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Webinar: Regulators' Financial Toolbox: ADMS/DERMS October 12, 2022
This webinar is part of a series exploring the types of financial tools utility regulators can use to support integration of newer electricity system technologies when they benefit the public interest. During the webinar, speakers with different perspectives will discuss answers to key questions about ADMS/DERMS facing utilities and utility regulators.Moderator: Commissioner Joseph Sullivan, Minnesota
Speakers:
Commissioner Katherine Peretick, Michigan
Ali Ipakchi, Open Access Technology International, Inc. (OATI)
Christopher Villarreal, Plugged In Strategies
Ted Burhans, Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA)View speaker presentations
View recording
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Webinar: Strategies for Developing Effective Performance Incentive Mechanisms – Part 1 (Hawaii) October 6, 2022
This topic will examine strategies for developing effective Performance Incentive Mechanisms (PIMS) and explore incentive and penalty frameworks in Hawaii and Vermont. Part 1 of this webinar will include an overview of Hawaii’s PBR framework, including information on how the state developed their PIMS and corresponding targets. Additionally, the speaker will explain how performance incentives are tied to various policies, including the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard, deployment of advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), and cost savings sharing mechanisms. The upcoming Part 2 of this expert webinar series will focus on PIMs-related developments in Vermont.Moderator: Hon Abigail Anthony, Rhode Island
Speaker: Grace Relf, Hawaii Public Utilities Commission
- Webinar: Beyond the Metrics: Tracking Performance Targets September 1, 2022
As the second part of a three-part webinar series exploring explore various subtopics of PBR implementation, experts will discuss some of approaches and frameworks for tracking performance targets. Participants will present information that can help regulators better understand how to establish performance criteria to facility the effective tracking of utility progress as various initiatives are advanced through the PBR framework.Moderator: Hon Abigail Anthony, Rhode Island
Speakers:
Jessica Shipley, Regulatory Assistance Project
Gennelle Wilson, Rocky Mountain Institute
- Webinar: Regulators' Financial Toolbox: Emerging Approaches to Building Electrification in Electric and Gas Utility Efficiency Programs May 26, 2022
The Regulator’s Financial Toolbox series examines regulatory issues where technology meets bookkeeping. In this 90-minute webinar, speakers will address technology, economic, accounting, and customer considerations related to building electrification programs. This webinar will explain the current status and trends among some states and utilities of incorporating electrification into their energy efficiency portfolios, how benefits and costs are considered in these cases, and what regulators are asking utilities about with such approaches.Speakers:
Edward Yim, Director Utility & State Policy and Dan York, Senior Fellow Utilities & Local Policy, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE)
Mark Schoenheider, Manager of Customer Energy Solutions, Xcel Energy
Anthony Fryer, Conservation Improvement Program Supervisor, Minnesota Department of CommerceView speaker presentations
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View summary brief - Webinar: Establishing Metrics April 14, 2022
Defining performance and considerations for establishing jurisdiction-specific metrics including peak load reduction, third-party resource deployment, interconnection, data access, reliability and resilience, energy efficiency.Moderator: Hon. CJ Manthe, Nevada
Speakers:
Ryan Katofsky, Advanced Energy Economy
Rachel Gold, Rocky Mountain Institute
Doug Scott, Great Plains Institute - What is Community Solar 1: Benefits for Low- and Moderate-Income Consumers February 13, 2022
Many states offer community solar or solar gardens as a way to enable people without access to rooftop solar the opportunity to enjoy cost savings benefits by using renewable energy. But do we really know if the costs savings are reaching the targeted customers? This panel reviews prominent community solar programs that have been successfully designed in whole or in part to serve, and provide cost savings to, low-to-moderate income and historically underrepresented customers. This panel will discuss the types of marketing and outreach needed to get targeted customers to participate, and what policies and procedures within the programs are necessary to make sure cost savings benefits are received as advertised. Join us to learn how community solar programs should be designed to reach these communities, whether workforce development programs paired with such programs are bringing jobs to the targeted communities, and how developers and utilities can effectively market and attract targeted customers to participate.Moderator: Hon. Eric Blank, Colorado
