Meeting #50 - Integrated Distribution Planning 

Tuesday, June 19, 2018                  Online registration here

PECO, Philadelphia, PA

Meeting summary - pdf

Final agenda - pdf

Draft IDP Guide outline - pdf

Continuing with the MADRI Steering Committee intent to focus on creating a Guide for MADRI Commissions on integrated distribution planning (IDP), this meeting will focus on Section IV of the outline which is attached to this Agenda.  Specifically, in delving into the content of an IDP, this meeting will focus on the following subtopics:

• Review of how the distribution system is currently planned and how challenges are addressed:
• Consideration of load forecast methodologies, including use of different scenarios and methodologies which account for the growing number of distributed energy resources (DERs);
• Looking ahead, what are the policy drivers that are shaping the growth of DERs in the short and long term in the utility’s service territory; and
• The state of coordination between distribution system planning by utilities and bulk power system planning at PJM.

In recent years, electric utilities in PJM and elsewhere have seen a rapid increase in the deployment of small-scale, grid-connected DERs – including energy efficiency, demand response and flexible loads, distributed generation (primarily solar photovoltaic systems), energy storage systems, and electric vehicles. Deployment of these DERs is expected to increase in coming years. In most cases, the utilities do not own or control these DERs, and in some cases they do not even have knowledge of the DER’s existence, location, capabilities, and status (i.e., “visibility”).  These trends are leading to new challenges for utilities in planning their infrastructure investments and managing power quality at the level of the distribution system.   The first step is to understand how utilities are viewing these issues.

AGENDA

9:30 – 10:00am            Networking with attendees

10:00 – 10:15am          Introductions
The Honorable Betty Ann Kane, Chairman, DC Public Service Commission
John Shenot, Regulatory Assistance Project

10:15 – 12:30pm          Presentations on How Utilities are Addressing Integrated Distribution Planning
George Sey, PECO
Tom Pryatel, FirstEnergy
David Quier, PPL Electric

With infrastructure aging, DER deployment rapidly growing, and grid modernization technologies promising greater reliability and resilience - and more consumer options – the importance of incorporating these changes in utility planning is increasingly important.  Determining where DERs can enhance the grid by providing greater resiliency and reliability can offer lower-cost solutions than the traditional path of utility system upgrades.  The speakers will discuss their companies’ current approach to distribution system planning, the steps they are taking to incorporate DERs into their planning, and the issues and facets that are viewed as either challenges or opportunities.

12:30 – 1:15pm          Lunch

1:15 – 1:45pm             PJM’s View on Integrating DERs into the Wholesale Market
Denise Foster, PJM

DERs can influence planning both from the perspective of reducing demand entirely, such as with energy efficiency, or reducing demand for significant periods of time during a day or longer – depending on the supply resource being used by the customer.  DERs can also increase the amount of supply available, especially when excess customer-sourced generation is aggregated and available for sale into the wholesale market.  Ultimately, planning for the distribution system must be coordinated with planning for the bulk power system because of the impacts that DERs have on the bulk power system. In this presentation, PJM will address how it is handling these issues.

1:30 – 3:00pm            GROUP DISCUSSION: MADRI Guide on Integrated Distribution Planning
Moderated by John Shenot, Regulatory Assistance Project

We will finish the day with a moderated group discussion focused on the content of the MADRI IDP Guide by addressing the following issues:

• Discussion of timeline and milestones for the project;
• Policy drivers shaping the growth of DERs in the short and long term;
• How to account for DERs in integrated distribution planning;
• Discussion of how we want to address in the IDP Guide the topics discussed by previous speakers (how utilities are addressing IDP, and the state of coordination with wholesale markets); and
• Opportunities for participation by stakeholders in providing comments and text for the report.

3:00 – 3:15pm              Wrap-Up, Adjournment
The Honorable Betty Ann Kane, Chairman, DC Public Service Commission
John Shenot, Regulatory Assistance Project