Customers are no longer just users of power. Like the grid is modernizing and evolving, the role and expectations of the customer is, and will continue to, change. The electric system of the future will require all types of customers to be active participants in providing reliable, resilient, just, and affordable electricity. Join the NCEP to explore the new ways customers are performing critical functions on the grid, the associated burdens and concerns, what knowledge and tools they need, and how policy makers and the industry at large can think about preparing for the future.
View the Meeting Agenda, Speaker Bios, Day 1 Presentations, and Day 2 Presentations
Background and Objectives of Multi-Year Theme: T&D Interfaces
At the 2018 Annual Meeting and Workshop, the National Council on Electricity Policy (NCEP) gathered state decision-makers and stakeholders to discuss the state of interfaces between distribution and transmission systems in light of increasing installation of distributed energy resources (DERs). In 2019, NCEP further explored this topic by focusing on transmission, distribution, and customer (TDC) system operational needs and their influence on planning and markets. In 2020, NCEP explored states’ roles in developing and managing markets and questions of who pays and how, in light of granular information across the TDC system. The 2021 meeting expanded these discussions and resources by exploring opportunities and actions steps towards comprehensive or coordinated electricity planning that spans all levels of the electricity system. The NCEP T&D Resource Catalog documents examples and resources from these workshops to support state electricity system decision-makers in learning from experts and one another. View the Meeting Summary.
Multi-Year Objectives
- Discuss state, utility, RTO, and DER experiences coordinating planning, operations, and markets across TDC interfaces of the electricity system.
- Examine ideas around the needs of a coordinated system and how states play a role in developing a future-proofed system.
- Hear insights and lessons learned from experts, state utility regulators, energy directors, utility managers, technologists, legislators, consumer advocates, and other stakeholders.
Coordinated Electricity Planning, September 13-15, 2021
In 2021, the National Council on Electricity Policy (NCEP) community of state electricity policy-makers, decision-makers, and implementers explored developments in modern planning techniques and tools to align planning processes across distribution, resource, and transmission planning. NCEP explored:
- What is a state’s role in aligning planning for maintaining a well-managed, efficient electricity system, now with rapidly changing requirements and many more participants?
- What planning capabilities exist and are needed for potential distribution-system level markets and transmission system operator and distribution system operator coordination?
- What coordination opportunities exist for states, utilities, customers, RTOs, federal entities, and research institutions?
Evolving Compensation and Market Mechanisms, December 7-9, 2020
In 2020, NCEP explored the age-old utility question of “who pays?” with a new twist from grid modernization: “how?” The modern grid will allow for the exchange of more granular information on electricity use and supply across the distribution and transmission systems. State electricity policy decision-makers explored:
- What is a state’s role in maintaining a well-managed, efficient electricity system, now with rapidly changing requirements and many more participants?
- How is value acknowledged and compensated among sellers, operators, and buyers? What risks are shared with customers?
- How can modern cost-benefit analysis, valuation approaches, and cost recovery plans be used to compare and optimize between bulk power system solutions and distribution system solutions?
- What capabilities exist and are needed for potential distribution system-level markets, and TSO & DSO coordination?
Evolving Transmission, Distribution, and Customer System Coordination, September 11-12, 2019
In 2019, NCEP further explored the topic of interfaces between the distribution and transmission systems by focusing on transmission, distribution, and customer (TDC) system interfaces, taking a closer look at operational needs and their influence on planning and markets.
T&D Intersection, May 8-9, 2018
At the 2018 Annual Meeting and Workshop in Denver, CO, the National Council on Electricity Policy (NCEP) gathered state decision makers and stakeholders to discuss the state of interfaces between distribution and transmission systems in light of increasing distributed energy resources. NCEP explored this evolution and specifically the impact that DERs are and will have on the transmission and distribution systems in the contexts of planning, operations, and markets. Such DERs include energy efficiency, distributed generation (e.g., solar photovoltaics), energy storage, demand response, electric vehicles, and more.
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2017 Annual Meeting: Applying Valuation to Baseload, January 5, 2017
Participants explored how baseload power gets incorporated into what consumers pay, impacts of the changing generation fleet on valuation pricing, and how state officials can address this change. Participants identified tools and techniques that attribute value to baseload and develop recommendations and “asks” to research institutions, national laboratories and academia. View Agenda. View Summary.
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2016 Annual Meeting: “Blurred Lines” Changing Federal / State Jurisdiction, April 25-26, 2016
Topics included:
- Eastern Interconnection States Planning Council (EISPC) activities
- Transmission projects like the Plains & Eastern Clean Line Transmission Line
- Changes in federal leasing policy affecting coal mining on federal lands
- Demand response and the implications of EPSA v FERC
- The Clean Power Plan, post-stay.
- Responding to national-level energy emergencies with mutual assistance
Essential EISPC work was conducted, including mapping what technical assistance support from labs, academia, and others will help members deal with changes in jurisdiction.