Speakers:
Richard Caperton, Vice President, Policy and Market Development, Arcadia
Chris Nichols, Senior Program Director, Groundswell
Ted Trabue, Managing Director, DC Sustainable Energy UtilityView speaker presentations
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View summary brief - What is Community Solar 2: Cost Impacts to Participants and Non-Participants February 13, 2022
This panel reports on the costs to participants and non-participants created by a community solar program designed specifically for, or with a carve out for, serving the low-to-moderate and historically underrepresented customers. It seems that every state has different policies and procedures when it comes to the regulatory treatment of a community solar program, and this panel will help you identify which policies and rate designs are right for your state. The panelists will answer questions such as, What factors should be considered when designing the tariffs for these programs? Should the amount of the solar credit be set at the full retail rate, the energy only rate or something entirely different? and Should community solar program costs be included in rate base or be carved out such that only the participants pay for the program and how would that regulatory treatment impact participants’ savings? Creative alternative rate design proposals will be highlighted.Moderator: Jamie Barber, Director Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Unit, Georgia Public Service Commission
Speakers:
Gabriel Chan, Associate Professor, Humphrey School of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota
Matt McDonnell, Managing Director, Strategen Consulting
Katie Ottenweller, Southeast Director, Vote SolarView speaker presentations
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Webinar: Regulators' Financial Toolbox: Resilience Technologies August 25, 2021
The Regulator’s Financial Toolbox series examines regulatory issues where technology meets bookkeeping. In this 90 minute webinar, speakers will address technology, economic, and accounting considerations for resilience technologies. This webinar will explain current resilience technologies, utilities benefits, and regulatory considerations such as useful life, inclusion in rate base, and other decision-making information.Moderator: Commissioner Carrie Zalewski, Illinois Commerce Commission
Speakers:
Jennifer Kallay (Synapse Energy)
Dr. Robert "Bobby" Jeffers (Sandia National Labs)
Leuwam Tesfai (California Public Utility Commission)
Julio Romero Aguero, Quanta TechnologyView speaker biographies and presentations
View recording
View Summary -
Webinar: August 10 Regulator's Financial Toolbox: Communications Networks
The Regulators’ Financial Toolbox series is where technology meets bookkeeping. On the Communications Networks Toolbox webinar, regulators will hear multiple perspectives on how communications networks work; what is unique about distribution system and grid edge communications vis a vis the distribution system and bulk power system communications; what their benefits are to the electricity system; and considerations specifically for regulators. Like many things, the perfect communications solution will be up to the jurisdiction, but this webinar will provide a framework for making decisions and help regulators be prepared to engage with utilities on this thorny issue.Moderator: Gladys Brown-Dutrieuille, Pennsylvania PUC
Speakers:
Andrew Bordine (Anterix)
Paul De Martini (Newport Consulting Group)
Wendell Reimer (Xcel Energy)
Jonathan Schrag (Taconic Advisory Services, LLC)View speaker biographies and presentations
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Webinar: Performance Incentive Mechanisms (PIMs) for Resilience June 24, 2021
Performance-Based Regulation State Working Group: Performance Incentive Mechanisms for Resilience Ultimately, for distribution company regulators, the desired outcomes for increased resiliency is avoided loss of load while simultaneously lowering infrastructure costs. A modern efficient system will provide a high quality of service without overpaying for it. Additionally, regulators must consider who ultimately gains from resilience benefits and who ultimately pays for those benefits. How may a regulator incentive a utility to maximize the value of resiliency gains via a PIM? In March, the group met for a webinar on PIMs 101 and in April, Resilience Metrics. This webinar will apply what we heard in the previous sessions to PIMs for resilience.Moderator: Commissioner Michael T. Richard, Maryland Public Service Commission
Speakers:
Mark Lowry, Pacific Economics
David Littell, Regulator Assistance Project
Commissioner Lillian Mateo Santos, Puerto Rico Energy Board -
Webinar: Resilience Metrics April 16, 2021 The purpose of this webinar is to orient the PBRSWG with resilience metrics in preparation for a meeting on PIMs for resilience. This webinar will discuss what metrics are in use today, but will also explore how to think about constructing metrics adequate for your state and utility, and social, economic, and national security dynamics.
