On July 2nd, 2021, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) issued Order Instituting Rulemaking (R.) 21-06-017 to Modernize the Electric Grid for a High Distributed Energy Resources Future. R. 21-06-017 anticipates a high penetration DER future building on the work done under the Distribution Resources Plans proceeding (R. 14-08-013) and the Integrated Distributed Energy Resources proceeding (R. 14-10-003). This rulemaking seeks to determine how to optimize the integration of millions of DERs within the distribution grid while ensuring affordable rates.
The CPUC engaged Verdant Associates, along with project partners Kevala, Gridworks, and Xanthus Consulting, to determine how to optimize the integration of millions of DERs into the distribution grid while ensuring the cost of grid services is affordable. The work under this contract assists the CPUC with preparing the grid to accommodate a high DER future. Additionally, this work will aim to capture as much value as possible from DERs and mitigate any unintended negative impacts.
The goals of these efforts are to:
• Enable swift evolution of grid capabilities and operations to integrate solar, storage, EVs/EV supply equipment (EVSE), and other DERs to meet the State’s 100 percent clean energy goals;
• Improve distribution planning, including charging infrastructure forecasting to support cost-effective and widespread transportation electrification (TE); and
• Optimize grid infrastructure investments by facilitating community input about planned developments, DER siting plans, and resiliency needs.
Informal Community Outreach:
Distribution Investment Deferral Framework (DIDF) Evaluations:
Project Updates:
Check this page regularly for project updates.
At Verdant Associates, our people are our strength.
We are economists, data scientists, engineers, and social scientists. But more importantly, we are bikers, swimmers, skiers, hikers, and parents. We seek to leave the world a better place than when we found it by working tirelessly to solve the pressing climate change issues that will define this generation.