interconnection requests, to name a few. Without further ado, here is a status check of the top 10 matters before PUCs in 2017 so far.

Note: some links in this post reference documents in AEE's software platform, PowerSuite. Click here and sign up for a free 14-day trial.

This blog post is based on remarks delivered at “Securing Smart Grid Data,” a forum sponsored by the Lexington Institute. Video of Polikov’s talk is available here. 

The other day, I decided I really wanted to go see the Broadway Musical “Hamilton.” So I went online, and pretty quickly I realized two things: 1) Even though it’s been running for two years, the show is still completely sold out, and 2) You can get tickets, from resellers. I’m not talking about finding some guy standing on the corner an hour before curtain, scalping tickets. The aftermarket for Hamilton tickets is a very sophisticated, innovative marketplace. There are lots of different sites connecting sellers and buyers and there are sites that aggregate those different sites, very similar to what Priceline or Kayak does for airline tickets. Those of us who want to see consumer-focused innovation in energy could learn a lot from this.

Distributed energy resources (DERs) are becoming an increasingly important element in the U.S. electricity system, capable of driving us toward a more flexible, reliable, resilient, affordable, and clean grid. However, when any industry goes through a substantial change, there are questions that must be answered. What entities should be allowed to own, operate, and control DERs and DER services? Should a monopoly (i.e., the utility) be allowed to compete against private advanced energy companies given their inherent competitive advantages? In places like Arizona and New York, answers are starting to emerge, but are not yet settled.

Over the course of 2016, most of the advanced energy policy conversations in Nevada have been around net metering, with much score-keeping of progress and setback. Between rollback in June and partial reinstatement in December, net metering has taken center stage, with more to come this year. But another official decision has set the stage for Nevada to once again be an expanding market for advanced energy. It was a little-noticed ruling by the state’s public utility commission (PUC) to incorporate costs and benefits across all attributes in weighing various options for meeting the needs of electricity customers. AEE’s nonprofit educational affiliate, the AEE Institute, was right in the middle of it.