Electricity Distribution Grid Evaluator (EDGE) Model

This paper describes the Electricity Distribution Evaluator (EDGE) model, a MATLAB-based simulation tool developed by RMI and designed to comprehensively assess the DER value proposition in different regulatory and utility business model environments based on a detailed assessment of the technical and operational implications. Though designed to study an individual utility or region, the model maintains the flexibility to be adapted for use with many different utilities or regions. The ability to alter the model’s parameters allows RMI to identify conditions that optimize value, and to test the effects of new, innovative business models and rate structures. The EDGE model provides an analytical basis for assessment of the costs and values created by all resources, including DERs.

 

Net Energy Metering, Zero Net Energy, and the Distributed Energy Resource Future

On behalf of PG&E, Rocky Mountain Institute organized and facilitated a roundtable of experts to evaluate the potential implications for the utility and its customers of a future business environment characterized by high levels of customer energy efficiency, growing numbers of Zero Net Energy buildings, and increased adoption of distributed generation (largely solar PV) by utility customers. The group worked to build a shared understanding of the problems and challenges facing stakeholders in the electric system and to identify the essential characteristics of workable long-term solutions.

 

Reinventing Fire in Southern California: Distributed Resources and the San Onofre Outage

The prolonged shut-down of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) in Southern California could mark an important turning point for the region’s electricity system. Distributed and demand-side resources offer a portfolio of solutions to help fill the near-term supply gap, while also advancing California’s long-term goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and supporting local economic development and job creation. This discussion paper assesses the role the following distributed energy resources could play in the absence of SONGS: behavioral savings; demand response; energy efficiency; solar photovoltaics; combined heat and power and fuel cells; storage. That paper includes information on what the potentials for these resources are, how their economics affect adoption, how much time it takes to install them, and how long we expect them to persist. We also offer recommendations to unlock these resources and encourage their adoption by utilities and their customers.

 

Utility-Scale Wind and Natural Gas Volatility: Uncovering the Hedge Value of Wind for Utilities and Their Customers

This paper explores methods of quantifying natural gas volatility by examining theoretical models as well as case studies of utility hedging strategies. Including these volatility risk premiums in the price of natural gas establishes a basis for even comparison with utility-­scale wind contracts, which enables smarter decision analysis by regulatory agencies, utilities, and ratepayers.

 

Turbocharging Efficiency Programs: Going for Broader and Deeper Savings

In Turbocharging Energy Efficiency Programs, we analyze the challenges that utilities themselves face for going broader and deeper, and then offer recommendations to increase the effectiveness of programs. These recommendations include: making marketing work, improving sales execution, driving down transaction costs, and embracing collaboration. In order to illustrate how these recommendations look in practice, we also highlight six efficiency programs run by utilities and third-party administrators.

 

Reinventing Fire Electricity Sector Methodology

This document provides RMI's methodology for the analysis of the electricity sector in Reinventing Fire.

 

Valuation of Renewable and Distributed Resources: Implications for the Integrated Resource Planning Process

This report documents the details of the workshops run by EPRI and presented to the Hawaii Electric Company utilities with input from RMI. EPRI conducted these workshops in 2006 and provided the utilities with information on RMI's methodologies to integrate risk/benefit analysis of energy resources into the integrated resource planning process.

 

Energy Resource Investment Strategy for the City of San Francisco

This report describes RMI's work with the City of San Francisco's energy resource investment strategy. The report provides options for use of alternative electric resources by the city.

 

If Customers Save Electricity, Must Rates Rise?

In this paper from 1988, Amory Lovins uses examples to show that if utility customers take measures to save electricity, utilities can still make profits without raising electricity rates.

 

FERC Chairman Jon Wellinghoff Applauds eLab

eLab will provide participating regulators with information regarding the factors that influence the value of different resource solutions. The e-Lab project will prove to be an extremely valuable product to FERC as we move towards shaping policy for consumers to take advantage of efficient wholesale market designs.

 

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