Hon. Charlotte Mitchell (North Carolina Utilities Commission) moderated a panel of experts, including Joe Eto (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory), Bill Chiu (SCE/Chair of IEEE Task Force on Resilience Framework, Methods, and Metrics for the Electricity Sector), and Bobby Jeffers (Sandia National Laboratory). Background materials include the IEEE Resilience Framework, Methods, and Metrics for the Electricity Sector white paper.
View presentation.
View Recording: Part 1 with Joe Eto and Bobby Jeffers and Part 2 with Bill Chiu) -
Webinar: Performance Incentive Mechanisms 101 March 12, 2021. The NARUC CPI PBR State Working Group met to discuss performance incentive mechanisms. Chair Dan Scripps of Michigan moderated a discussion with Mike O’Boyle (Energy Innovation), Grace Relf (Hawaii Commission), Minnesota Assistant Attorney General Ian Dobson, and Pete Cappers (Berkeley Labs).
View presentation.
View Recording. -
DOE: Pumped Storage Hydropower Valuation Guidebook – A Cost-Benefit and Decision Analysis Valuation Framework The objective of this project, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO), was to advance the state of the art in assessing the value of PSH plants and their contributions to the power system. The specific objective was to develop a detailed step-by-step valuation guidance that PSH developers, plant owners or operators, and other stakeholders can use to assess the value of existing or potential new PSH plants and their services.
PSH Valuation Guidebook
Valuation Approach
Intended Audience
Case Studies
Project Team
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Webinar: Regulator’s Financial Toolbox: Advanced Metering Infrastructure March 2, 2021
Regulator’s Financial Toolbox Series examines regulatory issues where technology meets bookkeeping. In this 90-minute webinar, speakers will address technology, uses, costs and benefits, and what are the future opportunities for advanced metering infrastructure (AMI). This webinar will explain what AMI is and does, what are examples of the benefits of AMI, its role in enabling a more resilient system, what are regulatory considerations for AMI, and what is the future for AMI. This session will be moderated by Commissioner Talina Mathews from the Kentucky Public Service Commission, and include presentations from FP&L, Utilidata, Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, and Plugged in Strategies. -
Webinar: Regulators' Financial Toolbox: Cloud Computing, September 24, 2020 The Regulator’s Financial Toolbox series examines regulatory issues where technology meets bookkeeping. In this 90 minute webinar, speakers will address technology, economic, and accounting considerations for cloud computing. This webinar will explain what cloud computing is (and is not), and will address regulatory considerations for the utility leveraging cloud computing.
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Webinar: Earnings Sharing Mechanisms, August 13, 2020 Earnings sharing mechanisms are one way that a commission can manage a utility's actual rate of return and share efficiency gains with customers, although it may reduce the incentive to be efficient. In this state working group session, working group members heard from public utility commission staff from Hawaii, Nevada, and Vermont on how they have approached earnings sharing/adjustment mechanisms.
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Webinar: Multi-Year Rate Plan Considerations and Examples, June 3, 2020 Multi-year rate plans are one way that commissions can reduce the frequency of rate cases by leveraging sophisticated forecasting and design to apply a rate for longer that a 12-month period. In this state working group session, members heard from Commissioner Emeritus David Littell (Maine, currently a senior advisor with the Regulatory Assistance Project), and public utility commission staff from Georgia and Washington.
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Webinar: Performance-Based Regulation Foundations, April 13, 2020 On this webinar, Michael O’Boyle of Energy Innovation discusses key similarities and differences of cost-of-service and performance-based-regulation. Matt McDonnell of Strategen outlines tools for performance-based regulation.
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Webinar: Determining Utility System Value of Demand Flexibility from Grid-Interactive Efficient Buildings, April 6, 2020
This webinar featured a synopsis of a new State and Local Energy Efficiency Action Network (SEE Action) paper. The report focuses on ways current methods and practices that establish the value of distributed energy resource (DER) investments to electric utility systems can be enhanced. These enhancements would improve analyses of the value of demand flexibility in grid-interactive efficient buildings (GEBs) that can provide grid services. The report introduces key valuation concepts that are applicable to demand flexibility and links to other documents that describe these concepts and their implementation in more detail. -
DOE: A Valuation Framework for Informing Grid Modernization Decisions, August 2019 The valuation framework provides a structure for valuation that is deliberate, inclusive, and transparent, documenting the intermediate and final results to ensure clarity, accountability, and repeatability. The document provides guidelines for the framework for valuing grid generation, transmission, and distribution assets—including distributed generation and storage—and the services they provide, as well as policy options commonly evaluated in the context of the electric power grid. The framework is the primary product of DOE’s Grid Modernization project titled “Grid Services and Technologies Valuation Framework Development,” also known by its project number, GMLC 1.2.4. Read the full report, a summary, and a companion standards review report below.
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The Value of Resilience for Distributed Energy Resources: An Overview of Current Analytical Practices, April 2019 Planning for long-duration power interruptions caused by high-impact, low-probability events requires new approaches to power system resilience above and beyond previous hardening efforts. This report examines both regulatory decision-making and non-regulatory cost-benefit analyses to determine if, and how, a value of energy resilience was calculated and applied to proposed investments. Four criteria were used to evaluate the methodologies, including the method’s ease of use, scope of outputs, geographic scalability, and power interruption duration analysis capability. Some of the valuation methodologies examined in the report may be useful in regulatory decision-making; however, none of the methods reviewed met all four criteria for regulator usefulness and usability, and no single method is capable of capturing all regulatory concerns regarding the resilience value of DERs.
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The Interface between Utility Regulation and Financial Markets, November 2018 The purpose of this paper is to review the interfaces between regulators and capital markets to explain the significance of financial market knowledge in public utility regulation. This topic is critical because IOUs finance their investments in utility infrastructure through debt and equity capital obtained from capital/financial markets. This report reviews the significance of financial markets to regulation, describes how key variables (such as cost of capital) are calculated, and describes opportunities for regulators to become educated about relevant financial market activity.
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NARUC Distributed Energy Resources Rate Design and Compensation Manual,
November 2016 This Manual is organized to provide regulators with a comprehensive understanding of the question of how does DER affect regulation. It lays out a background on the principles of rate design and compensation, the availability and use of new technologies, an explanation of what is DER, and describes a set of certain types of DER. This is to provide a regulator ample background of not only how DER impacts existing regulatory and utility models, but also provides a foundation for considering how to evolve along with this transition. The Manual then describes a variety of rate design and compensation options that a jurisdiction may consider—the options described herein are not the only ones available to a jurisdiction, but are the most prevalent under discussion today. The Manual goes through them laying out the pros and cons of the option, and providing regulators with information to assist them in their consideration. Lastly, the Manual outlines a few practical ways for it to be used, including examples of determining costs and benefits of DER, questions for a regulator to support an investigation into appropriate rate design and compensation for DER, and how to use some of the details in this Manual to support a decision-making process.
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MegaModel Utility Business Models Game
NARUC has developed an interactive, discussion-based game to teach regulators, legislators, advocates, and other decision-makers about utility business models and regulatory regimes. As a new utility manager, your team can explore performance-based and cost-of-service regulation in vertically integrated and restructured environments.
During the game, each utility manager team runs a utility for five, two-year planning periods (10 years total). In each period, players can choose to build or contract for generation; build transmission, distribution, and flexibility resources; and institute or respond to new policies. The MegaModel Excel-based platform shows how these decisions impact customer bills, reliability (minutes of outages), earnings per share, and air emissions (carbon dioxide).
Watch the 7-minute demonstration video and contact us for more information.
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MegaModel at NARUC Winter Policy Summits, 2019-2020
In 2019, NARUC provided the MegaModel training to anyone who attended the Winter Policy Summit. In 2020, NARUC provided the MegaModel training to members of the PBR state working group.
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MegaModel at Legislative Energy Horizon Institute, 2016 - 2020
NARUC has provided the MegaModel training to attendees of the Legislative Energy Horizon Institute since 2016.
Funder:
- NARUC is grateful to the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Electricity, which enables most of the resources and activities described on this webpage.
- NARUC is grateful to the U.S. Department of Energy, Water Power Technologies Office, which enables the Pumped-Storage Hydro Techno-Economic Valuation Project.
PBR State Working Group Leadership:
- Commissioner Abigail Anthony, Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission – Chair, Performance-Based Regulation (PBR) State Working Group
- Commissioner Daniel Scripps, Michigan Public Service Commission -- Vice-Chair, PBR State Working Group.
- Twenty-six states are members of the PBR state working group.
NARUC staff experts who support these activities: